Lofts!?! A to L to Z! The all you need to know resource!
Written by Matt on October 16th, 2008What is a loft?
I like to define a loft as a “unit” that is a large open living space. It has character and is often going to be space that has not been separated into rooms and feature high ceilings and big windows.
There are three main types of lofts!
Hard lofts are building conversions. The developer has taken an existing building, such as a school, church, warehouse, or industrial building, and converted that space into individual living areas. They generally have large amounts of character and are often one off units that are unique with features such as exposed aged brick, steel duct work, concrete pilliars/floors, wood posts and/or beams.
Examples of Hard Lofts - Click to enlarge!
Soft lofts are newer buildings built with the purpose of residential living and often feature less character and more “condo” like. They will still feature high ceilings and large open spaces and windows, but not as many one-off features.
Examples of Soft Lofts - Click to enlarge!
The third type of loft is Work/Live loft. These types are not very common because they often feature less finishes and are sometimes only available to those who are active artists.
Still not too sure what the difference is between a loft and a condo??
New Home Warranty - In hard loft buildings that have been conversion there is (usually) no Tarion New Home Warranty included in the sale. Because it is a “renovation” and the original foundation has not been modified it is not eligible for the warranty. This means that there isnt the same type of protection if you ever needed to dispute the developer.
Soundproofing - Due to the fact that hard lofts were originally built with a different purpose then residential living, the units do not feature the same amount of soundproofing that you can find in a soft loft unit. Hard lofts still have the required (and often above) fire code regulations for each unit but possibly not the same amount of noise reduction.
Parking - Because soft lofts are built from the ground up, they are able to add a underground parking garage to handle the hundreds of units in the building. BUT because hard lofts are pre-existing and foundations are already in place the developer is unable to add a underground parking spot and can often have less available parking.
Photo credits to Toronto Lofts!