Loft conversion - Low Head height, For storage only?

backflipbedlem

Hi,

So we have just moved into our new 3 bed house. We have 4 kids so are looking to try and get an extra bedroom somehow.
We have measured the headroom in the loft space and it is coming out at 2.2m.

I have spoken to a couple of loft installation companies and they say that is too short, as once you add in the insulation etc that takes you well under the approved building reg height.

Now I'm trying to work out my options.

- Can we still find someone to convert our loft, but not class it as a habitable room. but maybe one of the kids might occasionally sleep in there, and if we came to sell it, could only call it storage space?
- If we did convert it, using the correct insulation, and then the height is less than the specified height, could we only use it as storage space.
- Could we convert it but use smaller insulation, and just class it as storage space.

I guess what I'm getting at, is can you still convert it, with a staircase etc, even if the head height is going to be too low for building regs. And still use it as a bedroom, but officially it would be called storage space?
Or does this go against builders codes of practice etc?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, or if anyone has done anything similar.

We live in the Bromley area.

AndyMc.....

So you want to convert it but not have building regs?

Crack on and waste your money but I don't think any reputable builder will touch the job.

ST1991

I imagine you can still convert it but without building regs there is no point going through the expense of putting in a staircase.

If you want to use it as storage or an occassional sleepover, then board it out, decorate and put a ladder up.
I'm sure someone else will come along and say that regs are there for a reason, fire safety etc so use best judgment before using it as a bedroom in that case.

AndyMc.....

ST1991 wrote: »

I imagine you can still convert it but without building regs there is no point going through the expense of putting in a staircase.

If you want to use it as storage or an occassional sleepover, then board it out, decorate and put a ladder up.
I'm sure someone else will come along and say that regs are there for a reason, fire safety etc so use best judgment before using it as a bedroom in that case.

Just make sure least favourite child uses it.

Aylesbury_Duck

AndyMc..... wrote: »

Just make sure least favourite child uses it.

Made me laugh.

Yes, the regs are there for a reason. You can do what you like with storage space once it's built, but why would you take a risk with your own kids?

Davesnave

backflipbedlem wrote: »

Hi,

So we have just moved into our new 3 bed house. We have 4 kids so are looking to try and get an extra bedroom somehow.

When you were planning this move, didn't you count them?

I'm puzzling over how many sexes there must be, and why they can't just share, but maybe I'm old fashioned, eh?

My daft old brain thinks it's better to keep them all, now they're here, rather than risk asphyxiating or frying one in the roof space, especially as the house would need to be sold as a 3 bed at some point in the future.

PasturesNew

The least favourite child needs to get the bedroom underneath the illegal conversion.... so when the ceiling falls in ....

Put the 2nd least favourite in the roof.

casper_g

I know building regulations compliance is important, but talk of fire safety and ceilings collapsing is a bit off topic if ceiling height is the only area where the conversion would be non-compliant. If the work was done respecting all other aspects of the regulations then the result could be perfectly safe and useful as a child's bedroom. Really the biggest problem would be when you came to sell and couldn't describe it (or price it) as a four bed house.

There are plenty of old cottages with limited headroom that also break every other (more obviously safety related) regulation too. At least in this case it might be only the ceiling height that was an issue.

Davesnave

casper_g wrote: »

I know building regulations compliance is important, but talk of fire safety and ceilings collapsing is a bit off topic.....

Well, in a sense you're right, but I live in the real world, and if reputable loft converters are turning-down the work, there's a distinct possibility that those taken-on to work outside the regs will cut corners, either to come in on budget, or because the budget becomes inadequate in view of the poor added value.

Yes, it could be more safe than some weird old cottage, or even a normal home with no alarms, so perhaps we were harsh, but the lack of mention/awareness about safety in the OP's post probably caused much of that reaction.

mysterymurdoch

Find a good local joiner. They'll do a safe conversion for you and it won't cost anywhere near what a builder or specialist "loft conversion" company would charge. It'll be safe, warm and perfectly usable.

casper_g

Davesnave wrote: »

...perhaps we were harsh, but the lack of mention/awareness about safety in the OP's post probably caused much of that reaction.

Fair enough. I'd agree OP needs to take care to avoid ending up with something dodgy. Before speaking to any more builders, I'd spend some time reading up on the safety requirements to know what is needed.