Dormer loft extension

abby.windy

Hi,

We are thinking about getting the loft in our house converted. Plan is to have two extra rooms in the loft with an ensuite. Total area will be 46 sq m.

As we have no prior experience of build work, so need little help to begin with.

Plan:

1. Dormer extension
   
2. 46 sq m approx
3. stairs needed
4. extension to have 2 rooms
   
5. one will have an ensuite
6. we are in south west
   

Ques:

1. First we need assistance with is just rough estimates. e.g. how much are we looking at money wise.
2. How to best approach this. Do we need an architect?
3. Start by getting quotes from local builders?
4. I have tried to generate some quotes using online calculators. I am getting estimate of around £45k. As they asked lot of questions, can this calculations be trusted as an intial estimate?

Thanks in advace.

Regards

sew_what

Loft conversions are so common that there are plenty of companies who specialise - they will manage the whole project for you including building regs, structural calcs etc.  
It would be useful if you have an initial sketch to work from so you can explain what you're looking for - graph paper is probably enough for this.
Ask neighbours or on a local facebook group for recommendations for local companies.

DRP

We are in the sw and have just received quotes from 3 loft companies of 51, 56, 58.
This is for hip to gable and rear dormer, 2 beds and shower room in the loft.

abby.windy

DRP said:

We are in the sw and have just received quotes from 3 loft companies of 51, 56, 58.
This is for hip to gable and rear dormer, 2 beds and shower room in the loft.

Thanks for the reply.

Whats the loft size? And does these quotes include all fittings e.g. in shower room, radiators etc?

abby.windy

sew_what said:

Loft conversions are so common that there are plenty of companies who specialise - they will manage the whole project for you including building regs, structural calcs etc.  
It would be useful if you have an initial sketch to work from so you can explain what you're looking for - graph paper is probably enough for this.
Ask neighbours or on a local facebook group for recommendations for local companies.

Thanks, yes will be doing that.

Just that the total sum expected to be big and builders having not always the best reputations, just concernred the best way forward.

DRP

abby.windy said:

DRP said:

We are in the sw and have just received quotes from 3 loft companies of 51, 56, 58.
This is for hip to gable and rear dormer, 2 beds and shower room in the loft.

Thanks for the reply.

Whats the loft size? And does these quotes include all fittings e.g. in shower room, radiators etc?

Hi,
The house is a 1930s semi with a nice high roof. The habitable floorspace not including the eaves storage at front is 5.4 x 6.8m.

The 2 more expensive quotes were from bigger firms and the cheaper quote includes the shower room white goods (to value of £750), the other quotes didn't. All 3 include radiator for each room. Each of these included all plans, SE.  
A note of warning that none of these will be able to start til November, with one of them saying June 22!

DRP

abby.windy said:

sew_what said:

Loft conversions are so common that there are plenty of companies who specialise - they will manage the whole project for you including building regs, structural calcs etc.  
It would be useful if you have an initial sketch to work from so you can explain what you're looking for - graph paper is probably enough for this.
Ask neighbours or on a local facebook group for recommendations for local companies.

Thanks, yes will be doing that.

Just that the total sum expected to be big and builders having not always the best reputations, just concernred the best way forward.

We looked on the local council planning website and were able to find similar examples to show them what we wanted. Tbf  there are not any space issue for stairs or head height, so the planning part isn't anything complicated.