Half-Completed Loft Conversion

KatieDee

Hi guys,

So we have a half completed loft conversion in our house. All separated out, walls put up to form three rooms, wired up to the electric, boarded out with velux windows, reinforced flooring (no steel, just additional wooden beams). Only problem is...no building regs.

We've had somebody out to quote for a staircase today who pointed out (very honestly, might I add!) that the floor doesn't look like it's thick enough to pass building regs and spending £2000 on a staircase at this moment is pointless until we get it strengthened. He said that when we do try to get the building regs signed off, the first thing a surveyor will pick up on is the flooring, which will probably need around four inches adding to it...at this point, the stairs would need to be redone anyway!

Of course, I never thought for a second that we would get the attic signed off just by adding a new staircase. I know I also need a wired smoke alarm, fire doors, correct insulation, reinforced flooring and other things BUT...

Who do I turn to for this? I don't want to employ a loft conversion company who will tell me it all needs to be done from scratch. I am happy to pay good money for this not only for the aesthetic value but for safety as well. However, I don't want somebody to come expecting a £10,000k job and to try and force it into a £10k job, because I'm betting a decent amount has already been spent on it.

Does anybody know if it's likely somebody will pick up a half completed attic conversion and bring it up to meet building regs?

My next plan is just to board the thing off and forget about it until I win the lottery...this will involve a partial new ceiling and plastering though, so I don't think it'll save me much!

Thanks

System

I'd be surprised if anyone would want to pick away at a job half done that has something as obvious as that wrong without suggesting starting from scratch!
Although by the sounds of it you are pretty much starting from scratch anyway in terms of the regs... The only saving really is the velux!

KatieDee

the_r_sole wrote: »

I'd be surprised if anyone would want to pick away at a job half done that has something as obvious as that wrong without suggesting starting from scratch!
Although by the sounds of it you are pretty much starting from scratch anyway in terms of the regs... The only saving really is the velux!

This is what I feared...still, I shall have to see it as an investment. Plus at least I know it's safe!

I would have left it as storage space as I really have no need for another bedroom at this moment in time. I just can't do anything else upstairs without sorting out the awful staircase which is currently in place!

pendragon_arther

I had rsj's for our conversion. These are usually hoisted by a hired crane but our men used their muscles instead taking them up the stairs.

Doozergirl

Who has been doing the work?

You can just employ building control and get your advice from them. Doesn't matter who does the work.

martinsurrey

KatieDee wrote: »

So we have a half completed loft conversion in our house. All separated out, walls put up to form three rooms, wired up to the electric, boarded out with velux windows, reinforced flooring (no steel, just additional wooden beams). Only problem is...no building regs.

to redo the floor the walls need to come down, to get the wiring signed off, a sparky would NEED to see every inch of wire, or just re do it, boarding would need to come off for all this.

The only thing that is good are the windows, the rest of it would be more work for whoever you get to do it than they would face in a empty loft.

Sorry but this woud cost the same as a restart.

Spicy_McHaggis

martinsurrey wrote: »

to redo the floor the walls need to come down, to get the wiring signed off, a sparky would NEED to see every inch of wire, or just re do it, boarding would need to come off for all this.

The only thing that is good are the windows, the rest of it would be more work for whoever you get to do it than they would face in a empty loft.

Sorry but this woud cost the same as a restart.

Would he, isn't testing it enough to sign it off?

martinsurrey

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Would he, isn't testing it enough to sign it off?

He has to see if there are joins in the wire, which could be a fire risk if not done properly.

Without seeing them, he cant be 100% sure as they might not show up on a test.

For example, just splicing the cable together for a power shower with electrical tape in a wall, next to insulation would not show on a test, but would be a fire risk when the shower start pulling 10 amps.

And as he would be signing off that the instalation was to standard, I would expect him to check.

Its why is very hard to get somone to sign off someone elses work.

so no.

m_curiousity

I would start by contacting building control at your local council asap, they have multiple stages and key things they will check at each stage and hopefully should be able to tell you what isnt acceptable, what needs redoing, what needs ripping out so they can make their checks properly etc.

Do it now - our neighbour finished his conversion then found out he couldnt have it signed off as he hadnt used the steel beam required, he now has to choose between ripping all out and starting again or not having signed off!