How to Turn a House into a Duplex?

Do you find duplex apartments extremely appealing? Do you stay in a house and wish to turn it into a duplex? Well, if this is the case, then it is undoubtedly a good decision. Duplex apartments are simply great housing solutions for families with older kids, who need private space of their own or simply for those who wish to add an extra source of income by way of rental charges. You will be delighted to know that transforming a house into a duplex is not a cumbersome task and can be easily tackled if the relevant factors are efficiently taken care of. Here is a list of useful tips to assist you in the task –

Modern living room interior design by ONGONG 2

First of all, you need to find out whether your neighborhood is covered under the zoning permits where houses can be transformed into duplex apartments. Whether you are aware of the fact or not but policies are known to differ in every state as well as every neighborhood.A good way to find out about the policy applicable in your area is to either talk to the local counselor or visit the planning website of your State.

Once you have checked about the policies, you need to determine the type of duplex you would want. There are two types of duplex apartments. The first type is basically two separate units sharing a common wall, whereas the second type is an apartment featuring living spaces in the form of two levels, basement and first level.

If you wish to create two separate units in the same level sharing a common wall, you need to firstly divide the space into two equal halves. In addition, you need to ensure that the two units are equipped with the basic utility facilities. For instance, both the units should include facilities such as a kitchen and bathroom.

Modern living room interior design by ONGONG 2

On the other hand, if you choose to create two living units at two levels, you need to basically create a fresh first level with complete utility facilities, which shall be made accessible by stairs leading from the basement floor. This is unquestionably a lot of construction work, and you will have to hire a professional interior decorator for this task.

It must be mentioned that many states require duplex apartments to feature separate two addresses instead of one, and you will require contacting the sewage, water and electric companies for the same.{pics from ONG & ONG}