Loft conversion

sevenhills wrote: »

I am still keen on getting my loft converted into a livable bedroom.
I have only had quotes from one company so for, ranging from boarding out at £500, hoby room at £5,000 and habitable at £29,000


I have seen people state that they have had a habitable coversion including onsuite for £25,000


My thoughts are to employ an architect to draw up the plans, and do a good deal of the work myself. I have seen a youtube video about DIY loft conversions, but still more to learn. I have read a lot online, how much I can do, I am unsure./

I will also need to concider a employing structural engineer. I live in a 60s built town house.


I do have a few thousand in savings, but unless I get talked into letting the local Yorkshire loft conversion company do a lot of the work, I will do things slowly.
It should easy for me to put £5,000+ onto the mortgage.

I actually shuddered at this. Please don't tackle something as big as this on the basis of Youtube training.

Avoid loft conversion companies and do as you suggest: get a structural engineering involved to see what is possible and what is needed and then use a proper building firm to carry out the work. If you can do some of the finishing yourself as a competent DIY-er then do so, but leave the structural and safety stuff to the professionals.

I!!!8217;ve just completed my own loft conversion. I know have a 6x5 metre bedroom and a 2.7x1.7 metre ensuite.

I spent -

- £15.5k on drawings, structural engineer and a carpenter do come and do the shell for me (stairs, joists, 9 x steels, upgrade trusses, 8 metre long dorma with 3 windows, 1 x velux, new flat roof and rendered outside)

- roughly £8-9k on flooring, insulation, walls, plastering, decorating, carpets and furnishings, electrics, plumbing to get it all finished.

You say it's a 'town house.'
Just thinking that if you've already got 3 floors then going in to the loft isn't going to be hugely desirable for resale.
... But of course if it's just because you really need the extra space yourself that's fine, but I doubt it'd add any value.

sevenhills wrote: »

Its quite easy to stand up in the middle, I was told the staircase adding height would make it ok. But then again he did quote £29k, to discourage me.
I am hoping it will be habitable, but I am not expecting 24/7 living, just as a spare bedroom for family. So spending a lot of money is doubtful.

Just measured to the top beam, around 202cm

The insulation is going to bring that down further. It's not going to meet building regulations for the stairs. Are you planning to drop the ceilings downstairs for it?

Is this a forever house? Be aware that it's not going to add any money. I don't actually think it is going to be habitable. I presume you want a full width dormer.

Mark out on the floor where the bed goes and then mark out the route to get the bed. What's the space, headheight like where it isn't going to be raised?

Where do the stairs come up? How does that compromise space downstairs? What do you lose? Stairs take a huge amount of space as they come up and the smaller the space available, the less likely one is to find the right route up that suits both downstairs and up.

Unless there's a secret loft you're not showing us, it's a waste of money for a pretty unpleasant space. I wouldn't waste the money.


Get an architect in to draw it out if you think the room is there. Your first battle is building regulations - bearing in mind that they are the minimum standards. There is some logic behind them.