SPECIALIST LOFT CONVERSIONS AND EXTENSIONS COMPANY IN AND AROUND LONDON

A loft conversion in London will be able to give you that extra space within your house at a fraction of the cost. Instead of moving to a new place, simply add this space to your loft and increase value at the same time. Below is our full in-depth guide to Loft conversion ideas and the tips to follow before you start your loft conversion. Before you begin any work on your Loft conversion, it's important for you to get the internal structure right such as the extra bedroom's specification, your estimated budget, what type of natural lights/windows do you want to install and many more. We will try to give you all the loft conversion ideas that you can implement to your house. We understand that budget is the most important factor when it comes to a loft conversion, with our tips and ideas, you will be able to pre-plan and ensure you stay within your budget. 

It's entirely normal to have a loft conversion that is on the smaller side, or if you want to have two small rooms instead of one big one, you need to take into consideration of the small spaces that have more to offer. Did you know the colors have the power to make a room look and feel bigger? We suggest opting for a light colored scheme, ideally white which will make your loft room much lighter and larger. Decorate the room with soft furnishing of a darker shade which will ensure the room gets a cozy feel to it. It all depends upon, what you intend to use the spare loft room for. There are many brilliant loft room decorating designs here. 

Skylights/Rooflights

The ideal method is to use skylights/rooflights that follow the pitch line of the roof. This is fitted by removing the tiles and battens where the skylight will be fitted. The skylight frame is fitted and the surrounding tiled to a good finish. Such type of window is the most cost-effective and no permission is required to install it. You need to take time out to have a think about how you want your windows in your Loft conversion. Think about the size and where do you want to position them as this is an important factor that can determine how much light you get into your loft. The general rule states that window glazing should make up at least 20% of the loft area, that is if you are very keen on natural light.

Dormer Windows

Dormer windows add the much needed space to your loft conversion, in addition to giving natural light. Dormer windows are most effective when the pitch angle is high, as this way the internal floor area can be increased. The mansard conversion type will give the most converted roof space because it projects the maximum available head space, this providing a bigger usable internal floor area. The hip to gable conversion will also have a similar effect. 

Do you know that the position of the windows will help us decide what sort of roof shape to go for?

For instance, a long, shallow room will benefit from windows that are equally spaced along its length, whereas a narrow deeper room can benefit from just one big window. As all rooms vary in size and shape, you have to take time to consider what type of window will be most apt for your loft conversion. Grant Sneddon, who is a daylight window expert at Velux says " A top-hung alternative whereas the window is just within an arm's reach gives a better view and more headspace too. He further adds that the center-pivot window, that is operated by a rod or electronically is best if the window is out of reach. All in all, before you start bringing your loft to life, take time about to decide about what window you want and where do you want to place it. 

Did you know the loft is one of the perfect locations for your Home office? If you do not want to add an extra bedroom in the loft but you work from home then the best alternative will be a " home office". Like all offices, you want to keep your office full of natural light and this can be done via some fantastic skylights, which will bring you natural light. In our opinion, go for the light colored blinds as they will still let some light through even when closed which will allow you to work effectively when the sun sets. The home office loft conversion will make use of the areas around the sloped ceilings in the most productive way. You can have built-in storage on the sides and your desk close to the skylight. On the other side, lofts make great kids bedrooms, playrooms as the extra space are just perfect for kids and teens. 

There are quite a few difficult spaces in the Loft conversion, not more so than the eaves. If you are designing a bathroom for the loft and want to find a solution to make use of the awkward space, do consider implementing a handy recess into the eaves. This will make the most of the space which otherwise would have been wasted. The eaves area is also best suited for building the toilet and bath. As you might be aware by now that, by undertaking loft conversion, we need to embrace the awkward spaces that come with it and utilise them in a creative and practical way. For example, add shelves or a desk into that corner which seems difficult, add cupboards custom-made to match the slanted roof which will give you a brilliant storage solution and at the same time it will maximize your internal space.

Before you start your Loft conversion you need to know the building regulations that your loft conversion must adhere too. The building regulations cover things related to safety, strength of the loft floor, head space available, any fire escapes, energy efficiency, plumbing, window glazing and electrics. The building regulations can be completed by the architect that you hire or by us who can assist you in design and build. Most of the loft conversions are classed as permitted development which in simple words means, no planning permission is needed, subject to the following criteria: 

There is a maximum of 40 cubic metres of additional roof space if your property is terraced, however it is 50 cubic metres for semi-detached and detached properties. 

There is no extension to be added beyong the plane of the existing roof slope to the front of the property.

There is no extension that is higher then the existing roof's highest part

The materials that are used, should be of similar nature to the existing property.

There will be no balconies, platforms or verandas from the loft conversion. 

All the side facing windows are obscured and open 1.7m above the loft floor. 

The Roof extensions must be of atleast 20cm from the original eaves. Hip to gable conversion is an exception. 

The loft extension cannot be overhanging from the wall of the property. 

Loft conversions are not permittedin flats or any property within the conservation areas.

If you need to apply for planning permission than we can help you with this or your architect can guide you through the process. 

The best place for the staircase to land should be in line with the roof ridge, this is make the best use of the available height above the staircase. The required minimum height above the pitch line is 2m, which can be reduced to 1.9m towards the centre, and further 1.8m to the side of the stairs. In actual sense, the exact staircase position will much depend on the layout of the floor below, and where possibly the available height can be achieved using a dormer or by adding a skylight above the  staircase or, if possible, converting a hip rood end to a gable. The maximum number of steps within a straight line are sixteen, a typical installation usually only requires thirteen steps. When it comes to step size, the maximum step rise is 220m and the step depth is around 220mm, both these measurements are taken from the pitch point. The step usually has a nose that protrudes 16-22mm in front of the pitch line. By all means, the ratio size must not exceed the maximum angle of pitch requirement of 42 degrees. Winders should have a minimum requirement of atleast 50mm at the narrowest point. Finally when it comes to Balustrading, the minimum height is 900mm above the pitch line, and the spindles should have enough seperation distance that a 100mm sphere cannot pass through it. 

Different types of Loft Conversions have different completion durations, For example, a rear dormer loft conversion on a terraced or semi-detached property will take between 4- 6 weeks to complete, whereas a hip to gable on a semi-detached property will take around 5-7 weeks. These loft conversion timescales are just guidelines as there are factors that can sometimes hinder our tradesmen on a day to day basis, e.g weather conditions. We have our own in-house team which means no subcontracted labour work and no-last minute letdowns too. We are extremely confident that we will complete all your loft conversion work within the timescales provided. 

Loft conversions are all about the enhancement of your living spaces. And, for limited living spaces, such as flats, loft conversions are the ideal solution. But, before the magic can begin, a few details must be considered. The first, and perhaps the most important aspect to consider is the leasehold implication imposed in the living space you wish you convert. Weather just you, or the entire building may use the loft space, it is ideal to know the terms and conditions of the lease which will help you identify, what you can and cannot do to the loft. And in case the lease may imply you have ownership of the loft, you may need the freeholder’s consent to make alterations. This procedure is most likely stated in the lease itself. As flats do not have permitted planning development, the next aspect to consider would be to submit detailed design plans to your local council. Besides these, provisions to move the properties belonging to other residents, such as water tanks or piping structures, may need to be obtained. And, if the existing fire and safety regulations need to be altered, other means that would comply with the safety and fire regulations would have to be installed. Lastly, it is ideal to soundproof all walls of the living space to avoid disturbing your neighbours. Though the process may be lengthy for a loft conversion in a flat, the result is promising of tranquillity and adds space, and value, to your living space.