Loft Conversion Specialists

Converting your loft to make it usable is a great way to add value to your home and add extra space. They add a whole new floor, increase the total square footage, increase the number of rooms and potentially bathrooms, and, in general, create a more spacious home. Attic conversions also tend to be more cost-effective than other extensions as they don’t take space from your garden, and usually don’t need planning permission. Hiring a loft conversion specialist is the best thing to do if you are thinking about converting your attic.

Although it may be tempting to convert your attic on your own, as they usually don’t require much external work, there are other elements to consider which would require the services of a loft specialist. Structurally a loft, is created in the first place to keep the roof up and the house structurally sound. If you don’t know what you’re doing, changing things up there could seriously damage your property. It’s always best to hire the correct professional to carry out this type of job. A loft conversion company would know how to alter the layout of your loft and would know what can be removed to give you added space without damaging your home.

Other things to consider when converting a loft includes insulation. Roofs are very different from internal walls and the way they are insulated will be different too. How you get up to your new floor will also take careful planning; unless you are happy to use a ladder for years to come, you’ll need loft stairs installed which is no mean feat. And then not to mention the installation of skylights or the bigger project of installing dormer windows.

Once you’ve looked at various loft conversion plans and ideas, and you think it may be possible to carry one out in your home, look for loft conversion companies who will be able to advise you on pricing as well as layout options.

What are the different types of loft conversion?

Loft conversions vary depending on the type of house and roof you have, how it has been constructed and how much space you want. Talking to a loft conversion company about your conversion plans will help you decide which one is really the most suitable, but here’s a simple breakdown of each type:

Standard conversions in sloped hip roofs will not change the structure of the roof itself and windows will be installed flush to the roof as skylights. Inside the loft there may have to be structural changes, such as removing trussed rafters and installing beams across the floor level. This will be the most simple loft conversion and will usually not require planning permission if the changes to the external roof are only the addition of windows. A level up from this would be a dormer loft conversion where the windows are not flush to the roof but protrude outwards in a dormer window extension. This means you can have normal, vertical windows and headroom is increased. Planning permission is often not needed with this conversion either, but the external change is greater and windows could overlook neighbouring properties, so it is very important to check with your loft conversion specialists or the council first.

Larger structural changes are made in hip to gable loft conversions and mansard loft conversions. Hip to gable involves changing the side sloping roof to a straight wall, extending up from the side wall of the floors below and creating only two sides to the roof itself, front and back, in what’s called a gable roof. This adds extra room at either end of your loft if in a detached house, or to one house if semi-detached. Hip to gable conversions are not possible in terraced houses unless you are at the end of the terrace. Mansard loft conversions involve changing either the front, back or both sides of the roof to an almost vertical wall with a flat top. The top and wall usually slope slightly so as to allow rain to run off the roof still. Creating a mansard roof will dramatically increase space inside your loft and can be carried out on terraced houses, but it is a much bigger and costlier change. Hip to gable and mansard conversions are much more likely to require planning permission, so check with your local authority, or possibly with local loft conversion companies who would know, if you’re planning on one.

There are also roof lift conversions that involve raising the whole roof in order to give more headroom inside your loft; quite a major project but there will be specialist loft conversion companies that can carry this out for you if required. Once you’ve looked at the loft conversion specialists, consider the other professionals that you may need to hire to finish your attic to a high standard. Here are some related professionals and vendors to complement the work of loft conversion specialists:.

What should I ask a loft conversion company?:

• What loft converting experience do you have?
  
• Can I see testimonials from previous clients?
  
• What types of loft conversions do you offer?
  
• What type of loft conversion would be best for my house, requirements and budget?
  
• Will I need to get planning permission for my loft conversion plans?
  
• Are there any specific loft conversion building regulations?
  
• Do you offer insulation and loft flooring? How will my loft space be finished?
  
• Do you put together loft conversion designs?
  
• What will my loft conversion cost?
  
• Do you offer written estimates?
  
• How much disruption will be caused to the rest of the house?
  
• How long do you estimate the conversion to take?
  
• What else should I consider when converting a loft?
  

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