Loft Conversion Harlow

Brief Guide about Harlow

Loft Conversion is the most efficient way to convert the attic or the roof into a loft. It is a very popular way of creating extra space and removing unwanted corners from your house.  The conversion is sometimes simple and requires less construction and sometimes it requires heavy disruptions if the space is large. There are various types of Loft Conversion that we offer. We suggest apt conversions according to the space you have and the type of requirement. You may have to sometimes break a wall and build it a different way and in some conversions, you have to make changes in the ceilings. 

Harlow is a town and local government district in the west of Essex, England. A new town, situated on the border with Hertfordshire and London, Harlow occupies a large area of land on the south bank of the upper Stort Valley, which has been made navigable through other towns and features a canal section near its watermill.

Why Loft Conversion rather than moving or shifting?

Loft Conversion is a better idea than moving or shifting the house. With the expense of Loft Conversion you do, you are making the best investment of your life. Loft conversion helps you to increase approximately 20% of your property’s value. It is one of the biggest advantages that all families enjoy after the process. On the other hand, if you shift then you have to do a lot of expense but do not have any added advantage in terms of investment.

Services offered by Loft Conversion London in Harlow

We at Loft conversion London offer assistance to carry out all types of loft conversions and we even give you expert consultation on which style to choose and what to do with the lofted space.

The planning which is required on a priority, whenever you want to undergo any Conversions. Planning is very important and is necessary if you don’t want to regret it in the future. The best part is that we expertise in this. We don’t give false expectations to our clients nor we make false promises.  We make deals in a transparent way. Right from preparing the plans to getting all the required permissions and completing all the work, we take care of everything and there is nothing that you should worry about.

We have experts from all fields and every single person works extremely hard to make sure that everything is perfect. We make sure that our clients are satisfied and if our clients are happy then we are happy.

We are always ready to make your imagination turn into reality. We help you convert your lofts in a creative and unique way, maybe in a way that you would have never thought.

Requirements for the process of Loft Conversion

Some necessary plans are needed to be taken care of when converting any type of loft space. It will help you to have a smooth Loft conversion.

• When converting a loft, scaffolding is needed. The team first decides where scaffolding needs to be erected then carries out the task.
• A strong floor is the base of a house. This is done by creating access via the roof and then installing steel beams.
• In some cases, a building inspection is needed to approve the changes. If needed, the procedure for making modifications and its consent is carried out by a building inspector.
• For the second inspection to take place a dormer/mansard or a hip to gable frame is made.
• According to the building regulations, the fit insulation and partition task is carried out.
• The next step is to fit any windows or doors that need to be installed.
• An opening for the staircase is created on the floor to meet the new requirements.
• Then the electrical work is carried out. The fittings for the switches, sockets, electrical wiring, etc is carried out.
• After that, the plumbing work takes place by fitting any radiators and any bathroom facilities that the client requires in the loft area.
• Plastering the loft makes it look new. This is also carried out for the first floor or any stairway area that needs to be addressed.
• Based on client choice, the flooring and skirting gets fixed
• After all the above is done, a final inspection is carried out for the building and safety precautions like fire regulation.

What is the approximate cost for a loft conversion in Harlow?

A normal loft conversion costs around £35,000 to a maximum of £70,000 on average which includes the VAT as well as fee payments. This cost can vary depending on the size of the loft and the complexity of the loft conversion. We make sure that you are spending as low as possible. We assure our clients that their budget is made according to their needs and affordability. We are always there for negotiations and customizations.

The time frame required for building the loft space

It is uncertain to tell how much time will your loft space need to do the whole process. How long the completion of loft conversion will take depends on what kind of loft you have, the material used in the loft, type of staircase and plumbing, the number of rooms needed, windows that need to be added, and a group of other factors. Since there are so many options available for converting a loft, we can only make some assumptions on how much will take in its completion. Mostly loft conversions take around 8-10 weeks to complete.

• The first few weeks: In the first-week work inside the loft and outside your home is done. The scaffolding is inserted and an opening in the roof is made to gain complete access to space.
• Then when all the material is ready, improvements will be made to the roof and more structure will be added to give it more strength if needed.
• The next few weeks will be all about installing the floor in the given loft space and starting the building of the dormers. The external roof work will get completed within this timeframe and the electrical, as well as the plumbing work, will begin.
• Then installation of roof windows, insulation and ventilation work along with internal stud walls is carried out.
• Around weeks 6-7, the plaster and the plasterboard work will be added to the loft room walls. The new staircase will be added to the room after breaking a space opening. The staircase area will then be plastered as well. At the end of this week, the builder will start with specific decorations of your loft.
• After 8-10 weeks, your loft will be completed.

Things to be taken care of-

• Availability of Attic Space -

Loft Conversion is done to convert an unused space into a useful place. So, it is important to check whether your house has any scope of conversion or not.  If you don't have enough free space and if the rooms are already too small, then converting the loft is a complete waste. We at Loft conversion London make sure that all the measurements are right and give proper plans to make sure you have enough headspace and room once the conversion is done.

• Insulation -

Most people neglect the fact that the walls on the roof are thin and this causes heat or cold air to easily invade the room. It is important to insulate the room properly and if not the room becomes inhabitable because of the too hot or too cold temperatures. At Loft Conversion London we make sure that the lofted rooms are insulated properly.

• Ceiling and Flooring -

We at loft conversion London add a layer of safety by reinforcing the room and the flooring and follow procedures that exceed the basic safety norms. We make sure that the roof stays intact and the ceiling doesn't fall off even though there is a natural calamity.

• Proper Bathrooms and Drainage -

If you have a bathroom or a washbasin in your lofted room, it is important to connect these drainage pipes to the main drainage outlet. Connecting these outlets improperly can cause clogging of the outlets and sometimes these pipes can get blocked and can even burst out. We at Loft conversion London take care of all the factors including drainage.

If you are looking to get a loft conversion in Harlow or in any other part of London, then you can contact us to know more about the process.

Types of Loft Conversion in Harlow

Dormer Loft Conversion  

This style of loft conversions requires a dorm existing vertically from the plane of an existing sloping roof, typically at the rear of the property. There is a dorm-like space created inside the roof so they are called dormer loft conversion and these are very commonly seen because they offer a lot of space and headroom.

Pros:

• Adds useful headroom in a cramped attic
• Leaves straight walls and flat ceilings
• Creates a large amount of additional internal space
• Good light and ventilation
• Inexpensive compared to other choices
• Suitable for most UK house styles
• Often falls under permitted development

Cons:

• Not always the most aesthetically appealing choice.

Hip-to-Gable Loft Conversion

Hip To Gable loft conversions add a considerable amount of headroom to a loft, as well as functional floor space. This type of conversion requires the roof to be stripped back to the top of the hip ends, the flank wall built into a gable, and extending the ridge to meet the gable. This type of conversion requires the reconstruction of some of the front roofs.

Pros:

• Aesthetically pleasing, as it blends in with the existing home
• Can be combined with a rear dormer loft for maximum space
• Suitable for bungalows and chalets

Cons:

• Not appropriate for mid-terrace homes
• More expensive than a dormer conversion
• Can feel imbalanced if your neighbor hasn’t had one

L-Shape Dormer

The L-shaped dormer loft conversion is also very popular and is often considered the best way to extend a mid-terrace period property to maximize space. By opting for an L-shaped conversion you can normally comfortably add 2 bedrooms and a Bathroom / En-Suite.

Mansard Loft Conversion

This type of loft conversion involves one or both slopes of the roof being replaced with a new structure with very steep sloping sides (almost as steep as the walls). An almost flat roof is placed over the top. This design is used where the original roof had little or no headroom and creates sufficient volume for an additional floor. Mansard conversions normally require planning permission. A mansard loft is built with a flat roof and the back sloping inwards at an angle of 72 degrees. These conversions are very common in London and can be seen mainly in more traditional houses.

Pros:

• Regarded as more aesthetically pleasing than a dormer
• Blends well into older properties
• More headroom than any other type of conversion
• Tends to allow more light into your loft

Cons:

• Almost always requires planning permission
• Construction time can belong
• More expensive than other types of loft conversion

Velux (Roof Light) Loft Conversion

A Velux (Roof Light) Conversion is converting your loft without changing any of its original shapes. Good for higher roofs where head height isn’t a problem. Only a small amount of alterations are required to the roof for fitting, this option helps keep the cost of a Loft Conversion down.

Pros:

• Up to 25% cheaper than other types of conversion
• More likely to be approved in conservation areas
• Plenty of room for storage if you use your eaves creatively

Cons:

• Requires 2.25m of head height in the middle of the room, leaving space to safely build up the floor
• Unlike other types of conversion, it doesn’t open up any more useful space
• Limited headroom means that stairs may have to come into the middle of the room
• May still require planning permission if windows are at the front

A successful loft conversion is more than an expense. It is more of a secured investment. Planning is the primary stage of the process and should be undertaken only by a specialist team. We assure all our clients a standardized way of work with full satisfaction. A good Loft created will add value and provide extra space. However, a poorly constructed loft will have the opposite effect on your space and in some cases even hamper the safety and compromise on the structural strength of your house so make sure you consult a specialist. To make sure everything is done correctly hire a team of experts and have your quality loft in no time!