Anyone looking for an apartment or home with unique ambiance has probably thought about living in a loft. With typical features like high ceilings, big windows, and a trendy interior vibe, living in a loft presents a lot of possibilities for design and style. Most lofts in major cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are in older industrial buildings that once housed businesses and industries that have moved to better locations or have gone out of business.

Many of these large multiple-story buildings were built in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, so they offer a certain bit of nostalgia and charm. The appeal of 14-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, brick walls, and concrete floors draws many homeowners to loft spaces, especially millenials who prefer inner-city living over the suburbs. Although living in a loft certainly has a certain amount of appeal, it also presents a lot of challenges that homeowners don't realize until they move in. Since lofts are large spaces with no room divisions, high ceilings, tall windows, and lots of hard surfaces, they offer little or no sound absorption and rather difficult floor plans. Many people move in only to find that their new loft is extremely noisy, flooded with sunlight, and a nightmare to design.

Since old lofts were once industrial spaces, most all of them have original concrete floors that are in need of repairs. While some homeowners choose to keep and refinish the concrete floors because of their cool, organic feel and fire-resistant properties, others may prefer the softer, more traditional appeal of wood flooring. Old brick or masonry walls found in many lofts have a certain industrial vibe that's appealing to some, but they offer no acoustic properties for the living space. Ceilings that soar to 14 feet or more and extremely large windows are great aesthetic features, but they create a space that can be difficult to heat and cool. Living in a loft can be a great lifestyle for the right person, but it's not for everyone.

Although interior features create a unique atmosphere, remodeling a loft space can be a daunting and expensive task. Unless the loft is newly built, it will likely need a lot of repairs to floors, walls, and ceilings, as well as new plumbing and electrical work. Most older lofts don't come with kitchens and bathrooms, so building those can be a major expense. Remodeling a loft is a messy job that requires skilled labor, Trimaco heavy duty surface protection, and commitment by the homeowner. If you like the idea of living in a loft and you're up to the task, go for it. With a little work, you can create a home with unique ambiance and stunning design appeal.

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