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FREQUENCY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's)
FREQUENCY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ's)
IS MY HOME SUITABLE FOR A LOFT CONVERSION?
Every loft space is different, that's why at AK Constructions and Developments, we offer a free consultation to evaluate whether your home is suitable. In these consultations, we will see if your home meets the space and access requirements of local building regulations, and will be checking: ceiling height and accessibility.
1) Ceiling height:
Head height is a big consideration in a loft conversion. To accommodate a room, the highest point of the roof should be 2.3 metres high (measured from floor to ceiling). Sometimes the roof space meets this height requirement but has a shallow pitch, which means everything feels low hung. In this case, your options may include a dormer conversion, to help build some additional headroom.
When measuring from the floor, loft conversions also affect the floor, which will need reinforcement and insulation.
If your attic height doesn’t measure up to 2.3 metres, it doesn’t mean that you can’t convert your loft, it just means that there may only be certain ways to do so, as the design will need to create this extra headroom. This means loft conversion design which includes raising the roof or lowering the ceiling below, both of which are unfortunately more expensive options.
2) Accessibility:
For the loft conversion to provide actual accommodation, the staircase must be integral to both the new accommodation and the rest of the house: this means a proper staircase and not a pull-up or temporary ladder as for an attic. The stairs must also adhere to their appropriate planning requirements.
Every loft space is different, that's why at AK Constructions and Developments, we offer a free consultation to evaluate whether your home is suitable. In these consultations, we will see if your home meets the space and access requirements of local building regulations, and will be checking: ceiling height and accessibility.
1) Ceiling height:
Head height is a big consideration in a loft conversion. To accommodate a room, the highest point of the roof should be 2.3 metres high (measured from floor to ceiling). Sometimes the roof space meets this height requirement but has a shallow pitch, which means everything feels low hung. In this case, your options may include a dormer conversion, to help build some additional headroom.
When measuring from the floor, loft conversions also affect the floor, which will need reinforcement and insulation.
If your attic height doesn’t measure up to 2.3 metres, it doesn’t mean that you can’t convert your loft, it just means that there may only be certain ways to do so, as the design will need to create this extra headroom. This means loft conversion design which includes raising the roof or lowering the ceiling below, both of which are unfortunately more expensive options.
2) Accessibility:
For the loft conversion to provide actual accommodation, the staircase must be integral to both the new accommodation and the rest of the house: this means a proper staircase and not a pull-up or temporary ladder as for an attic. The stairs must also adhere to their appropriate planning requirements.
WILL MY LOFT CONVERSION BE PERMITTED?
WILL MY LOFT CONVERSION BE PERMITTED?
It's important for our client to consider the process which may be involved, as aspects of planning may also impact on what you can do when it comes to converting your loft. You will likely need to get permission from these bodies:
Party Wall Agreement -
The Party Wall Act is relevant for any property with walls, floors and ceilings adjoining another property. So, anyone whose home is semi-detached, terraced or situated over someone else’s property will need to check whether the Party Wall Act
applies to their loft conversion. If walls, floors and ceilings shared with a neighbouring property will be
involved in the conversion, then you must comply with the Act’s requirements by obtaining a ‘Party Wall Agreement’ approved by those neighbours affected. It’s worth knowing that simple Velux conversions and dormer conversions, which do not affect party walls, will not usually require an agreement.
Planning Permission -
Planning permission for a loft conversion is not always required, however if the property is; in a Listed Building, lies within a conservation area, or if the roof’s existing ridge-line needs to be raised, planning permission is likely to be required. Although planning procedures may seem daunting for our client, the process has become very easy, with many applications being approved – in the London boroughs, 79% of all applications were granted in the year 'April 16 – 17' (Government planning data). Generally, chances of approval tend to be good and are significantly improved when using the services of an architect.
Overall, whether you need planning permission, it will be necessary to ensure that all structural work carried out complies with building regulations and that the proposed accommodation and access to it complies with fire and safety regulations. However, we will help you with this, it's what we do!
(Conservation Areas Explained):
If you are living in a conservation area, planning permission for the conversion is required and may be offered subject to additional restrictions (such as minimising the impact on roof line).
You can find out if you live in a conservation area by checking with your local council, as most individual council websites now include online mapping tools which show local conservation areas. If you find that you are in a conservation area and are unsure how you should proceed, AK Constructions and Developments will be able to assist you further.
WHY DO I NEED A LOFT CONVERSION?
When working with AK Constructions and Developments, the possibilities of utilising your loft conversion are endless! We’ve helped families across London and Greater London, turn their attic into their dream space they’ve always wanted for their home. Here are some of our suggestions for how you can utilise your loft conversion:
- Privacy: An additional space that you can enjoy with your loved ones, without having to deal with the kids 24/7!
- More Space For The Family: If you can't let go of the kids or simply need more room, this space can be an additional bedroom and bathroom, or even a children’s playroom (If you're feeling generous).
- Work Space: Can be used a personal workspace or home office.
- Hobbies: Home gym, cinema, games room, recording studio, yoga and meditation space, art and photography studio, home library, star gazing.
The possibilities are endless!
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS OF A LOFT CONVERSION TAKE?
Every project we undertake is different. Choice of conversion; size of property; building regulations – it’s difficult to generalise when there are so many variables involved.
Although suggested timescales are estimated, sometimes it’s just useful to know what to expect across the phases of work, particularly if you have work and family to consider. So, in an average timeline, for the average conversions, we have undertaken work with these approximate timings:
Week 1 & 2: The preparation stage - organising materials ready for work to safely and efficiently start. So, although there may not seem to be much development on the room itself, apart from the team creating a hole in the roof for access, externally a skip may be delivered, scaffolding may be erected and deliveries of materials are likely to arrive on-site, ready for use as the work progresses. At this stage, all work is happening from the outside or within the roof space, rather than impacting the inside of the house. By the end of the second week, work has begun to secure and support the structure of the roof, depending on the type of conversion.
Week 3 & 4: Work generally moves inside as floor joists and the loft floor are installed, followed by insulation, ventilation and internal walls as the work progresses. External roof works are completed for simpler conversions, such as Dormer and roof light conversions, windows are also installed. For Mansard and hip to gable conversions, this work will remain ongoing. At this stage, workers access via the roof, again with little impact on the rest of the house.
Week 5 & 6: The first part of this final phase sees the rest of the house now involved as the staircase is fully installed and there’s the exciting moment of “breaking through” by opening the loft to the rest of the house. The stairway is fitted and made with handrails and banisters and any additional plasterwork and new loft room is fully plaster-boarded and plastered. This stage also sees the completion of carpentry works, such as skirtings, doors and fitted cupboards, the electrics and plumbing are installed and tested before the final stage: decorating to finish off the project.
IS MY HOME SUITABLE FOR AN EXTENSION?
There are a few things to think about when considering building an extension. The type of extension may depend on the building’s suitability. For example, having walls knocked through may be possible in some properties but unsafe in others. Similarly, other houses may be more suited to a ‘lean-to’ extension, whereas, this may be prevented within other homes due to planning permission, such as Party Wall agreements.
WILL ADDING AN EXTENSION ALSO ADD VALUE TO MY HOME?
Because everyone’s home and requirements are so unique, there is no saying exactly how much value each individual project will add to your home. However, what we can say is that this investment is a great investment! Many of our clients find that they add a great deal of value at a low relative cost and one independent survey found that it actually added up to 24% extra value!