Expert: Bruce E. Johnson - 8/31/2010

Question
Hello Bruce,  
We want to convert our screened porch into a four season sunroom.  The foundation is made of concrete and brick piers and the floor looks to be attached under the french doors to the house as a deck would be.  We would like to run our vents out into the space for ac and heating, which would basically leave them exposed to the cold of winter if left as is.  
My dream is to eventually, build up and use the space over top of this sunroom as a master bath addition.  Would the piers support a bathroom over the top of a sunroom? Should we go ahead and get a foundation built underneath this porch for the winterization factor and/or to support a dream bath or can this be done successfully as it is?  
Thanks, Pamela  

Answer
Hi Pamela, you will have to provide a new foundation or reinforce your existing foundation to support an upstairs.   Mainly because your upstairs will bear on the perimeter of the porch where you only have intermittant supports at the piers.  To have any kind of proper room built you should have a masonry or concrete foundation wall.  This will help with your winterization problem also.  

As far as supporting interior elements upstairs like bathtubs etc.  you will need to address those problems as they arise.  In other words you can add necessary piers in specific locations when the time comes to build the upstairs.  So you don't need to worry about that one right now.  

Put a decent foundation capable of supporting two stories and then you will always have that option as you can afford it.

I hope this information helps, please feel free to write again regarding this or other matters, sincerely bruce e johnson