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I'm guessing one of many questions that will be foremost in your head at this point is "what will it cost"? The final costs will naturally be dependant on the type of property you live in and the design of loft conversion you're having. To give you a rough guideline, the average cost for a loft conversion when this was written (2019) was £35,000, so having this figure in mind may be helpful. For a lot of people this is a considerable amount of capital and you shouldn't even consider going ahead unless you can really afford it.

Perhaps you are putting in a loft conversion but don't as yet have a notion about exactly what you're going to use it for, obviously there are a few alternatives. Maybe you want to create an office where you are able to work in a calm and tranquil setting, perhaps you need another bedroom to accommodate your growing family, or it might be that you like the idea of a playroom where your kids can enjoy their own quality space. Whatever describes your situation, a loft conversion is certainly a great way to deliver that extra living space.

Before getting carried away you must be warned that not all lofts are suitable for conversion. You should call somebody in to look over your loft and get the low down on whether it can in fact be converted. The most critical factor is the height of your loft space because you must have a minimum height of 2.2 metres to do a loft conversion. This is something that you can even check for yourself, simply crawl up into your loft with a tape measure. Another key factor is the sort of roof that you've got on your house, trussed roofs are more expensive to convert than those that have rafters.

Loft conversions in UK don't usually need planning permission, though, as with most situations, there are conditions to this rule. You can establish these exceptions by getting in touch with your local planning department. Any UK loft conversion company worth their salt will be more than happy to help you deal with this. Another thing that has nothing to do with planning permission is the building regulations, which you will obviously have to follow. So, your last port of call will be the building control office, to get information on how the law affects this type of development.

Types of Loft Conversion: The main kinds of loft conversion that you'll come across in UK are: velux loft conversions, loft pods, roof lift loft conversions, hip-to-gable loft conversions, mansard loft conversions, dormer loft conversions and roof light conversions.

If you decide to crack on with a project like this, you will want to track down an honest contractor who is known for doing loft conversions in UK. Make an effort to get a few recommendations from neighbours or acquaintances who you know have had conversions. An online company called Bark will help you get some free quotations, or test out others such as Trustatrader and Rated People. The result of such groundwork should be a short list of potential UK loft conversion companies from which you can make your selection.

Mansard Loft Conversions UK

The Mansard form of loft conversion was developed sometime in the 17th Century the brainwave of a well known architect by the name of Mansart. He hoped it would be an inventive way of creating space that would provide an appreciable magnitude of additional living space where previously there wasn't any. The Mansard loft conversion is only added to pitched roofs and space is produced by elevating one of the walls (more often than not to the rear of the home) and flattening out the top of the roof, subsequently creating virtually a box appearance. The final angle of the wall that is elevated has to be more than seventy two degrees. It is often the case that the wall to be raised is also your neighbour's (particularly in houses that are terraced), so this means that you will be needing the collaboration of your immediate neighbour - yet another concern if they're awkward to get along with! (Tags: Mansard Roof Extensions, Mansard Conversions, Mansard Loft Conversions)

Loft Stairs UK

If you choose to get a loft conversion done on your UK property you will need to include decent access for getting up to and down from your new living area. This means installing loft stairs or maybe a loft ladder. You will find numerous different designs of loft stairs available, and they could be constructed out of wood or metal. Which style of loft stairs you opt for might be dependant upon your house's layout, but you are able to get them in spiral form for style and elegance or in space saving designs for added convenience. No matter which you choose, you want to end up with easy, safe access which doesn't interfere too much with your existing living space. It should also satisfy the latest Building Regulations, and provide a safe escape route in case of fire. (Tags: Loft Stairs UK, Loft Ladders UK, Attic Stairs UK)

Loft Conversion Origins

Although the process of doing a loft conversion may be considered a rather "British" thing, some of the earliest loft conversions and maybe the initial ideas for remodeling lofts came about in nineteen sixties America. The exact location of this building revolution was the Soho district of New York, where stylish, new living areas were built by local designers, artists and their like in the upper levels of run down industrial buildings. In reality those properties and zones were not allocated for this purpose, and therefore were largely illegal at the time. It wasn't until the early 1970's that New York eventually made this practise legal, and thereafter many other parts of New York such as Chelsea, Manhattan, Greenwich Village and Tribeca joined the revolution, and "loft living" was popular for the young, talented and wealthy. In Great Britain converting a loft is an appealing proposition especially in big metropolitan areas such as Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield and London, where building land is costly and any method by which to get more liveable space without the need to extend the footprint of a building is welcomed. (Tag Words: History of Loft Conversions, First Loft Conversions, Loft Conversion Origins)

Dormer Loft Conversions UK

Dormer windows are among the best ways to introduce both space and light to a loft or attic, and as there are various sorts of loft conversions in UK, you'll also find there are a variety of dormers on the market. The most often seen sorts of dormer designs include: shed dormers, eyebrow dormers, gable dormers, flat roof dormers and hipped dormers. The simplest of these dormer windows to build and perhaps the most popular and widely used in UK would be the flat roof dormer window. This design furthermore creates the most additional space of all the other kinds, making it functional as well as economical, even so it may be regarded as less eye-catching than some of the other alternatives. Gable dormers tend to be more appealing with uncomplicated pitched roofs more appropriate for older properties, gable dormers can also be termed gable fronted dormers ot dog-house dormers. Eyebrow dormers are extremely eye-catching in the right setting and consist of a curving roof on top of a low, wide window, they have not got any straight surfaces. Shed dormers are just like flat roofed dormers, having a roof (single-plane) inclined at an angle less than that of the house roof. Hipped dormers are appealing, have three sloping surfaces much like those of the original roof, these may also be known as hip roof dormers.

House Extensions UK

There are naturally other techniques to add more living space to your house in UK. Home extensions are quite possibly the most common approach to do this. House extensions in UK are only plausible if you've got sufficient space surrounding your property. They will also rely on gaining planning permission from your local council. Since your immediate neighbours are typically affected, planning permission is crucial for all house extensions. Quality building companies in UK will be capable of carrying out both loft conversions and home extensions. Extending your home can be disruptive and messy and will also increase your properties footprint. You'll need to be mindful of several factors when considering a house extension in UK, including: demands on services, inherant soil conditions, site access, rights of way, close by trees, shared walls and the chances of flooding. The average cost of house extensions UK at the time of writing (2020) was about £1,500 and £2,100 per M2. Click for UK Home Extension QUOTES

Hip to Gable Loft Conversion UK

Many houses in UK which are detached or semi-detached have got hipped roofs with inclined ends as well as sides. This kind of roof design restricts the amount of room that's available for a loft conversion, although by employing a hip-to-gable style loft conversion, much more space can be developed. More space is created by in essence altering a hip end into a gable end, as the pitch is turned into a vertical. If your home is a detached property it's quite possible that you will actually have 2 hipped ends, and you can do a double hip to gable loft conversion, which will generate even more extra space. In general hip to gable conversions fall under the "permitted developments" grouping, and do not need planning permission, even so you must still check with your local planning department to give you peace of mind. As well as semi-detached and detached properties, end-of-terrace homes in UK may also be contenders for a hip-to-gable conversion if they've got hipped roofs. Because of the additional structural work that is involved, hip-to-gable conversions are normally more expensive than other forms of conversion (approximately 20% extra). An alternate solution is a side dormer conversion, which is more cost-effective but does not create as much space. (Tags: Side Dormer Conversions UK, Hip-to-Gable Conversions UK, Hip-to-Gable Loft Conversion UK, Hip-to-Gable Loft Conversions UK)

What About Building Regulations?

Your loft conversion will still need to abide by the relevant building regs irrespective of whether planning permission is required. This is essential to ensure that any work done on your loft conversion is structurally sound and safe and meets the minimum requirements for accessibility, safety and energy efficiency. The kind of loft conversion you're planning to have will affect which specific building regulations apply. In most instances loft stairs, drainage, doors, sound insulation, fire safety, walls, windows, electrics and floor joists are among the elements that may be affected by building regs when carrying out a loft conversion. Speak with your builder or architect for information on what is needed, or pay a visit to your local building control department, where the appropriate advice will be obtainable.

Cellar Conversion

If your property just isn't suitable for a loft conversion, a cellar or basement conversion another great way to add extra living space. Only particular sorts of house are appropriate for this kind of conversion, generally Victorian or period properties, rather than modern day ones. Certain post-war houses may also be suitable and if you happen to be fortunate enough to have the luxury of a cellar, why don't you get the most from it? Together with the recognizable benefit of extra living space, a cellar conversion can also fix dampness issues and increase the worth of your home. A lot like what folks use their lofts for, countless homeowners simply use their basements or cellars as dumping grounds (they probably call it storage!) for an array of household waste. With a bit of effort and investment you could transform your basement into an entertainment zone, an office or a man cave. A guest apartment or a kitchen/diner are among the other possibilities if your basement is big enough.
GET A QUOTATION FOR A CELLAR CONVERSION HERE

Conversion Planning Permission

Planning permission is not usually necessary for loft conversions, although for this to apply several stipulations have to be met. Planning permission will be necessary if the roof space has to be remodeled and the resulting work exceeds specific limits. A few of the conditions which have to be met are: as seen from the road no roof extension must exceed the plane of the existing roof slope, obscured glass must be used for windows that are side-facing, existing walls mustn't be overhung by any roof extension, components used in conversion should match pre-existing ones, at most 40 cubic metres extra roof space for terraced houses and 50 cubic metres for detached/semi-detached houses, the highest a part of the roof structure must not be exceeded by an extension, balconies, raised platforms and verandas aren't allowed. In addition it must be noted that these rules apply for houses and not for flats, maisonettes, converted houses or any other buildings. There's also certain areas where development rights are limited and unique planning regulations apply. The best way figure out if you require permission, is to seek the advice of the local council.

Loft Pods, Loft BUDS and Home Extension Pods

If you've received a few quotations for loft conversions and discover they are too costly for your situation a "loft BUD", "loft pod" or "home extension pod" may be more cost effective. These are also often completed in a shorter timeframe and less disruptive to put in place. With loft pods typically coming within the £20,000-£30,000 price range, they're more affordable and attractive to the average homeowner. Generally added onto the back of a house, on top of the first floor, a loft pod (or BUD) is a roughly three metre by three metre module extension. A loft pod (or BUD) can be attached or added to a current loft conversion, or it may be used independently as an extension on its own . There are a wide range of functions for a loft pod including a home office, a kid's playroom, a mini-gym or a home cinema. (Tags: Loft Buds, Home Extension Pods, Loft Pods)
GET LOFT POD QUOTES HERE

Conclusion

When you examine all the options, having a loft conversion is definitely one of the the best ways that you can add additional living space or another room to your property. Essentially it will probably not require planning permission, it's economical, it enhances the value of your property, it won't increase the property footprint and it results in less disruption and mess. The entire notion, does however, depend upon the suitability of your property, with older homes in UK typically being better for loft conversion. Modern houses (typically those built after 1960) with trussed roofs most likely won't have adequate height or space to do a loft conversion, although it is not implausible in certain cases. Why not get a specialist in to take a look if you consider that your house is suited to a loft conversion? (Tags: UK Loft Conversion, Loft Conversions UK, Loft Conversion UK)

UK Loft Conversion Tasks

UK loft conversion specialists can generally help you with loft carpentry UK, roof light conversions UK, shell loft conversions UK, loft rebuilding, part-build lofts in UK, building control compliance UK, loft renovation, loft remodelling UK, loft conversion windows in UK, loft transformations in UK, loft pods, free loft surveys in UK, garage extensions UK, dormer loft conversions UK, velux loft conversions in UK, cellar conversions UK, conversion designs UK, loft conversion ideas, loft stairs, bungalow loft conversions and other loft related work in UK, UK.

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