Dont Move House Convert Your Loft

Posted by Percy Lofterhausen on November 1st, 2019

Not every householder can find the money to move home at this time, with property prices soaring and expenses spinning out of control. The actual cost moving house needs to be added to the asking price of the new home as well as all of the added extras when calculating the total outlay involved. If your home is no longer big enough to comfortably accommodate your growing family, moving house isn't the only resolution.

A fairly expensive option is to put a brick extension onto your current home to gain that extra room, however you might not get the necessary planning permission, and your home might not be suitable. You could possibly do a garage conversion, if you've got a garage and are not at present parking your car in it. The last solution is to do a loft conversion, which may not only be affordable, but will also add value to your home without extending its footprint.

Loft conversion has become quite popular in recent times, mainly for all the reasons mentioned above. You will need to confirm that your property is actually suitable for a loft conversion prior to making your final decision. Not all homes are actually suitable, particularly modern day homes which have roofs made with trusses. Older houses which were constructed before the 1970's are often perfect for loft conversions since they were created with sturdy rafters and there tended to be lots of headroom.

To be certain your specific loft space is suitable, you will have to call in a conversion specialist to give it a look. When your builder gives the nod for a loft conversion you can get him to give you an estimate. Don't just go with the very first quotation you obtain, get a number of quotations before picking your builder. When deciding on the best person for the task you need to use your instincts and not merely opt for the lowest quote.

There's a fair chance that you won't need planning permission for converting your loft, as most conversions don't need it.  Speak with your local authority planning office or chat with your conversion specialist whether planning permission is needed.

You shouldn't believe that doing a loft conversion will be cheap, as it is a fairly expensive undertaking. Unless you already have the necessary funds you could perhaps put in for a loan, which is often not that difficult as the likelihood is that your conversion will add substantially to the market value of your property. As a basic rule of thumb you may assume a loft conversion to cost you roughly the same as a good sized brick ground level extension although the probability is that you'll achieve more room with a conversion whilst not increasing your property's overall footprint.

That kind of loft conversion you can have will most likely depend upon the layout and design of your actual home. There are different styles of loft conversion that you can get in including: loft pods, mansard conversions, hip-to-gable conversions, dormer conversions, roof light conversions, velux loft conversions and roof lift loft conversions. To learn which one will be the most appropriate and cost effective for your property, confer with the builder or loft conversion specialist.

One of the most popular forms of conversion these days is the dormer pattern, a kind that provides value for money, though still delivers the most extra space. This style is a fashionable option with property owners since it's both nice-looking and effective and provides everything that is likely to be required. With a dormer conversion it is even a possibility to add a small balcony, meaning that you're creating supplemental outdoor space as well. There are different types of dormer conversions and these include Velux dormers, flat roof dormers, hipped dormers and shed dormers. Talk to a specialist to understand which one will be the best choice for your specific house.

Without doubt one of the best known names in roof windows, Velux, have now been around for around fifty years and you can trust in them to provide loft windows which are both good quality and efficient. These are made to fit flush with the gradient of the roof and hence do not alter the look of the structure, they don't typically call for planning permission and they are comparatively economical to put in. They produce a good amount of light and actually may even need to have blinds during the warm months. If your attic has a fair amount of height, a Velux conversion might be a good choice for your project, especially when you're on a limited budget.

The time scale for a loft conversion would depend on four or five variables such as the availability of components, the design of conversion, the climatic conditions, the competence of the builders and the degree of pre-planning that is done. As an approximate guideline a rear dormer conversion carried out on a terraced dwelling should take about four or five weeks, a hip to gable dormer conversion on a semi-detached home should take approximately five or six weeks.

You'll discover a number of purposes to which the conversion can be put, after it's completed. Some people turn it into a new family bathroom, an additional bedroom or two or a gym. But certainly there are plenty of applications to which a decent loft conversion can be put, restricted only by your inventiveness!