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Budget for a Loft Conversion

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Comments

  • andrew-b wrote: »
    Best to try work within the permitted development rights ..i.e. dormers at the back, velux windows at front and don't raise the ridge of the roof. As soon as you get into needing planning permission things become complicated (plus our council are now charging £150 for written pre-planning advice).

    From the experiences my sister had of their loft conversion i would rather move house! The disruption it causes is huge and at the end of the day you don't necessarily add any value back...probably not more than the cost.

    For example next door but one from me converted semi-detached 2 -bed bungalow into what they called a 4-bed chalet bungalow with an extra bathroom (in my view it's 3-bed). They've just sold it with an asking price of £190k (don't know the sold price yet)..without the loft conversion they would probably get £175k tops. I'm certain they've spent more than £15k as they added a gable end to the roof, 2 bedrooms and bathroom in loft with dormer across the width of the back - all within permitted development to my annoyance as it means our back garden is now overlooked). I could buy a 3-bed semi-detached house for £160k in top condition around here so for us it clearly would not be profitable to convert the loft.

    Hey Andrew! :) :j

    Again - sound advice on here.
    Only time i'd do a loft conversion is if the house is in the ideal location and there is absolutely no option of moving. It's not worthing doing to add value.

    A fair and valid point also. I guess it depends upon the cost of the conversion and the desireability of location to an extent? I'm interested to know how much value an attic conversion could include (if indeed any).

    Maybe if I didn't do mine then I would be much further on with the rest of the house! :eek:
    "The future needs a big kiss"
  • Bazman
    Bazman Posts: 99 Forumite
    edited 13 January 2011 at 1:26AM
    Baz, I think you really need to decide upon what you want. One minute you're talking patios with beautiful views of the city, the next you're thinking of a storage room. Most likely any such loft storage will include boarding the existing floor (so no strengthened enough to be lived upon / habitated), you will probably get a loft hatch with ladders that drop down and a light inside.

    This (in my eyes) is not a loft conversion in the slightest. It's just extra space to store the Christmas tree etc. None of this is what I was talking about. Perhaps this is the reason why the LC specialists were so sure they wouldn't need any drawings?!#

    Macman was spot on, though I don't fully agree with this:



    ;)


    Its very early stages so my plans are kinda fluid.

    But you are right, I do need to decide.

    I could prolly stretch to a conversion right now but would have pretty much no money left to decorate afterwards.

    I had hoped that the attic joby would be a stepping stone giving me somethin habitable now to use as an office but with scope to move to a full loft conversion later where i would proilly turn the attic into another bedroom + bathroom (ideally with the patio on top :-))

    Would the £5k concersion be a stepping stone to full LC or would I still have to fork out full amount for full LC?

    The other point is that even if it doesn't add a tremndous amount in value to the property it does mean I can let a room out which means even a full LC would pay for itself in approximately 5 years.


    Also just to add I've had one guy push an LC design whereby they basically fit a metal frame wo your roof and fit the LC around that. He said that some of the metal frame will be visiable afterwards around the bottom mainly but this can be painted. I have to admit I am none too thrilled by the throught a of a frame sticking out the bottom but maybe it looks better than it sounds. Does anyone have any experience of this knd of design?
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You can't do a '£5K conversion' as a first stage, because the fundamental part of a loft conversion is putting in the steels and the new floor, plus any roof lights and dormers if required. That's what costs most money.
    A 'storage space conversion' is not the same job at all.
    Why not do the main constructional work and leave the decorating until later?-that bit you can do yourself anyway.
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • slimboy
    slimboy Posts: 25 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hi Again,

    Can anyone advise on the approx cost of scaffolding for 10 weeks, for our loft conversion, I’m budgeting £1,200.00, does this sound about right?

    Also I’m trying to get some ideas on the cost of the loft staircase, a basic style nothing flash (square spindles, standard handrail with newell posts), I’m thinking of a budget of £2,000.00 (supply and fit).
    Anyone recommend a good staircase supplier?


    Any advise would be much appreciated.

    Thanks Slim.
  • slimboy wrote: »
    Hi Again,

    Can anyone advise on the approx cost of scaffolding for 10 weeks, for our loft conversion, I’m budgeting £1,200.00, does this sound about right?

    Really not sure on this. A friend of mine recently got lucky by having scaffold up for around 8 weeks though only paid for 2! It was a case of the builder / scaffold guy going on holiday and wasn't tto fussed or in a hurry when he got back. Sorry - not much help at all, but shop around.
    Also I’m trying to get some ideas on the cost of the loft staircase, a basic style nothing flash (square spindles, standard handrail with newell posts), I’m thinking of a budget of £2,000.00 (supply and fit).
    Anyone recommend a good staircase supplier?


    Any advise would be much appreciated.

    Thanks Slim.

    I reckon that sounds OK actually. Maybe even less if the flight is a very basic straightforward flight. If that's the case then you could shop around online etc, however personally I would want someone to come out and measure to ensure they are spot on. There's a lot of regulations with regards to stairs: pitch being no more than 42 degrees, 220mm tread length, 200mm riser height, bull nose ends (15mm approx IIRC).

    Search around for a company close by that only makes staircases. There is one near me which everyone recommended. Though I have a friend of the family who is a genius and we made them together! It was hard work figuring out the requirements, but VERY rewarding when making them. Then when they fitted I was over the moon! :D:j:j:j
    "The future needs a big kiss"
  • slimboy
    slimboy Posts: 25 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Hi Typeractive,

    Thanks again for all your replies on this thread, I’ve found your comments most useful.

    I've got most things covered now for our loft conversion, I’m just trying to decide if I’ll be happy with a Mira Orbis 10.8kw electric shower or should I try and find the money for a Aqualisa Quartz pumped shower, which we have installed in the bathroom on the 1st floor.

    Oh, shower enclosure and tray 900mm, next on my list to research.


    Rant! Why do some builders/companies not get back to you, when asking them to quote on a job.

    Regards
    Slim.
  • typeractive
    typeractive Posts: 935 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 21 January 2011 at 10:13PM
    slimboy wrote: »
    Hi Typeractive,

    Thanks again for all your replies on this thread, I’ve found your comments most useful.

    I've got most things covered now for our loft conversion, I’m just trying to decide if I’ll be happy with a Mira Orbis 10.8kw electric shower or should I try and find the money for a Aqualisa Quartz pumped shower, which we have installed in the bathroom on the 1st floor.

    Oh, shower enclosure and tray 900mm, next on my list to research.


    Rant! Why do some builders/companies not get back to you, when asking them to quote on a job.

    Regards
    Slim.

    No worries Slimboy :) I feel the same when people on here (and there's a lot of them) help me!! :D It's nice to be able to pass on some hints & tips.

    I can't help with the shower question my friend. There are other members on here that are super hot on stuff like this, so perhaps make a new thread. If canucklehead / andrew-b reply, they are often full of good advice. I think they may need to know the size of your boiler though and where it is located (well maybe not where it is located - but if you think how long the water has to travel to get there. I don't know if you'd need a pump to get the water pressure up extra or not etc?

    Shower and enclosure. If it's a 900mm corner jobby, you may want to look at the Twyford Geo 6 range enclosures and an accompanying shower. I didn't have a clue, though I heard people on here suggesting they're good for the price, so I bought a couple. Yet to fit them yet though - long way off that!

    As for the builders - who knows? Perhaps some are in a position to be selective? Or maybe they are not willing to take the job on for whatever reason? Or, maybe they're not capable? Lots of factors I guess.

    Edit - this is the place for the shower that I bought: http://www.bathzones.co.uk/Shower-Enclosures/Twyford/ there is an offer on there too. Word of warning - be careful to check the shower tray, as one of mine was cracked and it was a real pain to return it, though it worked out in the end.

    For loft converions, I read quite a bit on this site. They seem really good. They have lots of info on stairs etc too:
    http://www.above-it-all.co.uk/
    "The future needs a big kiss"
  • ASH999
    ASH999 Posts: 44 Forumite
    To paul0evans1,

    Where are you living in the u.k as the price is quite high?
    I've just had dormer done and made into 2 good size rooms with 2 velux and
    dormer side has 2 good windows,i paid £17,500.

    Im in the blackburn,lancashire so if anybody needs a good honest builder then let
    me know,good thing was he doesn't go on other jobs until he finishes yours first.
    unlike some builders who open 3 jobs at once.
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