Loft conversion: Raise roof vs lower ceilings

brightontraveller

sg0102 wrote: »

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

I.d say Neither different in certain areas of London but rest of the country move would 99% of the time be cheaper and less hassle

Doozergirl

sg0102 wrote: »

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?

That's essentially lowering the floors but with even more work as you're replacing the entire roof structure.

Furts

sg0102 wrote: »

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?

You have an Architect on board so this is one for them to answer - that is why you are engaging them.

I cannot fathom out your thought process. A typical 1930s house will have a typical ceiling height somewhere between 2.3-2.4 metres. It will also have a cut timber traditional roof. This means lowering the ceiling is a non starter because the headroom below becomes tight, but converting the timbers is straightforward because it is all done on site.

If you had a home built 1960s onwards then the ceiling height would be the same but the roof made of trussed rafters. These cannot be altered, but people replace these with attic trusses. A simple solution but limited in terms of room area and headroom.

These are fundamentals, but it leaves me mystified by what you are asking in your post. So over to you for clarification.

sg0102

So, I'm just replaying conversations I've had with respective architects and builders. Our roof has a shallow pitch. Many similar houses on our street (e.g. 3 bedroom and detached) have a higher pitch and therefore have had loft conversions.

I have zero knowledge of roof structures and different designs. But our architect suggested two ways of generating the headroom ( lowering ceilings or raising roof) to which we have landed on raising the roof as the only viable option, that or move house.

We are catching up with the architect again next week, but since we spoke with her last a builder, knowing the area but having not seen the house suggested attic trusses as something to consider and we plan to discuss with the architect when we see her. Given I have zero knowledge of what they are other than a little google searching I was hoping to canvas thoughts here. Which is what I thought the purpose of these forums was. Apologies if I've missed the point.

Furts

sg0102 wrote: »

So, I'm just replaying conversations I've had with respective architects and builders. Our roof has a shallow pitch. Many similar houses on our street (e.g. 3 bedroom and detached) have a higher pitch and therefore have had loft conversions.

I have zero knowledge of roof structures and different designs. But our architect suggested two ways of generating the headroom ( lowering ceilings or raising roof) to which we have landed on raising the roof as the only viable option, that or move house.

We are catching up with the architect again next week, but since we spoke with her last a builder, knowing the area but having not seen the house suggested attic trusses as something to consider and we plan to discuss with the architect when we see her. Given I have zero knowledge of what they are other than a little google searching I was hoping to canvas thoughts here. Which is what I thought the purpose of these forums was. Apologies if I've missed the point.

People are trying to help you. But nobody on the forum has seen your home, neither are any of us crystal ball readers. Consequently it is very difficult to blindly guide somebody with "zero knowledge".


You appear to have commissioned, and no doubt paid for, unsuitable drawings - your original post. You then say a Plan B is required - raise the roof or lower the ceilings. Somewhat absurd because almost nobody would lower the ceilings on a 1930s house. So why has this concept cropped up?

Add to this you admit your house is different to others. Yet you are quoting a builder who has tossed something into a conversation without ever seeing your home. You have picked up on these buzz words without having any grasp of what it means. As a general rule attic trusses are not the job for a 1930s house - one adapts the roof that is there.


A general obvious observation is to raise the pitch. Those around you have steeper pitches - yours is an exception. Consequently you are likely to have an easy ride with the Planners here.

With zero knowledge, you should be canvassing wise words from this forum then taking that back to input into your meetings with the professionals and experts. Instead you seem to have the hump, and decide to fire off at those who are trying to help.


It is worrying that you have been dealing with architects - note your use of plural. Similarly with builders - again plural. You issue is simple fundamentals of building and costing. It is not rocket science and it does not warrant a multi person route of enquiries. If you cannot grasp this, and deal with matters accordingly, then it is better that I bow out.


But bear in mind one rider. You are getting sound advice from this forum and it is not costing you a penny. It is absurd that you then get haughty with us folks giving up their time on a goodwill basis.

sg0102

Sorry, you appear to have been offended by my last post. I haven!!!8217;t the hump with anyone nor been !!!8220;haughty!!!8221; with anyone, but if you!!!8217;ve perceived it that way that was obviously not my intention. But thanks anyway.