Loft conversions are a popular type of home renovation process in the UK. The main ambition is to create more living space within your home. These home enhancements involve utilising an empty attic space which is remodelled and converted into a functional room, such as a bedroom, home office or an extra reception room. The mechanics involved in a loft conversion may be complicated depending on what the loft is being converted into and what it is going to be used for.
As well as the improvements to your living environment a loft conversion can significantly increase the value of your home. This is why many of our clients choose to take out a loan to finance their conversion without delay. My Sort Of Loan has already enabled countless customers across the UK to obtain the funds for their home expansion goals and to suit their budget. You could join them and get the finance to carry out your loft conversion, through our highly competitive lenders plans offering loft conversion loans.
The first step is to find out how much you can borrow and what your repayments would be through a no obligation free quotation. Simply enquire online via our short online enquiry form or call our home improvement finance team on freephone 0800 0159 295 or dial 0330 0536001 (mobile friendly).
Our lenders criteria are flexible both in repayments terms available and your credit history. So if you are unfortunate enough to have been let down elsewhere, offered too small an amount or have incurred some bad credit - we could still help you get the finance in place to begin work and to start making your loft conversion dream a reality.
The type of loft conversion you choose will probably be the biggest impact on the price.
A Velux Conversion uses the space pretty much as it is but provides alternate support to enable the rafters to be removed and a ceiling put in. The windows will be made flat into the plane of the roof. Your costs here are likely to be in the region of £10,000 to £25,000.
A Dormer Conversion is whereby a large window will protrude from the front of the roof creating more of a high ceiling area / headspace. If you drive around some estates you will easily spot these from the roadside. They are more ambitious and costs may be in the £25,000 to £60,000 range.
The next major impact on price is usually in the utilities you need. Your heat, light, power and plumbing requirements will all push the costs up. So think about what you really require and shop around before you engage any of those inevitably expensive plumbers and electricians.
Before you start the process, you should do a little bit of planning to minimize the loft conversion costs. Make a list of all the tasks which can be done by you. Get willing family or friends to help with time consuming tasks that do not require a specialist. This will bring down the labour charge on the job. For all the other tasks, you should hire a skilled person. Buy the required tools for your tasks in advance ready for finishing up the work quickly. Also make a schedule to do the tasks. This will help you complete the work in an organised fashion and actually help lower the loft conversion cost.
There are a lot of specialised building contractors dealing with loft conversion and extension works. So talk to as many as you can to get the best price - also seek references from previous jobs. If you spot a neighbour who has already had a loft converted, then ask them about it and if you may see it. An example of a contractors work nearby is possibly the best reference you can get….
If the conversion process is complicated, most often people give the job to a remodelling contractor. In some other cases, people undertake it as a DIY job, usually when the homeowner is already in the construction industry. If you choose the `Do It Yourself` route the loft conversion costs may not be as high as when undertaken by a contractor, but you need to make sure you cover any building regulation, insurance and structural requirements through the correct channels.
A loft conversion can create a huge amount of extra space to your property, this additional room can be used for a whole host of different purposes, the most popular purpose of a loft conversion is a bedroom, but this new room can also be used as a home office, recreational / games room, kids playroom or even somewhere for additional storage.
If you need an extra bedroom but do not have the desire to move house, then going for a loft conversion bedroom can be a great idea. You can convert your loft into a master suite, a guest or a children’s bedroom - depending upon your needs and requirements. However you may find that almost all loft conversion bedrooms turn into master bedrooms at one point or the other. This is because when designed and constructed properly, a loft conversion bedroom can turn out to be the best bedroom in the house!
Another major plus of loft conversion bedrooms is that they can be made very well lit through the use of dormer windows and vast skylights. Not only do these lighting features make for ample natural illumination, but they also provide a luxurious and romantic feel to the whole room. On top of this, loft conversion bedrooms may have enough space to let you have the en-suite bathroom you have always dreamed about. So no more knocking on the door trying to get the kids out of the way so you can get ready for work!
Converting your bungalow`s loft can be a great idea if you need to create more space in your existing house. If you have a single storey bungalow that isn’t meeting your space requirements, you can add a new storey by means of a loft conversion. This will increase the living space making the unused attic space useful and increase the value of your property. Bungalow loft conversions can get you a much needed living room, bedroom, an office, an extra bathroom, a study, a storage room or simply a private place to unwind.
Some people get their lofts converted to accommodate tenants or paying guests to help with their bills. Bungalow loft conversions provide a space that can be connected to, or isolated from, certain parts of the main house, so the privacy of both parties, the owner and the tenant, can be maintained.
Bungalows with a steep roof are ideal for loft conversions as they provide ample headroom to the living space being created. Your local building regulations will need to be met before you decide to go ahead with the conversion. Structural integrity and fire safety should be a priority in the design phase. It is best to hire a structural engineer to look into these matters.
If you are planning to convert your loft into an inhabitable space, then you will have to make the room weatherproof before it becomes liveable. Keeping in mind the vagaries of UK weather it is important that you prepare in advance. Loft conversion insulation will keep your room warm in winters and cool in summers and will help you avoid temperature extremes. To make your loft conversion habitable, insulation becomes essential.
Not only is loft conversion insulation a necessity (as you will need to comply with the building regulations in UK),it also has a number of other advantages. Insulation keeps your house warm and saves on energy bills, but it can also help in soundproofing your loft and save your roof from being attacked by mould and fungus.
Since headroom is at a premium, the material used for loft conversion insulation should occupy minimum space and therefore be the most efficient. To know which material will be optimal for your loft conversion insulation and how much it will cost, you should discuss this with your contractor ensuring you get professional advice before you begin to carry out the works.
Converting your loft to create a new storey to your house is an exciting prospect. However, it is essential that loft conversion building regulations are met if you are planning to expand your living space with a loft conversion. Building regulations deal with specifications that need to be adhered to keep a building safe and sound. The points below are guidance only and do not form any advice. You must check with the relevant building regulations and planning permissions relevant to your locale before you embark on your project.
Structure - Adding a new storey to your house will lead to a considerable increase in loading on the existing foundations of your property. Loft conversion building regulations require that new ceiling joists are installed to support the extra weight of the new room and to ensure the original support is not compromised. Hence building regulations require that a structural engineer be involved whenever there is an introduction or removal of joists, steel beams or other structural elements.
Fire Safety - Regulations are there to protect the inhabitants of the property. They require that you install fire resistant doors with self-closing mechanisms at staircases and escape routes. The walls, floors and ceiling of your new loft conversion should have the ability to resist fire for at least 30 minutes.
You will need to provide an escape route. A low level loft window with outside access through a ladder may be installed to achieve this. Interlinked automatic smoke detection alarms powered by the mains and a battery backup also need to be fitted.
Ventilation - Proper ventilation is essential to make your loft habitable. New loft conversions must have an opening equal to 1/20th of the floor of the room according to loft conversion building regulations. Background ventilation must also be provided by trickle vents. If you are adding a new bathroom, mechanical ventilation which extracts 15 litres of air per second must be provided.
The addition of a new room will prevent natural ventilation through the roof, so you will also need to add roof vents at the ridge.
Stairs - The staircase has to have a pitch (or steepness) of no more than 42 degrees. Staircases should have a minimum head room of 2m, but in case of restricted space, headroom of 1.8 m is acceptable.
Insulation - It is necessary to insulate your loft. Insulation is necessary for energy efficiency as well as for controlling the temperature and making your loft comfortable. Moreover it will also help in lowering your heating bills.
It is of vital importance any company you decide to use to carry out the loft conversion are reputable, trusted and fully vetted. Ensure they will comply with any building regulations and help you to organise any planning permission required.
