Mezzanine in Western Switzerland: creating an intermediate level

A mezzanine adds a partial level inside an existing volume: beneath a high ceiling, in a loft, a workshop, a warehouse or a shop. It lets you gain space without extending the building, but it affects the structure, the safety of people and sometimes building law. This page helps you define your project before asking for a quote.

What a mezzanine covers, from flat to workshop

The word describes a raised platform, reached by a staircase or a ladder, that does not completely close off the space below. Depending on the use, the construction can be on a very different scale.

The most common cases in Western Switzerland:

• A sleeping area or an office in a flat or house with generous ceiling height, for example in converted attic space or a former room that has been transformed.
• A storage area above a kitchen, a garage or a dry cellar.
• An additional level in a commercial or industrial space: workshop, warehouse, shop, practice. It then serves as storage, an office or a sales area.
• A gallery in a barn or a converted rural building, where the existing roof structure provides support.

The usual materials are timber, steel and, more rarely, a mixed solution. Timber suits living spaces and can be worked on site; steel supports heavier loads and longer spans, which mainly interests commercial premises. The choice depends on the intended load, the look you want and what the building can take.

When to hand the mezzanine over to a professional

A small storage platform may seem within reach of a DIY enthusiast. As soon as someone has to climb up, sleep or work there, the nature of the risk changes. Call in a professional in the following situations:

• the mezzanine must support people, heavy furniture or stock;
• it rests on walls, slabs or a roof structure whose capacity you do not know;
• it includes a staircase, a balustrade or an opening in the floor;
• it is installed in a co-owned or rented building;
• it changes how the space is used, for example by creating a bedroom.

An unprotected drop or inadequate fixings is not a cosmetic flaw: it is a risk of falling or collapse. The professional checks the support, sizes the structure and provides the necessary protection.

Who builds a mezzanine, and with what training

Several trades are involved depending on the material. The timber framer and the carpenter work with wood; the metalworker or locksmith works with steel. In Switzerland, these trades are learned through apprenticeship and lead to a federal certificate of proficiency (CFC), which gives a useful training benchmark when assessing a contractor. A CFC does not, however, replace a detailed quote or references that you can check yourself.

For a somewhat complex project, several companies coordinate: structure, staircase, balustrade, lighting, heating or ventilation of the new volume. Ask who is responsible for coordination, because that is often where misunderstandings between two trades arise.

Permits and rules by canton

In Switzerland, building law is largely a matter for the cantons and communes. A mezzanine can create usable floor area or change the use of a space, and the competent authority examines these points. Never assume that no permit is needed: always check with the commune or the cantonal office concerned before signing.

• Geneva: building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire (building permits office). Many rental buildings are managed by agents, whose consent is essential. Protected districts and the old town impose additional requirements. On energy, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) govern, among other things, subsidies under the Buildings Programme.
• Vaud: the building permit is issued by the municipality of the commune. The file goes through the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC) when cantonal departments need to give an opinion. Old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, are sensitive areas.
• Valais: the building permit is issued by the commune within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. For a chalet or a second home, the federal law on second homes may apply in the communes concerned.
• Fribourg: building permit applications are submitted through the cantonal platform FRIAC. The permit is issued by the prefecture or the commune, depending on the type of work. Protected old towns call for particular attention.
• Neuchâtel: applications go through the cantonal one-stop shop SATAC, with the decision taken by the commune. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, listed by UNESCO, may weigh on alterations to buildings concerned.
• Jura: the permit is issued by the commune or by the canton depending on the size of the project. The old towns of Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne warrant a preliminary discussion with the relevant departments.
• Bern and Biel/Bienne: the permit is issued by the commune or the prefecture depending on the project. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual: exchanges with the administration can be in French or German.

On energy, each canton runs a subsidy programme, but a mezzanine on its own does not necessarily qualify. If your project also includes insulation or a change of heating, ask the cantonal energy office before starting, because some grants must be applied for in advance.

Preparing your quote request for the mezzanine

The more precise your description, the more comparable the quotes will be. Gather these details before contacting anyone:

• the address, the type of building and the floor;
• the available height, measured beneath the beams if the ceiling is not flat;
• the intended use: sleeping, office, storage, sales;
• the dimensions you want and the position of the staircase;
• the nature of the walls and floor on which the structure will rest;
• photos of the space from several angles;
• your status: owner, co-owner, tenant (with the landlord’s consent), company.

Also state whether you expect a complete finish (flooring, paint, lighting) or only the structure. This avoids receiving two offers that do not cover the same thing. To get started, you can request a quote: your request is passed to craftspeople and companies in the region, who will contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

What a reliable mezzanine quote spells out

A useful quote is read line by line. At a minimum it should specify:

• the description of the structure: material, section of the elements, method of fixing;
• the working load for which the mezzanine is designed;
• the staircase and the balustrade, with their type and dimensions;
• the finishes included and those that are not;
• any ancillary work: electrics, lighting, ventilation, ceiling adjustments;
• site management: access, protection of the premises, waste removal;
• the handling of permit procedures, and who prepares them;
• the payment terms and the governing contract, for example the SIA 118 standard if the parties refer to it.

A single line such as “mezzanine, lump sum” does not allow comparison. Ask for the detail, and ask questions about anything that remains unclear.

What makes the cost of a mezzanine vary

No reliable price can be given without a visit. Several factors explain the differences between two projects that look similar:

• the floor area and the span to be crossed without intermediate support;
• the load to be supported, which dictates the dimensions of the structure;
• the material chosen and its treatment (raw timber, stained, painted or galvanised steel);
• the shape of the staircase and the complexity of the balustrade;
• the condition of the support: an old wall or a slab of unknown capacity requires checks;
• the finishes and the technical installations added;
• site access: upper floor, narrow passage, no lift;
• the administrative steps and the time they take to process, which can delay the start of work.

Compare several offers on the same description, rather than choosing the shortest or the least detailed one.

Legal warranties after the mezzanine is installed

The Code of Obligations (CO) governs the warranty for defects in work. For immovable work, the period is five years under art. 371 CO; for movable work, it is two years. How your mezzanine is classified, fixed to the building or removable, depends on the specific case: ask the company how it views it and have this written into the contract.

If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard (the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects’ general conditions for construction work), its rules supplement the contract. Check that this reference appears in black and white in the quote or the contract. After acceptance of the work, inspect the structure, the staircase and the balustrade, then report any defect in writing without delay.

Mezzanine near you: the canton pages

No local page dedicated to this trade is available yet for individual towns. To understand the context in your region, see the page for your canton:

• canton of Geneva
• canton of Vaud
• canton of Valais
• canton of Fribourg
• canton of Neuchâtel
• canton of Jura
• canton of Bern

Is your project ready to be described? Request a quote for your mezzanine.