In the most traditional sense, a loft is an apartment found in a former industrial building converted for residential use that retains certain characteristics from its past life, such as high ceilings, large windows, open floor plans, cement floors, as well as exposed pipes, beams, and brick walls.
What is a Loft?
What is loft apartment?
What is loft living?
How common are rental scams?
Why are lofts so big?
What is rustic style loft?
When is the best time to move into an apartment?
See 4 more
About this website
What is considered a loft in a house?
The word Loft by the dictionary means a room or space directly under the roof of a house or other building used for residential or commercial purposes. Another meaning of the word is a large, open area in a warehouse, factory or other large building that has been transformed into a living space.
What is difference between loft and attic?
Loft and attic In this sense it is roughly synonymous with attic, the major difference being that an attic typically constitutes an entire floor of the building, while a loft covers only a few rooms, leaving one or more sides open to the lower floor.
What is the difference between a loft and a house?
Lofts typically do not have interior walls, have more open space and higher ceilings than other homes, and require minimal maintenance. Loft developers will sell them as move-in-ready units or as empty “shells” for buyers interested in designing the space themselves. As with condos, loft buildings are governed by HOAs.
What is a loft vs apartment?
Apartments usually are in medium to large buildings that have multiple residences on each floor. Finishes vary, but most ducting and wiring hide behind drywall. Lofts might occupy the entire floor, and usually have no partitions that divide the space.
Can you sleep in a loft room?
But when it comes to being a bedroom, a converted loft room cannot be called a bedroom merely because it offers enough space to fit a bed in, or because one has been put in there: a loft needs to be converted for the purposes of being a sleeping area, and in accordance with building regulations, in order to be called a ...
What is the purpose of a loft?
A loft, such as the one in the Oakmont home design, is a general-purpose upper-level area typically at the top of the stairs. While it may not serve as a regular bedroom, due to lack of privacy, it can still be used as a sleeping space when you have an overflow of guests.
Is a loft considered a bedroom?
If the space has a loft, you can still place a bed in the loft space without concerns of not meeting the minimum height requirement, as long as the rest of the bedroom has 7-foot tall ceilings. This is a major factor in the legal definition of a bedroom.
Does a loft have a door?
Lofts are not only expensive, but they're not well-suited to sharing with roommates to reduce the cost. The open floor plan doesn't provide much privacy between spaces. You can certainly use bookcases and divider screens to create separate areas, but there are no walls or doors for complete solitude or quiet space.
Is a loft considered a second story?
Does a loft or mezzanine level count as a separate story? No. If an apartment has a loft or mezzanine where part of the apartment has high ceilings and the other part has 2 levels, you do not count the loft or mezzanine as a separate story. Only count full stories where there are hallways and elevators.
Is a loft the same as a condo?
Lofts are former industrial or commercial buildings that are converted into housing units. The key difference between loft and condo is that lofts often have an open floor plan whereas condos have interior walls to separate different rooms.
Are lofts practical?
A practical location Homes with lofts are also incredibly practical spaces. If you need storage, a good loft can be helpful. It's got plenty of square footage, of course, but you can also set your loft up to be easy to access.
What is the difference between a loft and a mezzanine?
What is the difference between a loft and a mezzanine? A loft is a space directly under the roof of a house or other building which may be used for living space or storage and is usually open to the floor below. A mezzanine is an intermediate sub-floor between two main floors of a building.
Can you turn an attic into a loft?
Turning an underused attic into a comfortable loft can be a very smart move for any homeowner looking to add space. As your family grows, an attic loft may be your most economical alternative compared to the costs of moving, constructing an addition, or finishing a basement.
What qualifies as an attic?
An attic (sometimes referred to as a loft) is a space found directly below the pitched roof of a house or other building; an attic may also be called a sky parlor or a garret.
Why is it called an attic?
attic (n.) "top story under the roof of a house," by 1807, shortened from attic story (1724). Attic in classical architecture meant "a small, square decorative column of the type often used in a low story above a building's main facade," a feature associated with the region around Athens (see Attic).
Do Americans use the word attic?
Everyday folks from the Midwest say attic. Those on the coasts in big cities (actually, we all) use the word loft mostly in reference to a sort of Bohemian take on a live-in art studio, not to be confused with attic, which has come to mean a dusty old storage place atop a building or more often, a house.
What is a Loft: 10 Things To Know About Loft Apartments
What is a loft? You're probably very familiar with standard apartment floor plans. Most comparable to lofts are studio apartments, which have a living area, sleeping space and kitchen, all contained in one room.That is, except for the much-appreciated bathroom door, of course.
What Is a Loft Apartment? Pros and Cons of Loft Living - HomeLight Blog
Living in a loft apartment can be a great way to gain extra square feet in an urban setting. Here’s what to know about lofts before you buy one.
What Is a Loft Apartment? - The Spruce
Today loft apartments can be found primarily but not exclusively in cities around the country and the world. The popularity of loft apartment living has fed the ongoing popularity of stylized industrial-style architecture and interior design that has spread to the suburbs and even rural areas, where you can find all manner of residential, office or co-working spaces, as well as hotels ...
What is a Loft Apartment?
As its name suggests, a loft apartment is an apartment with a single large and open space and without any major internal walls. This isn’t to say that loft apartments lack walls entirely; most loft apartments have a separate bathroom with walls enclosing that private space.
What are the different types of loft apartments?
Loft apartments come in two major types: hard lofts and soft lofts.
How to tell if a loft apartment is good?
The best way to tell whether a loft apartment will be ideal is to look at pictures of loft apartments available in your area. Do a few guided tours if possible and come to your own conclusions.
What is soft loft?
On the other hand, soft lofts are loft apartments designed to mimic many of the aesthetics of traditional lofts. Soft lofts may have the same aesthetic elements like exposed brick and high ceilings, but they aren’t as rugged or industrial. The majority of soft loft apartments are renovated residential buildings whose owners seek to capitalize on the loft apartment craze. As a plus side, lots of soft loft apartments have a raised platform within the apartment space: ideal for a bedroom area.
How to split rent in loft?
Try to rent a loft apartment with one or more roommates. Roommates can help you split the bill for both the rent itself and any utilities, though you will need to share the space and deal with a lack of privacy
Why are loft apartments so expensive?
Loft apartments are also typically more expensive in general. That’s partially because of the square footage and partly because of how desirable loft apartments are at the moment. Add traditionally excellent locations on top of it, and loft apartments can be quite pricey, especially for college students who may not have enough scratch to make a big down payment
How many square feet are loft apartments?
As a bonus, many loft apartments are fairly large. They often exceed 1000 square feet, even in dense metropolitan environments.
What Makes Lofts Apartments and Traditional Apartments Different?
In case you still don’t get what a loft is, let’s show you why they are not to be called traditional apartments.
Should I Rent A Loft Apartment?
If you want a larger space then, you can go ahead with renting a loft. Lofts are also suitable for urban dwellers that need a place to call home.
What is loft apartment?
A loft apartment is an apartment in a multifamily building that was converted to residential use from a commercial, manufacturing, or warehouse building.
What are the features of a loft?
The most ubiquitous feature of a loft would have to be the columns. Lofts have columns in them often with a base and capital. These may be cast iron or steel. There can also be exposed beams in steel or wood. Sometimes you will have wood joists.
Why are large windows important in lofts?
This is important because lofts are often very deep and large tall windows can really help bring light into the deep portion of the loft apartment. The photo below is of a NYC Loft in Tribeca that we worked on. Tribeca Loft with Large Windows.
What is loft building?
Many loft buildings were designed to be manufacturing buildings not residential buildings. They were meant to hold large equipment and have storage. Compared to residential buildings lofts may have very thick walls and floors. Depending on the building they may be capable of supporting far more weight than a residential building needs. The residential code requires a live load of 40 pounds per square foot where one loft building we are working in can support a live load of 120 pounds per square foot.
Where are lofts in NYC?
Where are NYC Lofts Located. The neighborhoods most famous for lofts in NYC are SoHo and Tribeca but there are other areas with lofts. Although lofts can be scattered throughout the city here is a list of neighborhoods where you may find lofts in NYC.
How deep is a loft?
Lofts in former manufacturing buildings often have large open spaces. Living Rooms in a loft can be over 30 feet deep and up to 50 feet or more in some cases.
When did NYC pass the Loft Law?
Additionally they were often in areas not zoned for residences, and they did not have a Certificate of Occupancy for residential use. In 1982 NYC passed the 1982 Loft Law to protect these illegal tenants and to require the loft buildings be brought up to code.
What is a loft?
The term “loft” can also refer to the raised mezzanine sleeping platforms accessible by ladder or open staircase that are sometimes installed in lofts with high enough ceilings to increase the footprint by utilizing vertical space.
What is loft apartment?
A loft apartment is a real estate and design term for trendy living spaces with open floor plans that many people love and others simply hate .
What does "loft" mean in real estate?
These days, the term “loft” gets bandied about quite a bit and can mean different things. Because lofts have become trendy in recent decades, real estate listing may be branded as lofts for marketing purposes, sometimes to comic effect. Just comb the real estate listings of any major city with an industrial past and all manner of raw spaces masquerading as a loft may appear, from a windowless unfinished basement to a one-room apartment. A contemporary studio apartment without a separate bedroom is often rebranded as a “mini loft.”
Why are loft apartments considered sustainable?
Because they repurpose existing buildings, loft apartments are considered a form of sustainable architecture
Where did loft apartments come from?
The history of loft apartments can be traced to cities like New York, where in the 1960s in lower Manhattan, artists turned former industrial buildings into live-work spaces, paying no or low rent in exchange for a place to create in the days when living in New York City was still affordable for artists.
Do open floor plans have walls?
They generally feature open floor plans and are typically devoid of walls
What is a Loft?
Traditionally, lofts are former industrial buildings turned modern apartments. They often feature high ceilings with exposed pipes, beams, and brick walls.
What is loft apartment?
Traditionally, lofts are former industrial buildings turned modern apartments. They often feature high ceilings with exposed pipes, beams, and brick walls. A true loft was a building created for an industrial purpose. However, newer complexes are also mimicking the look and feel of lofts to meet the rental demand.
What is loft living?
If you’re tired of cramming everything into a small, urban apartment, you’ll love loft living. Lofts are usually spacious with an open concept that offers plenty of flexibility to decorate and create separate areas for work and play. The high ceilings also make lofts feel larger than life.
How common are rental scams?
Rental scams are common. In fact, 43.1% of renters have encountered a rental listing that they believed was fraudulent, according to a recent Apartment List study on rental scams.
Why are lofts so big?
Lofts are also enormous. They have plenty of room to spare in comparison to their pint-sized counterparts. Some property managers and complexes will also create more dimension in their lofts by building out bedrooms to offer more privacy. This is ideal if you want to live with roommates or have a family.
What is rustic style loft?
The rustic style of lofts turns exposed brick and beams into the aesthetic. Add your own industrial touches or rely on modern, minimalistic touches to enhance the charm of your loft apartment.
When is the best time to move into an apartment?
Trends show that the best time to move into a new apartment is in December or January if you're looking for lower rent prices and less competition. If you prefer to browse a larger selection of loft apartments and don't mind competing with other prospects, then start your search in early spring.
