Loft coversion asked to be paid by bacs

bmthmark

Blimey this thread escalated quickly!!

It would of been interesting to read what the company had to say about the questions etc.

OP did you get a visit from building control?

DRP

Interesting and useful thread. Although without the resolution of this story, it is hard to tell how much of the OP's concerns are well-founded or how much is just poor communication. Can you please update, OP?

My (~mid90s) loft conversion was certified retrospectively (regularisation). Does anyone know whether there is a requirement for BR involvement if i want to update the loft? - by this i mean it is currently cold in winter and hot in summer, so I would like to get the insulation re-done, and the whole replastered (currently taped and painted plasterboards).

Furts

DRP wrote: »

Interesting and useful thread. Although without the resolution of this story, it is hard to tell how much of the OP's concerns are well-founded or how much is just poor communication. Can you please update, OP?

My (~mid90s) loft conversion was certified retrospectively (regularisation). Does anyone know whether there is a requirement for BR involvement if i want to update the loft? - by this i mean it is currently cold in winter and hot in summer, so I would like to get the insulation re-done, and the whole replastered (currently taped and painted plasterboards).

A bit of a grey area. Like for like would be exempt, repair and maintenance exempt and if you upgraded who would know anyway.

Being pragmatic, now for the "but". Do you know the current standards to update to? Are you trying to achieve them? Do you care? Do you understand building? Here the answers could swing towards an application.

Then are you aiming to "add value" or sell on? If so, it could be sales feature to have documentation signing off a loft conversion insulated to 2016 standards.

Of course this insulation does have to come with membranes, and ventilation, so the job does require some knowledge or professional input.

DRP

Furts wrote: »

A bit of a grey area. Like for like would be exempt, repair and maintenance exempt and if you upgraded who would know anyway.

Being pragmatic, now for the "but". Do you know the current standards to update to? Are you trying to achieve them? Do you care? Do you understand building? Here the answers could swing towards an application.

Then are you aiming to "add value" or sell on? If so, it could be sales feature to have documentation signing off a loft conversion insulated to 2016 standards.

Of course this insulation does have to come with membranes, and ventilation, so the job does require some knowledge or professional input.

Thanks Furts.

Seems then that the simplest way to go about it is to treat it as maintenance. I think we first need to investigate what the existing insulation is behind all the crappy plasterboard and go from there. Our neighbours just had their loft converted so I will ask their builder to come and have a look.

Furts

DRP wrote: »

Thanks Furts.

Seems then that the simplest way to go about it is to treat it as maintenance. I think we first need to investigate what the existing insulation is behind all the crappy plasterboard and go from there. Our neighbours just had their loft converted so I will ask their builder to come and have a look.

If this is the way you wish to move forward I suggest a two pronged approach. If you get work done then take ample photos. You could then say "This roof conversion received compliance with the 1994 Regulations (which were rudimentary by todays standards - but was yours ever done correctly because there were requirements back then including ventilation and membranes). You upgraded in 2016. Here are the photos of it being done properly."

Of course this assumes it is being done properly!

The second pronged approach is the work will not be cheap. You could buy a lot of heating for the existing room for that money. Indeed, you may decide to fix insulated plasterboard to what is already there - straightforward if you have easy access. You then finish and decorate.

bmthmark

DRP wrote: »

Thanks Furts.

Seems then that the simplest way to go about it is to treat it as maintenance. I think we first need to investigate what the existing insulation is behind all the crappy plasterboard and go from there. Our neighbours just had their loft converted so I will ask their builder to come and have a look.

I was in a similar situation to you. I had a 'loft room' but it was very cold in winter and hot in the summer.
I decided to have a full loft conversion done with building regs and pay the cash.
I did a lot of the manual rubbish jobs like ripping out the old plasterboard. When I ripped the plasterboard out it was clear why it was so cold in the winter and hot in the summer - we had no insulation at all :wall:

Furts

bmthmark wrote: »

I was in a similar situation to you. I had a 'loft room' but it was very cold in winter and hot in the summer.
I decided to have a full loft conversion done with building regs and pay the cash.
I did a lot of the manual rubbish jobs like ripping out the old plasterboard. When I ripped the plasterboard out it was clear why it was so cold in the winter and hot in the summer - we had no insulation at all :wall:

DRP has an unknown roof, though everything may be in order. Because it was a Regularisation the insulation was not being checked as work progressed.Years later Buildings Regulations may not have checked it out, or perhaps only checked on a spot check point or two.

As a default setting one has to assume "No Buildings Regulations equals cowboy build". The assumption would be no insulation, or inadequate insulation, would have been present in DRP's case.

bmthmark

OP did you get everything sorted in the end?

sean9461

Everything has gone smoothly just waiting for the building inspection to happen tomorrow and should be all finished up by tomorrow afternoon