Should I try to design my own loft conversion? 

A loft conversion is arguably the most difficult type of home improvement project one can attempt because it requires modification of structural elements at height in a confined space. The design and administrative side of such a project can also be very involved and require the skills of professional architects and engineers. 

Unless you have considerable experience in the building trade, it is not recommended that you attempt a loft conversion as a self-build project. At Amazing Lofts, we can take your loft conversion project from conception to completion as a fully managed service, design and build. 

If you do decide to design your own loft conversion, these are the things you will need to consider: 

What Kind of Loft Conversion Will Do You Build? 

The size, shape and type of your house may set limits on what kind of conversion you can have. If you have a terrace house in a street opposite more terrace houses, you may only be able to have dormers and roof lights.  

Larger, semi or detached properties may have more options open to them, but with increasing size and complexity comes increasing cost; the budget is often a major limiting factor in loft conversions because clients rarely appreciate how expensive they can be until they embark upon a project of their own. 

Layout and Design 

Good design is the foundation of a successful loft conversion and the more you can plan up front the better your project will be. There are so many considerations with regard to design in a loft conversion, such as: 

Good design will not only make the construction of the loft conversion easier, it will also make it a better place to live/work/play in once it is finished.  

Planning Permission 

Some types of loft conversion don't require planning permission and can be built under what is known as 'permitted development', provided they meet certain criteria. 

As an example, if you decide to have roof lights in the front elevation of your roof and a dormer at the rear, this would likely be considered permitted development, as long as the building is not listed or in a conservation area. 

If you want to have dormers at the front of the house or a mansard conversion, you will need planning permission which requires a formal application. A planning application will need a lot of technical drawings to be prepared by a designer and there is every chance your proposal may be rejected by the local planning authority if it is: 

Building Regulations 

Before you start construction you will need to submit an application to building control. This application will vary in size and complexity with your project, but it is possible that you will have to do structural calculations and drawings for the changes you are making to the property, as well as explain what materials you are using and how your design will comply with the building regulations for: 

The design of loft conversion is a complicated task, but it is something we can help you with because we have designed and built lots of them, so please give us a ring to talk about your project. 

 

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. 

"Can I have a loft conversion at my property?" 

This is a question we get asked a lot and the answer is generally "yes, as long as you have a loft". 

No two loft conversions are ever the same and the main things which will limit the potential for a loft conversion are: 

How Expensive is a Loft Conversion? 

Loft conversion costs vary with size and complexity, typical figures are: 

These costs are the all-in cost for design and build, from start to finish, including planning permission, building regulations, structural design and construction. 

The cost of a loft conversion has risen steadily over the last five years, mainly due to the increase in the price of timber and labour costs. Many building contractors have not increased their prices in line with new costs and will often quote at a loss and then look to recoup the money during the project by asking for more from the client. 

We don't think this is a good way to do business so we quote honestly, based on realistic prices. 

Limitations on converting a loft 

The property which is to receive the loft conversion can often be a source of limitation, particularly if it has: 

Very small houses or properties with very shallow roofs may yield small converted spaces, which can be off-putting to potential clients.  

With that said, even small terrace houses can benefit from a good sized loft conversion with the use of dormers, which is why it is the most popular type of loft conversion. For a typical terraced house, adding a dormer to the rear elevation of the roof and a roof light to the front does not require planning permission. 

Adding dormers to the front or sides of a property will require a planning application, which can be rejected if the local authority feels that the changes will be creating too much shade over a neighbouring property or overlooking it to an extent that the privacy of the occupiers will be unduly compromised. 

The value of the property (and often the location it is in) will determine how much value is added to it with a loft conversion. 

As an example, consider two identical houses in different areas, one affluent, one not; they both have the same £30k loft conversion - a large bedroom with an ensuite - the house in the affluent area is now revalued at £40k more than before, whereas the other house has only increased in value by £20k because it is limited by the location it is in. 

A loft conversion on some properties will add more value than was spent on it, but not all.  

For many people, a loft conversion gives them a space which improves their lives, such as giving a teenage child a bedroom, or creating an office so that someone can work from home full time. Having a new space at home which does something like this can be life changing and is worth the price, even if it is not fully realised immediately in the revaluation of the property. 

If you are considering having a loft conversion, give us a ring and see if we can help you! 

 

A loft conversion could be the perfect way to enhance your home and give you that perfect space you've always dreamed of. Here are some ideas to get you thinking!

*Remember that you can always mix and match some of the ideas below, to have the best of several worlds.

 

1. New Master Bedroom

A loft conversion can add a lot of space to your house when done properly and you might find you have enough room for an en suite and a bigger bedroom than you do currently. Using a mixture of roof lights and dormers, we can great a light and airy space with the best views in the house!

 

2. Home Office

Anyone who works from home knows what a difference a good home office set up can make to their ability to perform.

With the arrival of Covid-19, working from home has become the new norm for many people. Commentators believe that working full time in an office is going to be a thing of the past for many people, as companies with city centre offices realise the benefits of letting their employees work remotely, at least for a portion of the week.

A loft conversion can create your dream office space, separated from the rest of the house and away from noise and distractions.

 

3. Games Room

A loft conversion could be the perfect place to set up a games room for your children (large or small) with a pool table, table tennis or just about any hobby which takes up too much space in any other room.

This can be a great way to keep your family occupied and active when the weather is bad and will give your children somewhere safe to play, whilst still allowing them some freedom.

 

4. Home Gym

If you are serious about working out, a loft conversion could be the answer to your fitness prayers!

You could have your own private gym with enough space for resistance machines, a treadmill, free weights and more, maybe even a separate shower room.

 

5. Art Studio

Do you paint? Or sculpt? Maybe pottery or even graphic design?

A loft conversion could be a great way to make yourself an inspirational space to practice your craft in. Large dormers or even a balcony could really get your creative juices flowing!

 

6. Wellness Space

An odd name perhaps but using a loft conversion to create a space for your mental and physical wellbeing could be your greatest ever investment. Activities such as Yoga, Pilates and Meditation would be hugely enhanced by having a dedicated space in which to practice them.

 

7. Media Studio

A loft conversion would be perfect for work/hobbies where the space they are performed directly influences the quality of the output.

Many people make a living working from home in creative roles which need more than just an office setup, such as:

Photography

Video Making / Live Streaming

Playing / Recording Music

Online Coaching / Teaching

 

8. Teenagers' Bedroom

Having a loft conversion bedroom is as cool as bedrooms get when you're a kid! Growing teenagers will often crave levels of independence which they can't reasonably have at their age which can be very frustrating for them and their parents - giving them an amazing room further away from the rest of the family can help give them a bit more freedom whilst still keeping them under your roof.

 

So why us!

Here at Amazing Loft Conversions, we manage the whole process of converting your loft from inception through to completion of construction. We take the hassle out of creating your dream space by taking over the: 

We use our extensive experience in creating loft conversions to coordinate the design and construction into a well-oiled process which is hassle-free for our clients. 

If you want to convert your loft space into any of the above ideas talk to us today or fill in our new project questionnaire.

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