how to build a room in the loft?

sebastianj

dear all,
there is so much experience in the forum so can someone please explain where do I start? I have heard of JOIST, and FLOOR boards, can i use the existing joist and just lay floor boards on top? I just want to get the flooring right so that no one falls through the ceilings. Fitting plaster boards on walls and plastering etc, i have some one who can help me.
thanks in anticipation,
sebastian

jc808

Youll need structural drawings, building inspector sign off, stairs alteration, fireproofing, planning permission (Maybe) etc etc etc

If youre just using the loft for storage, fling a few boards down and be done with it
What are you using the room for?

sebastianj

The main aim is for storage, getting architects involved cost money, so that is out. I may end up using it as a play area, the house is a 1930's built with solid structure. I have drawn up some drawings, i am hoping to get it to a stage where when I ask the building control to come in, he does not have an issue with the structure, if you can make any sense of this.
sebastian

jc808

Hmm

IMO you either get BCO involved or you dont
To me u have 2 options

1) Beef up existing joists with cross members and floor the loft. Keep existing stairs/ ladder access and use it as a storage araea or a play area at a push cost = £1000 max

2) Do it properly, make the loft a habitable room (s) put plumbing, electrics, yadayada up there, go through planning, BCO, PWA etc - £40000 max

Whats it constructed like at the moment? are there are trusses or purlins up there?
Are there stairs or a ladder?

sebastianj

No ladders,can buy a ready made for about 500 quids, i think. Loft inside is spacious and can have two rooms and a toilet, i think. I know some one who did something similar what I want to do, but he knew a lot about buildings. He hired occasional labour to do specific things, his project turned out to be very good, he spent about 4000 pounds to include a small kitchen and shower/ toilet.
seb

jc808

re there trusses and purlins up there

DVardysShadow

sebastianj wrote: »

No ladders,can buy a ready made for about 500 quids, i think. Loft inside is spacious and can have two rooms and a toilet, i think. I know some one who did something similar what I want to do, but he knew a lot about buildings. He hired occasional labour to do specific things, his project turned out to be very good, he spent about 4000 pounds to include a small kitchen and shower/ toilet.
seb

If you are going to do this, go down the Building Control route. If you don't, this is big enough to turn into a potential show stopper when you come to sell the property.

If it is just some boarding for storage, then it will probably go under the radar when you come to sell.

Leif

DVardysShadow wrote: »

this is big enough to turn into a potential show stopper when you come to sell the property.

Poor/unsafe conversions turned me off two properties, and I assume reduced the selling price.

Doozergirl

sebastianj wrote: »

No ladders,can buy a ready made for about 500 quids, i think. Loft inside is spacious and can have two rooms and a toilet, i think. I know some one who did something similar what I want to do, but he knew a lot about buildings. He hired occasional labour to do specific things, his project turned out to be very good, he spent about 4000 pounds to include a small kitchen and shower/ toilet.
seb

You wait until he tries to sell it! £4000 is not a loft conversion.

You have to start with a structural engineer to tell you if your joists are strong enough. They probably won't be. Sticking your kids up thereto play is not a good idea! :eek:

macman

sebastianj wrote: »

No ladders,can buy a ready made for about 500 quids, i think. Loft inside is spacious and can have two rooms and a toilet, i think. I know some one who did something similar what I want to do, but he knew a lot about buildings. He hired occasional labour to do specific things, his project turned out to be very good, he spent about 4000 pounds to include a small kitchen and shower/ toilet.
seb

Then it's not a storage area, it's a loft conversion and must comply with the regs, which will means proper plans and BC approval, Party Wall Notice etc. You cannot use the existing joists, they are not designed to take the weight of what you are proposing-you will need steels putting in-this is not a DIY job. Nor can you use a ladder for permanent access!
You clearly don't have any idea of what is required, if you DIY then you will end up devaluing the property when it comes to sell, as it will all have to be ripped out.

beaker141

I've just completed my loft conversion on a 1930's semi - took me nearly 4 years (I get distracted easily!) but is now by far the best room in the house. I stopped keeping track of costs a long time ago.

Sebastianj - if its a trad 1930's semi, 2 big rooms, box room and bathroom then I could suggest as below :-

External Roof - is it in good condition - ours was the original so we reroofed comletly and put a side dormer in to cater for a full staircase.

Floor - we used 4 steels, 2 long ones at the front and back of the house that spanned between the party wall and the internal house wall (it is brick all the way down and is structural). Then 2 short ones between the external house wall and the internal house wall again.

Joists, I forget the exact size but were 75mm wide by at least 160mm deep, these were then hung from the steels at each end and rested in the middle of the house on the internal wall seperating front and back.

As a minimum I'd suggest you get the floor structurally correct - then if you want to continue and convert to a proper room one day part of it is done and reusable.

I've found this to be a great resource for seeing what specification everything needs to be :-
http://www.buildingregs4plans.co.uk/loft_conversion_plans.php



I need to stress - planning wasnt required as PD at the time, structural engineer did the steel, roof and floor calcs which were submitted with plans to building regs. Part P electrician was reluctantly used. Just had the formal sign off letter last week from BCO.