loft conversion

gabyjane

Not sure this is the right place but still worth a go! watching a couple of housing progs last night and noticed they were talking about doing one..

We have quite a big loft in our new build and have talked about converting it, not for a long time to come but have no idea what it involves..the main thing is how the stairs to it would go up as the loft hatch is at the top of the stairs in the hall that isn't big enough to house them..

How much is it roughly i guess the size obviously matters, windows, heating etc not cheap id'e imagine but anyone whos had one done would be great to hear how it went..
Thanks

Mr_Warren_2

All depending where your available loft space is compared to the loft hatch and a wall, you might have to move the hatch all together in order to create a suitable staircase access to the loft. Again, it depends if you want a permanent staircase of just a foldy ladder.

caren_prangley

hi

i had a 3 bed bungalow and had upstairs converted (stairs were put in bedroom 1 thats now a dining room still lots of space in there, we now have an extra 2 bedrooms upstairs and a good sized en suite - its taken it from a bungalow to a house. This was done professionally 3 years ago at a cost of around £25,000 - excellent value if you think no hassle with selling up and moving, okay the work itself was messy and it would have been good to move out but just not an option - worth it though.

gabyjane

hi thanks for the replys, basically the loft hatch i guess could be moved but the space at the top of the 1st set of stairs where the new stairs would have to go is limited and i cannot see a set of stairs ever fitting there, a ladder is a no no as we would like it as a permenant room.
Anyone got any pics of entrances to theirs please?

MRSCARNEY

Get an experience loft builder in to give you a quote. They'll be able to advise if it's possible and a quote should be free. if the builder thinks it's possible then get an architect to come and have a look, initial consutation might be free.

Our local council gave us the numbers of architects who they frequently deal with. (Depending on the area you live in and what you plan to do you may need planning permission)

badmumof1

Gabyjane first of all before you plan any build i would speak to your local council just to make sure you can do what you intend to do with permission.

My neighbour decided to install a roof window in his chalet bungalow and kit it out like a room and now has to rip the whole thing out becuase when the plans for the property were drawn up approx 4 years ago there was a clause in the plannign permission that wouldnt allow him to install a roof window within loft space in order to protect the privacy of the occupiers in adjoining dwellings and the visual character of the existing streetscene.

needless to say hes fuming about it all but he should have gone through the correct channels.

gabyjane

Hi thanks for the replys..it's a long way off but something we have talked about so just finding out ideas really. We are shared ownership so would have to apply to them anyway first to see if we have permission, tbh there are houses the same round us which are 'bought' ones and the odd ones have roof windows in so don't think they would say no but if they do that's that!

Someone very kindly sent me pics of theirs and i can now visualise how the stairs would go! there is room and looks easy enough( for the right person!) so will see when the time comes!
thank again

irrelevant

Lots of picures, examples of how to do it, sample prices, etc, on this website:
http://above-it-all.co.uk/
I had them in for a quote here earlier in the year, and prices were under £6K each for a full conversion to bedroom of a loft space with no new access required (already an adjacent passage) and a "diy starter" conversion of just new stairs and strengthend floor for a top attic space.

gabyjane

Hi thanks for that very good site! I know we would deffo need a set of stairs, insulation, flooring, 2 velux windows, heating and lighting etc! but don't want any sort of bathroom will show df! thanks again

dursley.donkey

I've just had a quote done for mine. It's about £35k for a big dormer window (6 m wide), large bedroom, bathroom and study. I also need to change my boiler in order to get rid of the water tanks. The price does not include the bathroom furniture.
The main issue is headroom on the stairs and landing. You have to have a minimum of 2 m on the landing and stairs and the old stairs if you're putting the new ones above them (there's some flexibility on the stairs, but not the landing). Don't worry about where the loft hatch is - they'll board that over and smash a new hole through the ceiling wherever it's needed.
Joists in the loft will need to be upgraded, so if your headroom is at all limited, you can expect it to get even worse.
If you need a dormer window you'll probably have to put it on the back of the house, otherwise you'd need planning permission.

matbe

If yours is a new build house more than likely it is a truss roof and these do not easily convert like a traditional roof. Probably end up taking off the roof if you wanted to put a room up there.