Loft conversion: Raise roof vs lower ceilings

sg0102

Hi all
Just had some drawings back from our architect for a lift conversion. The pitch of our roof is low so challenging in how to fit a habitable room up there.
She has suggested either raising the roof or lowering ceilings to accommodate..acknowledging they are either costly or disruptive! Would welcome any views and lever of ball park cost and disruption of each?

We've a 1930s detached in Nottingham.

Thanks
Steve

ukjoel

We have similar issue. Called in 4 local but reputable companies and first one said he could do it (but advised ceilings would be low (door frame height) but top of stairs would be higher (which needed to be for building control sign off). Effectively standing ok - jumping not. We also needed to go with dormers both sides and use up the whole 50 cubic metres of allowed space. Quote was circa 50k.

Everyone else said no option but to raise roof, in some cases change shape of building and estimates were all 100k plus.

Asked about lowering ceilings and nobody seemed keen and quoted 20k+ which I took as a not really interested quote.

I would consider more dormer if possible, also if you go outside permitted development you may have other options.

If you are lowering ceilings then its incredibly messy, but unless you have fairly high ceilings already it completely messes up the balance and value of your home.

Lofts seem to give the biggest bang for buck on extending but only if the house you are starting with makes sense.

Doozergirl

Raising the roof involves planning permissions. Local Authorities are not always keen to raise ridgelines but it will depend on what is nearby. I presume you are in a detached house!

Lower the ceilings really depends on what you will end up with. We have done it in period houses in the past without any real impact felt downstairs (afterwards!) but it will depend on your present head height.

Both are awkward and expensive. If you are trying to live there as well, eek!

sevenhills

ukjoel wrote: »

We have similar issue. Called in 4 local but reputable companies and first one said he could do it (but advised ceilings would be low (door frame height) but top of stairs would be higher (which needed to be for building control sign off). Effectively standing ok - jumping not. We also needed to go with dormers both sides and use up the whole 50 cubic metres of allowed space. Quote was circa 50k.

I had a quote for a loft conversion and was told that the top of the stairs would be lower, I guess you meant that. I guess that is ok, depends if you can afford to do more in order to get more headroom.

onomatopoeia99

Doozergirl wrote: »

Raising the roof involves planning permissions

I was reading this topic as I was curious about the title, didn't even realise that was a thing you could do, but it's the only way that would work on my bungalow, which has just enough room for me to stand up in the loft, but only if I'm right under the ridge. Probably easier to extend out one end.

sevenhills

onomatopoeia99 wrote: »

I was reading this topic as I was curious about the title, didn't even realise that was a thing you could do, but it's the only way that would work on my bungalow, which has just enough room for me to stand up in the loft, but only if I'm right under the ridge. Probably easier to extend out one end.

A quick Google - Meeting the Regs: Ceiling Height. There is no minimum ceiling height to meet the Building Regulations, other than above stairs, which require 2m of clear headroom. For a loft conversion this can be reduced to 1.9m at the centre of the flight and 1.8m at the edges to allow for sloping roofs.

sg0102

Thanks for this. We haven!!!8217;t had the costs back yet, but we are going ahead with getting the roof pitched raised for the drawings. No point in converting a room that isn!!!8217;t big enough! Will confirm the quotes when I get them for anyone interested! Steve

tonyh66

sg0102 wrote: »

Thanks for this. We haven!!!8217;t had the costs back yet, but we are going ahead with getting the roof pitched raised for the drawings. No point in converting a room that isn!!!8217;t big enough! Will confirm the quotes when I get them for anyone interested! Steve

I hope your sitting down when you read the quotes.

davilown

similar situation - quote in the region of £125,000. Gone for 2 single storey pitched roof extensions (front and back). A lot cheaper when you manage it yourself but am expecting this way to take at least twice as long!

sg0102

Wow...sitting down with a stiff drink of that!!!8217;s the case!

sg0102

Sorry to bump...however someone mentioned to me yesterday Attic Truss Conversions as an answer to our situation..anyone had one of these or views?

Ballpark costs didn’t sound too prohibitive?