Lofting a space above the closet works especially well with open space above it.
Installing a loft above your closet is an interesting and striking adjustment to your home. The addition of a loft creates an extra sleeping area -- or it can eliminate the need to keep your bed on the floor, freeing up an entire room for other purposes, such as a home office, studio or living space. The process of attaching a loft on top of a closet requires access to the area above the closet, which may involve removing a section of the wall. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Contact someone knowledgeable about your home, such as the builder or designer, to determine if any walls above the closet are weight-bearing. Cut out the wall above the closet if walls are not weight-bearing using a saw. Remove the entire wall section above the closet.
2. Use a stud finder to mark the studs all along the rear and side walls, even with the top of the remaining closet wall.
3. Measure the depth of the loft from the back wall to where the front of the loft will be. Cut two 4-by-4 posts to that length. Position a 4-by-4 post against the walls that face each other, that are parallel with the distance that was just measured. Make the top of the post even with the top of the closet wall. Mark the location of the studs on the posts. Remove the posts and drill through them at each marking. Replace the posts and drill through them into the wall, hitting a stud each time or re-drilling.
4. Measure and cut a 4-by-4 post to fit on the rear wall on top of the two installed side posts. Mount it to the wall using the same method, keeping it flush with the previously installed side posts. Attach the rear post to the side posts as well by drilling four holes down through the top of the post and into each side post. Attach the posts together with 6-inch wood screws.
5. Add additional posts parallel to the rear post and identical in length, spanning the side posts and resting on the closet wall when possible. Attach them in the same manner as the rear post, spacing them every 3 feet.
6. Cut 2-by-4 boards to the measurement of the depth of the loft. Evenly space them every 6 inches over the horizontal posts, parallel to the side posts with their large surfaces down. Drill four holes through each of these boards, which are the mattress boards, and into each post. Attach the boards together with 3-inch wood screws.
Tags: above closet, side posts, closet wall, rear post, 4-by-4 post, depth loft
