turning loft into a usable room

iamcornholio

There is no other way than doing a full loft conversion, with full building regulation compliance if you want to use it for more than storing boxes.

And a full loft conversion will require a proper staircase, proper floor, proper structural supports, proper insulation and ventilation and fire protection .... and will be about £25k worth of work.

Jaynne

Ok thanks for the information, I assumed that the roof stuff such as putting in windows was a lot of the cost as was the staircase. Since this would just be for sticking a desk in and some filling cabinets rather than it being a bedroom I wouldn't feel the need for a permanent staircase.

What actually costs so much in that case? Sure you've got some reasonable sized timber and insulation but including a drop down stair but I wouldn't of thought the materials cost would be that high.

Owain_Moneysaver

Jaynne wrote: »

Ok thanks for the information, I assumed that the roof stuff such as putting in windows was a lot of the cost as was the staircase. Since this would just be for sticking a desk in and some filling cabinets rather than it being a bedroom I wouldn't feel the need for a permanent staircase.

It's a habitable room, whether it's a bedroom or a study is irrelevant.

Jaynne wrote: »

What actually costs so much in that case? Sure you've got some reasonable sized timber and insulation but including a drop down stair but I wouldn't of thought the materials cost would be that high.

You can't use a drop down staircase (ladder) to access a habitable room.

Jaynne

But there's nothing to stop you doing everything else correctly and to regs but putting in a drop down staircase? At a later date you could then do the rest to make it a full conversion with regs but essentially it is boarded loft space up until that point.

Essentially we'd like the space but don't need a full attic conversion nor could afford it soon hence it would be great to do everything to make it safe but leave it in a state that it could be made into a full conversion at some later point.

cyclonebri1

Jaynne wrote: »

But there's nothing to stop you doing everything else correctly and to regs but putting in a drop down staircase? At a later date you could then do the rest to make it a full conversion with regs but essentially it is boarded loft space up until that point.

Essentially we'd like the space but don't need a full attic conversion nor could afford it soon hence it would be great to do everything to make it safe but leave it in a state that it could be made into a full conversion at some later point.

Exactly, you could apply for building regs later or put in a work in a building notice.

This asumes you knopw wehat you are doing and the completed work dcan be checked later, ie any structural work done musr be accesible.

Normal procedure for an average sized semi or even detached property would be to nail 9 x 3 timbers to the existing roof joists from the internal wall to the spine walls. Yes there may be exceptions and if done under a builing notice you would either know thgis or have rework.