Loft Conversion Advice

You have a growing family and your living space is not enough. But at the moment, moving to a bigger house is not a good idea for you. You don’t want to leave your present location, and you are happy with your surroundings and friendly neighbors. The kids don’t want to leave their friends too. Moreover, moving home is very costly and you simply can’t afford it. You can’t imagine yourself going through the trouble of selling your existing house, buying a new one, and other things it entails. You thought of extending your house, but the only space available is your garden and you want to save it.

Instead of moving on, your option would be moving up. Today, loft conversion is very appealing to many people. They enjoy the benefit of added space and the added value it gives. It is usually easier, quicker and less expensive than building an extension. To convert your loft is definitely a job for the professionals. But if you do it right, you would benefit not only from an extra floor for your home and a daylight-filled space, but also from a bigger return on your investment if ever you decide to sell your house in the future. Just imagine the extra 15-30% that a loft can add to your home value.

Plan It Out

Yes it is a good idea, but you have to stop and think it over first. Consider all physical, legal and financial aspects involved. The head room needs consideration. You should be able to stand upright in your loft at its highest point. The height should be at least 2.3 m.

Building often takes about 12 weeks, and to access the roof it is done from the outside. You should not be disrupted until they can break through and build new stairs. But still, it could disrupt you. It is a long, noisy, and dusty process. Although builders are careful and professional, there will still be a certain amount of dirt and untidiness during the building. In some cases, they will have to walk through your home to get in and out of loft space with their tools. So you have to be ready for the mess or the damage it will bring for as long as the building takes.

Planning Requirement

Your plan should always comply with the local building regulations . Usually, converted lofts are required to be put at the back part of your house in order for the house to maintain its appearance from the street. That is why in most cases, the roof windows at the front are used for more light and ventilation.

For a loft conversion, planning permission is not always needed. But you still have to approach your local planning office before starting up a project, just to be sure you’re on the right track. Loft conversions need to comply with the building regulations. For instance, fire regulations must be inspected during the construction and after the project is done.

Always remember that a loft conversion is a major job, so architectural plans are required to be drawn up. You should think about the internal and external design of your loft from the aesthetic point of view. Be ready for what you want in order to brief your architect accurately. You may want to have more than one room, and you want to use it for a specific purpose. Or maybe you want to add a bathroom and you need enough space for a bath.

Electrical planning is also vital. It also makes sense if you spend time to consider lighting and other electrical requirements. For example, if you are planning to turn your loft into a study room, you will definitely need more electrical sockets for your electronic equipments.

Consult a Specialist

If you consult a specialist, you can make use of their experience and expertise. They can determine which part of your space is usable. Whether you can add a bathroom or add windows to your roof, they can advise you. Builders will provide you with the site surveys and quotations for free.

You’ll be needing the service of a professional architect or surveyor to look at the loads to be placed on the building through the roof space. The planning department or your builder can recommend an architect who can look at your current roof space. You can tell what you want to do with it. Then he can draw the appropriate plans. Look for a professional company or get a recommendation from friends and relatives who have had a loft conversion. Just be sure that they are experienced in loft conversion work.

The Cost

A loft conversion can be expensive, but a good conversion can definitely add value to your investment. If you are planning of a loft conversion, speaking to estate agents is advisable to know how much you can increase the price of your property. Then, you can have an idea of how much money you will have to spend to keep in profit.

Ask different builders to quote for the job and compare it with your plans. By this, you can have a better idea as to which company offers best value for your money. But bear in mind that cost and value is not the same thing. The cost of the job varies depending on its complexity and your location. Problems arise between customers and their builders if there is no written contract which clearly outlines the full extent and cost of the work to be done. You should insist that everything is in writing so everything is perfectly clear to all parties concerned.

Each loft conversion is very different due to the differences in each house and each loft. The cost depends on the type of roof structure, the volume of the entire room/rooms within the loft, how many and what design of windows you would like, your electrical requirements, and your plumbing requirements.

Don't rush your decisions. Plan carefully this is an important investment . You need to look for the right builder. Using the web to get a list of builders in your area is a good start and personal recommendation is also a very good place to start. You should talk to past clients before you appoint a builder in order to find out if they were satisfied with the quality of their jobs and the way they were carried out.