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New Build lofts - 'very difficult' to convert as opposed to traditional?

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  • I think the "empty suitcases" comment is just so the developer covers themselves if you overload one area and it comes crashing down. You should be able to get that converted if you wanted to, it would just need to be looked at by a loft conversion company so they can work out what's involved and then it would need to be signed off by building control.

    Most houses built in the last 40 years have these W-shaped trusses, and they've had conversions no problem. Our house was built in the 1920s and doesn't have trusses, but it can't be converted as the roof is too low (you can't even stand up straight in it) so that's your main limitation.

    The main thing to consider is what you want to use it for. If you really want another bedroom, then go for the conversion but if you want a decent storage space just leave it boarded. All you need to do is make sure you spread the weight and don't pile anything too heavy in one spot. I boarded ours when we bought it as I wanted a decent storage area, so we can store loads of stuff up there. I used Loft Legs to lay the board on so that the insulation didn't get squashed down, but it looks like your insulation sits below the joists anyway so you can probably just carry on boarding over it. This is what ours looks like:


  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,075 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Yes, but look at the size of your rafters!!  💪🏼
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • snowcat75
    snowcat75 Posts: 2,283 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 23 July 2020 at 8:39AM
    snowcat75 said:
    Any house built pre 85 hasn't regs anyhow, there's period property's built on a 12" timber floor foundation with 12" rise and 3" going on the stairs.... these don't compile but are sold daily. 
    With respect, that's not quite accurate.
    Assuming that you are only referring to England and Wales, building regulation was by way of local authority bylaws until the Building Regulations Act (1965).  In Scotland, Dean of Guilds then County Councils set their own regulations until 1975 when a national system was implemented. There were thus standards in force, albeit not necessarily as you might recognise them today.  The reason why each of the Home Nations adopted national standards was primarily to ensure a consistent approach within each country, and also to recognise increasing funtional expectations.
    As a basic principle, laws cannot be implemented retrospectively and hence any building which was consented under the regulations in force at the time of construction has to be taken "as is".  The power of building control authorities  only extend to ensuring that alterations do not cause the building to fail to comply to any greater a degree than it did prior to the current proposals.
    This obviously could lead to sub-standard or even dangerous accommodation, but that is dealt with seperately through alternative legislation such as the various UK and devolved Housing Acts. 
    The problem with this non-compliance situation is being touched upon quite regularly in the Grenfell inquiry, where fire escape standards fell far below modern standards, and Westiminster may deal with it in some way in due course.
    In the meantime, however, the current Building Regulations exist to protect the users of properties insofar as they set down minimum build standards.  People can and do ignore these, particularly for small-scale work where enforcement is unlikely in England, but that in no way detracts from the basic principle of their applicant.  If such a person manages to build something unsound, or with inadequate fire protection, then they do so at their own risk.  To advise them otherwise is unfortunate in the extreme.
    Of course and I dont in anyway promote building without regs, however there's also a lot of misconceptions surrounding regs, and often people confuse a minim standard with a job done well, new estate builds are a prime example compliant but crap and unlikely to be around when many 100 year + Victorian builds will still stand. 

    I am not a builder but have done 2 self builds a complete scratch, a 150 year old barn conversion as well as doing some fairly major works on various other property's so I'm reasonably converse with what regs do and how they work.

    What I have noticed though is the greater paper trail has done little to improve standards, 20+ years ago it was common to have a decent relationship with the inspector (most ex trade experienced) often you could simply just phone up for advice and if they new you they would often just say do such and such take some pictures and get on with it.

    However I did my barn between 2016-18 I couldn't believe the poor quality of BC, first inspector comes out and looks at an old barn (agency) hasn't a clue and I mean hasn't a clue, tells me to remove all the old timber wall boards in the brick work!!!! at that point I switched off and ignored everything else, never saw him again instead we would often get a young lad who really nice enough but had no experience in the job, he could inspect 2 story steel work from the 1st floor and look at drains from 50 foot away!!!.... On that entire project and only around 5 necessary visits I had only one visit from one inspector that new his onions.

    There is something wrong when inspectors are more concerned about a missing SAPs calc than getting in a trench and making sure drains are properly connected with a fall.
    Regs or not my barn would have been built to the same standard, and if Id been a builder I could of got away with murder.....People need to look much further than the paperwork when buying and selling and a miss of regs doesn't mean a bad job just like a paper trail doesn't always make a good job. 


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