What type of loft conversion should I have? 

This is an excellent question and the answer will depend on three things: 

What Types of Loft Conversion Can I have? 

There are four main types of loft conversion, you can read about them here in more detail 

Budget 

People are often surprised how expensive a loft conversion can be, especially if they have had quotes for other building work in the last 5 to 10 years.  

The prices for timber, in particular, have shot up in the last five years and loft conversions require a lot of timber!  

The timber used in rafters is expensive because it is stronger than average wood, also the amount of cutting and shaping required demands a high level of skill, which also doesn't come cheap.  

Aside from the rafters, there will need to be a staircase, a floor, walls and door/window frames which are all made of high-quality timber. 

The cheapest loft conversions usually cost around £25k-£30k (roof lights only) but a conversion of this type is much less appealing when compared with the only slightly more expensive dormer option, which is between £27k and £50k, depending on the size and complexity. 

Dormers are the most popular loft conversion type and are suitable for most houses, but if a property has a hipped roof (as many semi and detached houses do) it is likely a hip-to-gable conversion will be required, which is significantly more expensive, usually costing between £42k and £50k. 

Hip-to-gable and mansard loft conversions replace some or all of the existing roof structure, which is why they are some much more expensive. 

The Existing Property 

The property being converted will often dictate what type of conversion can be performed; deciding factors include: 

A terrace house can't have a hip-to-gable conversion because it won't have a hipped roof. A common option in terrace houses is roof lights in the front elevation and dormers at the rear, as this combination gives a good amount of light and space but doesn't normally require planning permission. 

Getting planning permission for dormers at the front of a house in a terrace might be tricky if the property is directly opposite another house and only a roads' width apart from it. 

A semi or detached property which is further from its neighbours and not directly opposite another house close by is much more likely to gain permission for modifications to the front and sides of the property, especially things like dormers and mansard loft conversions. 

Motives Behind a Loft Conversion 

The reasons a client has for wanting a loft conversion can also affect what type of project they embark on. 

A home office which will be used for 40+ hours per week would need a lot of natural light and space to make it a pleasant place to work in, whereas if space is to be used infrequently or in short bursts (like a Gym) then having a smaller option might be reasonable. 

If you need more advice or want to discuss your ideas with our team, please give us a call today!  

 

After a very different year than any of us expected, and with more available time to watch vast amounts of youtube videos you might be considering a very adventurous challenge to design and build your own loft room. You've gained the skills from Youtube so why not. Loft Conversions can be technically challenging projects which should only be attempted by people with significant experience in building/construction. 

If you do decide to build a loft conversion yourself, there are a lot of things to consider once you start construction, such as: 

Demolition  

Whilst you might not be demolishing your roof entirely, there will almost always be material to be removed from the roof structure to create the additional living space. Any material removed is considered to be waste, which needs to be disposed of correctly, usually via a skip, provided by a licensed waste carrier. 

If you don't have space for a skip on your land you may have to acquire/pay for a separate license for a permit to put it in the road.  

Anything you remove from your roof also needs to find its' way into the skip safely. That means you can't throw things off the roof into a skip at street level, you need to have a chute or other safe means of getting the waste into the skip.  

Throwing things from a high level into a skip is known as 'bombing' and is severely frowned upon by local authority building control and the Health and Safety executive, both of whom can shut down your project if they catch you doing it. 

Scaffolding and Access 

You will need scaffolding of some description to access the outside of your roof safely. 

There are proprietary scaffolding kits available to buy or hire which don't need specialist training to erect, but they tend to limited to set lengths and heights.  

If you feel you need a traditional tube and fit scaffolding, get a professional scaffolding company to erect it. 

Temporary Weather Protection 

Weather Protection of some description will be required during your loft conversion to prevent the elements damaging your property. If the roof will be open for long period, it may be prudent to have a scaffold which spans over the top of the house and completely envelopes the roof. 

Temporary Structural Support 

Forming the living space in your loft conversion will usually require removal or modification of the rafters, which are holding your roof up. Depending on how the roof is constructed, you may need to support the roof or beams within it temporarily while the work is carried out. 

You should seek the advice of a structural engineer before cutting or otherwise modifying any structural beams / rafters within your loft. 

Structural Roof Timbers 

As mentioned above, the timbers within your roof are structural, not decorative.  

Timber used for structural purposes will have been designed to do a certain job and will have been specified as needing to be a certain thickness and strength. These timbers should be 'stress graded' because a sample of each batch of timber will be tested to prove its strength. 

Stress graded timber is more expensive than regular timber because it usually comes from stronger trees and the testing process wastes some timber as well as having a cost itself. The price of timber generally has risen steeply over the last few years, so prepare to spend big on timber. 

Staircases 

The staircase into you loft conversion can be problematic for several reasons: 

Staircases can be tricky to build and will bring disruption into your everyday living space while they are being built. In many properties the staircase has to go above an existing landing and stairs, which can make access to it problematic.  

None of these problems are show-stoppers, but they do need planning for and managing. 

We offer a complete service of design and build from start to finish for your loft conversion, we are the experts in our field, and we manage everything so you can relax and look forward to your new living space. 

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