Things to Think about When Converting Your Loft9084982
There are so many various things to think about when it comes to loft/attic conversions. It's a pretty major undertaking so the first thing to think about is exactly how much upheaval such a development will trigger. Is the loft hatch is located in a bedroom? If so you will most most likely need to make option sleeping arrangements during the building work, and you may also need to move or cover clothes and furniture located in the bedroom as they are likely to get covered in dust and debris.
Access to the loft
Depending what the newly converted loft will be used for, you might also require to look at relocating the loft entrance. If the new conversion is to be used for general storage purposes then access by way of a bedroom may be OK but if the loft is becoming converted into extra living space or a bedroom, the access will require additional planning, and in some situations the construction of an extra static staircase.
DIY or Builders
The next consideration is whether to take on the project yourself, whether you should enlist the assist of professional builders or loft converters, or whether you do a combination of the two. In my opinion it is always advisable to hire professional builders for any sizeable home improvement project regardless of how handy you are. The main justification of this is that any structural damage caused by your DIY efforts will cost as much or much more to put correct than it would've cost to hire professionals to do the job in the first location. The primary factor in any loft conversion is to ensure that measures are taken to enable current floor to take increased load. This is exactly where builders experience comes in handy. As soon as this and any other structural work has been carried out, the majority of the rest of the function is cosmetic and can be carried out by you eg. Insulation, decoration and so on.
Planning Permission
The need for planning approval and permissions varies for council to council so make sure you know precisely what is required of you prior to you proceed with your loft conversion. If your home is a listed building you will nearly certainly require planning approval but some newer homes will not require any sort of planning permission at all. Certain regulations may also apply to the fitting of a skylight to an existing roof so, again, make certain you know what is needed.
Supplies
There is a huge variety of materials accessible for loft conversions, and you can make some substantial savings by sourcing them your self. Loft hatches come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, as do skylights, loft ladders, loft hatch accessories etc. You can buy most of these products on-line or via a builder's merchant, and most of them can be custom fitted to your exact specifications. If you have a particular staircase in thoughts there are specialist suppliers who can either build 1 to your requirement, or for a cheaper option you could buy off the shelf and have your builders create your loft entrance to fit. If you decide to supply materials your self, make sure you ask advice and be certain to shop about for the very best price.
