Converting Fourplex To Single Family

aosterbe

I'm a fairly novice GC, converting a fourplex apartment building to a single family home (will be moved into by me & my family). There are currently four units, air conditioners and gas furnaces - about 5 years old on each unit. We are also constructing a carriage house garage with apartment above.

I'm looking for recommendations on what system would work best - and if there's any affordable way to re-configure the current units (ie, use one AC and furnace for the garage - use 3 of the others to set up a zoned system for the second story or first of the house? and buy a new system to handle the remainder). For the garage apt - which may or may not be used with any regularity - would I be better off with a mini-split system to save $$$?

the project is in Charlotte NC
2200 square feet on each level (2 story) total 4400 sq ft
650 sq foot garage apt

What kind of cost am I looking at? I know I'll need/want new duct work everywhere.

Thanks for the recommendations!
A

Diesel65

Tear it all out and start fresh.

You will spend more money trying to make what you have work, have a company come out and discuss your options, you may well be able to use some or even all of your equipment if it will work with the load calcs.

If you half a$$ it now to save a few bucks you will pay later.

mickeyco

I have a little experience in this exact area, there's actually an area of Chicago that has quite a few 4 flat to single family conversions. I doubt you'll get the answers you need without a ton more information, maybe more than you can provide. How old is the building? what shape is the duct work in? what are the locations of the furnaces? one or two basements? are you tearing the building down to the studs (furring strips in some cases) inside? are you leaving the interior configuration the same or "opening" up areas that would put several furnaces in competition? how many gas meters are there and if it's like out here there would be 5 (not including the carriage house) and are you going to reduce the number? are the furnaces large enough or too large for the carriage house? And on and on.

If the layout is to remain the same the cheapest short term solution would be to leave it the way it is. Re do the gas-lines and reduce the number of meters, there's a service charge for each meter the same would apply to the electric service, probably 5 meters, 5 panels. Get a new furnace properly sized to the carriage house.

In the ones I've had experience, in which the original layout was completely changed, they used three furnaces (outside condensing unit for each), one for each floor, all new and sized correctly. They used the existing duct work, relocating and extending it to the center basement in a newly built cinder block utility room. The gas meters were reduced to one, same with the electric, new service and used a few of the existing panels as sub-panels.

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