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Friends, I am planning interior works for a modular kitchen and 2 wardrobes in bedrooms. For kitchen I have opted to go with Marine Ply with white lamination on the inside and shutters with MDF membrane with Matte Finish. For the wardrobes, I have chosen Commercial Ply with white lamination on the inside and shutters of block board with color lamination finish. I have got a quote for 1425 and 600 for bottom cabinet and lofts respectively for kitchen. 1050 and 600 has been quoted for wardobe/loft boxes and loft frame & shutter respectively. Are these prices fair and acceptable? Also, let me know if the choice of materials is good for long term. Kindly give your valuable feedback, as I am new to getting this kind of work.

Hi
My Architect is proposing not to build any concrete Loft in the MBR. He is asking us to make it through woodwork.
Anyone has any view on the advantage and disadvantage?

After thinking and considering the stuffs/materials that we intend to store on the lofts in MBR, I decided not to have a concrete loft and going with wooden lofts in MBR. Only kitchen has a concrete loft, where we might be storing some heavy vessels and stuffs. Hope this feedback helps!

Present thinking is if it is 2BR house, MBR will not have concrete loft and other bedroom will have concrete loft (optional). I have followed this.
My architect told any loft u built must have shutter otherwise they become source of dust collector. Many times they are not being used properly.

sahu

Thanks for your response. We are planning to cover it with wooden doors however not sure of Wooden Vs concrete loft.
can you please share why you have not gone for concrete lofts?

In our case it is part of the contract given to the contractor and now contractor is recommending not to put concrete loft in MBR and telling it wll be good if it is done in wooden. we are not sure of what are the advantages and disadvantages.

The main disadvantage of concrete loft is the thickness. Other than that there is no issue. Wooden lofts are expensive and not strong, they are also likely target of termites so better to avoid wood when possible. I suggest to go for concrete lofts and cover it with wooden shutters, which is what we have done.

I feel that by using a concrete loft with wooden shutters, you can save on construction cost as well as maintenance cost. The contractor/architect may not be very willing since its additional work for them. Infact, you can plan a whole wardrobe using concrete slabs and have wooden door/shutter for the wardrobe. The concrete slabs/partition for the wardrobe are quite thin like wooden wardrobes. One drawback of concrete wardrobe with wooden shutters is that you cannot have small drawers, or other such customization like you can have in wooden wardrobes. You will get horizontal partitions only. However, still I feel we can have 1-2 wooden wardrobes (customized ones) while the others can be concrete (mostly for storing clothes etc) with wooden doors/shutters.

Thanks everyone. After lot of debate and discussions, we have decided to go with a concrete loft in Kitchen and Guest BR. MBR will have wooden wardrobe and loft!

even if you go for the concrete lofts get it wood paneled so that from outside it will look like made of wooden.. else it will look ugly .

We have used the plywood lofts for more than 10 years no issues.. again you need to be sure of the mateial.

-chand

Hi guys
making concrete loft will save money for loft if you are not planning for a box wardrobe below it , other wise why do you need a RCC loft when the box wardrobe top will be loft base by default.
Pros of RCC loft
1.Save cost of loft of you don't make a box type wardrobe
2.You have a wider spans with out any support in the bottom
3.Till you plan for proper interiors you still have space to store scrap items

Cons of RCC loft
1.RCC loft are never casted to water tube level,you will realize all that when the carpenter shows you while doing wood work
2.Ht of loft will reduce by 6" ,since the RCC is 6" deep after plastering and leveling
3.Floor good interior looks you need to do the panneling from bottom of loft in kitchen ,which is costlier than making a direct wooden loft
4.The entire wardrobe depth is defined by RCC loft ,so you cannot go back on your wardrobe location or depth or design
5.Light pelmet is not possible
6.Bottom wardrobe and top loft will have one or other alignment issues for sure
7.The design will be stereo type where in wardrobe is smaller in width than loft ,you cannot except any wonder interior in this formar.

Regards
Ar.Praveen.N
Ardes Architects and Interior Designers
ardesarchitects@gmail.com
www.ardesarchitects.com