[HowToGuy]

I have a storage room on the second level of my home that I got finished off by the builder to use as my office. It has everything I need but I'm wanting to add a window and closet to the room so it can be called a bedroom when I sell.

I got a quote from a contractor for $1100 to build the closet and put in the window which covers everything but paint (which I will do) and the window which I'm going to buy and provide.

The only thing that's worrying me is that the contractor said he wanted to frame over the carpet instead of cutting it and re-stretching it around the closet. Is this something I should be worried about or is that a normal thing?

Thanks for your input.

 

[Willie T]

Just be SURE he understands that if he uses screws in the bottom plate - or drills through it for any reason - that he is responsible for replacing your carpet if he catches fiber strands and twists them into "runs" across the surface of the carpet. It happens in a matter of seconds!

 

[Gary in WA]

Nope. You need tack strips on both sides. Tack some wood down, on both sides, so the carpet doesn't shrink when you slice it for the new wall. Then install tack strips on both sides after you remove the width of the wall from the carpet. Put the carpet back on the new strips, build and install the wall.

Bedroom egress window, second paragraph:

http://www.codecheck.com/cc/pg07_08building.html Be safe, G

 

[Termite]

GBAR is right on both topics! No reputable contractor would ever consider framing over the carpet. They'd cut it, install tack, and do it right.

The added window would certainly need to meet egress code.

Additionally, to call it a bed you'd need a smoke detector (hardwired in most cases) in the bed and one immediately outside the bed.