Loft Conversions

The cost of a loft conversion project can vary significantly in accordance with a number of factors, including the complexity of your project, your intended finish, and the contractor chosen - but no factor is more influential than design. Loft conversions are available in a number of named design formats, which can vary in price from £15,000 at their most simple to upwards of £50,000 for bespoke, complex projects. Roof light or ‘Velux conversions tend to be the most inexpensive conversion options, with more significant designs such as Dormer, Hip-to-Gable, and Mansard costing more in line with the size, complexity, and finish desired.

Dormer loft conversions are a highly popular conversion style in the UK, used in many properties to add the maximum amount of floor and headspace possible to properties with pitched roof lofts. Their design essentially consists of the addition of a box-like structure to the roof, creating new walls that sit extend vertically from the existing slope and are often finished with a window.

Dormer conversions are generally considered attractive externally, and can be completed in line with a number of both modern and historical architecture depending on the design and contractor selected. Depending on the specifications of its design, a dormer loft conversion can often be completed under permitted development regulations, meaning planning permission is not always required.

The completion timescale for loft conversions can vary greatly in accordance with a number of factors, primarily - the size and design selected. Whilst more simple designs such as Velux conversions can be completed in approximately four weeks, larger or more complex projects such as dormer and hip-to-gable conversions can take, on average, up to six weeks to complete.

In highly complex designs, for example, those utilising the Mansard style, in which the roof must be partially or entirely replaced, the average time for completion increases to approximately 7-8 weeks. Further time may be required in order to create and install room access points such as staircases where required.

Many homeowners considering a loft conversion worry about the potential temperature levels in their new room or rooms. This worry is not unfounded, lofts are indeed often situated at the most significant point of heat loss within a home, making them very warm in the summer, and very cold in the winter.

Luckily, most high-quality architects and contractors can work around these temperature issues with ease, planning and constructing spaces in order to maintain an optimal temperature level across all seasons using design elements such as underfloor heating, improved insulation, double or triple glazed windows, and even cosy decor.

Whether or not a loft conversion is officially counted as a room or bedroom is dependent on the project’s fulfilment of a number of legal requirements and regulations. In order to be considered a bedroom, a loft conversion must first meet the basic requirements to be considered a room, before meeting additional regulations surrounding headroom (there must be sufficient room to get in and out of a bed without head injuries), insulation (there must be at least 50mm of insulation along the roof, and ‘sufficient amounts for the property’ present in the floors and walls), fire and general safety, and access (a suitable loft staircase must be installed).

This list is by no means exhaustive, with regulations varying according to location.

Not always. In most cases, loft conversions tend to be considered Permitted Development (PD), but your design will need to adhere to several specified parameters. If you plan on extending beyond the limits and conditions of PD, or your property is listed or located in a conservation area, then you will need to apply for planning permission. You will also need planning permission if you are altering the roof height and/or shape (which may be the case if it is required to raise it for headroom). Rooflights and dormers can be installed under PD, but they must not sit forward of the roof plane on the principal elevation, nor must they be higher than the highest part of the existing roof. If planning permission is not required, you should still submit an application for a Certificate of Lawfulness – this is proof that all work was undertaken within guidelines and is vital paperwork should you ever sell your home.

Regardless of whether your loft project needs planning permission, you will still need to meet building regulation approval on all work done. While specific regulations will depend on the exact type of loft conversion you undertake, the broad elements covering all new lofts include:
· Fire safety: Fire-resistant doors and mains-powered smoke alarms are required.
· Sound insulation: Noise between rooms must always be sufficiently insulated.
· Floors and beams: New floor joists will be required to support the weight of your new loft room.
· Stairs: New stairs are not only required to gain access to the new rooms but are a requirement (beyond retractable ladders) to provide an escape route in the event of a fire.
· Walls: New walls may be required to support the roof where previous supports were removed.
A building control surveyor will inspect your conversion at various stages and will be responsible for issuing a completion certificate upon final inspection.