Raising ceiling of old concrete home.

[Patti Rosepiler]

I may be putting the cart before the horse, but I have to ask before I purchase.  There is a 1950 (small) concrete house that I stumbled upon with people willing to sell.  It has LOTS of potential in a great area and the price is right...but...I'd really want to raise the height of ceiling. Is this a huge, expensive undertaking that any of you had a ton of problems with?  I know there may be way too many  different variables to  throw out costs, but maybe a ballpark cost or some specific example of someone doing this?  

[Wayne Brooks]

Flat roof, pitched roof?

Unless it is some type of drop ceiling, you’re likely looking at tearing off the entire roof system and trusses......very cost prohibitive.

[Patti Rosepiler]

It is a pitched roof. I may buy it even if I don't raise it.  It's in Tampa near the water so I just figured it could fit the more high-end, modern look that is desired there than the old school low ceilings.

[Brandon M.]

Patti Rosepiler I did something similar in a house nearby, but the simple answer would really be “it depends”. Depends on what the ceiling looks like, how the roof is constructed above that room/rooms you want to raise the ceiling, whether the beams going across the current ceiling are helping to hold the roof up any.

If you send me a PM I can probably find some before and after pictures of the house I am referring to.

[Patti Rosepiler]

@Brandon M., I will.     Also do you mind sharing the costs? 

[Wayne Brooks]

BTW, “concrete” homes are extremely rare here. This is CBS, concrete block/stucco, quite popular.

[Phil Weiler]

I've looked at a couple investment properties just like this in the Tampa Bay Area.  With the marketing being fighting up this might be the kind of thinking that needs to happen. With the idea of completely changing the curb appeal. moving the water supply thru the attic and adding proper HVAC in the attic.

[Brandon M.]

Originally posted by @Patti Rosepiler:

@Brandon M., I will.     Also do you mind sharing the costs? 

Sorry just saw this request. I don't recall the exact cost because it was part of a scope of work that included $50k of work, but in terms of labor and material costs dedicated to this exact task it wasn't too much. In my case we didn't actually raise the roof itself, we just removed the ceiling joists, adding insulation in between the roof joists, and installed drywall. Both rooms ended up with trapezoid shaped ceilings (duct work had to be run above the ceiling) that definitely gave those rooms a spacious feel with the higher ceilings. 

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5700-11th-Ave-S...

This is the old Zillow listing, gotta love Zillow because somehow the before pictures are intertwined with the afters from the final retail sale listing. Picture 23 (the enclosed porch before) on the listing above became picture 12 (additional square footage by adding AC and a chandelier to make a dining room) and in the back of picture 10. 

For the garage conversion pictures 26 and 28 show the garage before, and picture 16 shows the old garage made into the new master bedroom. We also installed a new bathroom and closet in that old garage (pictures 17, 19, 22) but it was easier to just make a flat horizontal ceiling over the bathroom and closet. 

Hope these help. 

[Patti Rosepiler]

Wow @Brandon M.!  Looks great!  I think we have the same taste. LOL.   Thank you for sharing.  I have a property to unload in NC (hopefully close in July) to be able to purchase this home in South Tampa...I know the person that owns it and they just happen to mention that they were needing to sell. I believe it would be a GREAT flip.  It isn't on the market. If for any reason I cannot obtain it, I could let you know the details if you are interested. I will be down in Passe Grille beach this weekend, but busy with family entertaining, however, if you ever want to meet up and talk RE, I'd LOVE to know someone in the area! 

[Brandon M.]

Thanks @Patti Rosepiler - I would be interested in hearing more details whether you end up buying it or not. We can try to meet up if you have time, or if nothing else we could always chat on the phone. 

I will send you a PM and we can continue the dialogue.