Loft Conversion Guide

Most of us have given it a thought to reclaiming the loft from all of our junk which we just can’t part with. Loft conversions can be a great way to get some more space out of your home as well as offering you a real excuse to finally throw away everything that has accumulated over the years. As always with any big project – where do you start?

Plan your space

The first thing you should do it see how big the loft actually is. Measuring the size of the floor is important, but not quite as important as measuring the height of the ceiling – many houses have sharply pitched roofs which need to be accounted for. If you have 90” or 230cm from ceiling to floor in over half of the loft you probably have enough room for a bedroom or living space.

You need to take into consideration that you will need a permanent staircase. Usually spiral staircases or ladder-like staircase are used as space saving access points. If you believe you gain more with the extra room than you would loose from the inclusion of a staircase then you should be good to go – but it is worth weighing up the pros and cons of loosing that space to an access point.

Once you’ve decided you can plan the space in the loft and decide what room you would like it to be. Bedroom? Study? Luxury Spa? Library? The choices are endless and the space is a blank canvas for you to work with.

Purpose and function

You also need to decide on the purpose of the room before you begin to budget. The most expensive areas are in plumbing and electrics. Plumbing in particular can be an issue, if you are intending to attach it to your current boiler you must consider whether it can cope with an extra shower or bath. For refuse removal there is the option of having a Saniflo installed as a separate system – having a independent system will hopefully reduce the amount of strain on your current facilities.

Once you have all these costs down think about possible bad luck and factor that in, if your budget looks healthy you are almost ready to begin.

Permission

Checking whether you need planning permission for your conversion is a good idea – listed buildings tend to and there are regulations regarding energy efficiency which need to be taken into consideration. Fire regulations should be heeded because, aside from invalidating your home insurance, you need not risk your family’s life. This is often the most stressful part of any building work, but staying calm and being organized can be the best way to steer through the paperwork. Hopefully you won’t require planning permission and you can get down to the actual conversion as quickly as possible!

Windows and light

One of the best advantages of a loft conversion is the ability to have light entering from a high, and usually un-obscured point. You should base your plans around which kind of windows you would like. Dormer windows are a great way to get some more space out of the conversion while adding light. Another option is skylights which can be fit flush to the roof.

Once you are planned and prepared you should be ready to put some elbow-grease into turning your dumping ground into a whole new way to enjoy your home.