Cabin Loft Ceiling Height - Small Cabin Forum

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Author	Message
Oscar1 Member	# Posted: 21 Mar 2021 16:26 Reply We would like to build a cabin with a loft with low ceiling height (e.g. sloping from 6' to 2'). Is there any way to do this compliant with IRC? If the space were classified as habitable attic we would need at least 35sf with 7'+ ceilings. We read that for tiny houses (<400sf) a loft can be as low as 3', however this does not apply to us. (It seems strange that the requirement is so relaxed for these tiny houses.) Is there any way build a cabin loft with a low roof? All suggestions are welcome. Thank you.

gcrank1 Member	# Posted: 21 Mar 2021 21:25 - Edited by: gcrank1 Reply From a practical perspective: Ive crawled around in a few 'tight lofts', the first was an over-the-cab sleeper in a pickup truck camper as well as a tiny cabin. That is why I made mine in the first build ('83-'84) 8ish' at the peak with a 12x12 floor, sided by a steep pitched roof. I was still banging into the rafters from time to time but at least I could stand up in the middle section to get dressed, make the bed, etc. No idea how the IRC thinks about all that. Guess if I had to ask somebody would probably feel obligated to say no. Id build a 'storage loft' to get the Ok then use it as I wanted 'post inspection'.

Brettny Member	# Posted: 22 Mar 2021 07:08 Reply So with less than 7' height it's not habitable? Make it your head height and you just happen to sleep up there. Also tiny houses are campers and when there on wheels they basically dont need to follow any code.

silverwaterlady Member	# Posted: 22 Mar 2021 09:25 Reply I personally wouldnâ€™t build a loft so low one canâ€™t stand up. gcrank1 wrote many of the reasons why. House Hunters on Hulu has a bunch of small house people on the search. You could watch to see what a low loft is like to navigate. A lot of people build lofts and find out they donâ€™t like sleeping in them because itâ€™s much hotter no matter what time of year and end up using them for storage. If sleeping in a loft is your only choice, make sure you add a window. You are going to need it to vent out heat.

Brettny Member	# Posted: 22 Mar 2021 12:53 Reply Quoting: silverwaterlady I personally wouldnâ€™t build a loft so low one canâ€™t stand up. gcrank1 wrote many of the reasons why. House Hunters on Hulu has a bunch of small house people on the search. You could watch to see what a low loft is like to navigate. A lot of people build lofts and find out they donâ€™t like sleeping in them because itâ€™s much hotter no matter what time of year and end up using them for storage. If sleeping in a loft is your only choice, make sure you add a window. You are going to need it to vent out heat. All good reasons why to make a taller loft or not leave it open to below.