Most lofts only get visited twice a year. That’s a whole room sitting empty above your head!
Loft conversions make space above you more functional. Even the term “loft” can have different meanings based on where you live and what you consider your loft. It can mean an extra bedroom, study, or a quiet room away from the rest of the house. It usually comes cheaper than moving and doesn’t cost any of the yard space the way a ground-floor extension would.
Your roof makes a big difference in how functional your new space can become. Some lofts don’t need much work for a straightforward conversion. Many, however, need much more work to get the head-height and floor-area correct. There really is no way of knowing what your loft can be until we see it. We have an idea of the different types, and we would love to start there.
Different Types
Dormer
Building out from the slope of the roof allows us to create a box-shaped extension for standing room and usable floor space to be built within. It provides the greatest versatility for semi-detached and terraced housing.
Hip-to-Gable
This style is used mostly on housing with a sloping side roof, rather than housing with a flat gable end. It involves extending the slope into a vertical wall.
Mansard
This style of loft conversion involves a complete reconstruction of the roof slope to a near vertical position, and provides the most usable space, but is the most complex of the conversions. It is the most likely of the conversions to require planning permission.
Rooflight (Velux)
This style is used when the head height is already sufficient. In this style, the shape of the roof is unaltered, and only the addition of insulation, a floor, a staircase and windows are added.
L-shaped Dormer
This style consists of two dormers that are placed next to one another. This style is used on period terraces that have a rear addition. This style usually provides the usable space to construct a bathroom and bedroom.
Bungalow Conversions
This style of conversion is different from the others, because bungalows usually have a greater amount of expanse of roof to work with.
Not sure which one fits? That’s normal. It comes down to your roof shape, the head height you’ve got, and what you want the room for.
Will it have enough head height?
Before anything else, you’ll need to check head height. Head height often determines what is and isn’t possible. As a rule of thumb, you want around 2.2m to the peak of the roof to not feel cramped when the space is finished and to fit a full staircase comfortably. A dormer or a mansard might be able to add the much needed height. However, sometimes there is no possible way to add head height, so it is important to know as soon as possible.
Do you need planning permission?
More often than not, the answer is no. There is no need for a full planning application to carry out a loft conversion since they usually fall under permitted development. However, it is all dependent on how much space is being added, the type of loft conversion, and of course, if the building is in a conservation area or if it is a listed building. Usually a mansard or a larger dormer is more likely to need planning permission. Either way, building regulations must be adhered to. This includes all building works, the staircase, fire safety, insulation, etc. This is not optional, and there is a good reason for it. Before anything starts, we will check your specific situation.
Some people have used the space for different reasons. As an obvious one, a loft space can be used as an additional bedroom. When you sell your house, having a loft bedroom with an en-suite can help your house to sell at a higher price. If you work from home, a home office can fit nicely into a loft space — at the end of the day you can close the door and leave work. If you don’t have enough guest space, a bedroom up in the loft means your guests don’t have to cross paths with those that get up the earliest. If you have teenage kids, putting them in their own space on a different floor can help keep your space a little more peaceful.
Although some other things have to be done before the real building work, some groundwork may have to be done for a large project. You may need to move a water tank or change some pipes, and it’s important to confirm that your boiler is strong enough to heat another room. If there is a chimney breast in the way, removing that will also need to be done, and will need a professional to handle it. Removing a chimney can not be done on a weekend with a hammer. Also, some space will need to be found to put the years of built up stuff into.
Let us know what you hope to do with your loft, and we will come take a look at the space. It will be free of charge to you, and we will help you get a clear idea on what can be done and the cost of doing it.