EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BUILDING A RAISED PLATFORM
You don't have to raise the roof or knock out walls to create usable space: building a platform can mean an interesting design feature as well as extra storage room. And while you will need a sufficiently high ceiling, a platform may take many forms. It can be used to conceal unsightly service pipes; sub-woofers can be fitted inconspicuously to a platform to add an extra dimension to the sound from television and stereo speakers; even de-humidifiers and air-conditioners can be hidden beneath a deck.
Creation of storage space is only one of the functions architect Johnny Kember of KplusK (tel: 2541 6828) has found for a platform. He says the key to this type of construction, with a concealed chamber reached via floor hatches, is to make sure the hatches are strong enough to be walked on. To help lift them, hydraulic pistons of the type used on car hatchbacks can be incorporated. They offer the bonus of easing floor hatches back into place without banging.
Concealed chambers can be lined in a strong contrasting colour to add an aesthetic dimension to a platform, and drawers can be added around the sides for instant access to stored items.
A platform must be strong enough to take the weight of people jumping up and down on it; it will also exert a dead weight on the existing floor, which should be considered before construction begins. The weight of the new raised floor and of the 'live' load (furniture and people) must be accounted for to ensure the existing floor can withstand these additional demands. However a platform is used, materials should be selected for durability and practicality. A podium intended for audio equipment but built of flimsy wood may reverberate at low frequencies, which will mar the sound.
Installation procedures depend on the materials. A platform with concealed storage space will typically be constructed using a five-centimetre-square steel angle frame, welded on site and screwed to the floor. It will be clad in two layers of two-centimetre-thick MDF board (with staggered joints between the upper and lower layers) screwed to the frame. Kember says you should expect the job to take anything from 10 days to four weeks, but to reduce on-site construction time the storage cupboards can be made off site. The finished deck can be clad in anything from timber-strip flooring to tatami matting to carpet. KplusK recently designed a 12-metre-square platform containing three concealed storage cabinets clad in plastic laminate, with the deck completed in American walnut-strip flooring. The total cost was about $40,000.
Raised floors are most common in kitchens and bathrooms, where pipes are hidden. They are likely to be of single-step height and made of wood, although metal and concrete offer other possibilities. Glass can be used to enable under-floor lighting to shine through.