If you’re considering a house extension but don’t want to extend outwards, extending upwards with a loft conversion may be an economical and practical option. This is the perfect solution for a family that needs the extra space, but may not want to lose outdoor space in their yards.
You can always move to a bigger home, but if this is not an option for you, adding an extra floor to the top of your house will give you the extra room without too much inconvenience.
Before you start on your loft conversion project, here are a few things you need to consider, especially if you are a first timer.
Can All Lofts Be Converted Into A Functioning Room?
Before you start your loft conversion, consider the type of room you need. You may just need an extra bedroom or perhaps you want an extra living space for teenagers. A loft can also be an ideal place for a home office or study.
The next step is to call a professional company that can help you during every stage of your loft conversion. Eternal Design and Build have the knowledge and expertise to help you decide on the best type of loft conversion for your home and your family. We can help you choose the right type of loft conversion for your home so you will get the extra living space you need, that will add value and functionality to your home. Our team will help work with you from the initial idea, through budgeting, building and completing your loft conversion with a minimal amount of interruption to your household.
Where To Put The Staircase?
When adding an extra floor to your home, one of the first considerations is how to access your new addition. You need to find the perfect place to add the staircase. There are a number of factors you need to consider. Firstly, you need to find a place on the lower floor for the first step of your staircase. It needs to be in an area that doesn’t see a lot of family activity as this will become a high foot traffic area in your home. In most cases, the best place for a new staircase is directly above an existing one. However, this may not be possible in all cases. You also need to consider where the staircase will be in the loft conversion.
Deciding On The New Space You Want To Create
Most people already know what they need a loft conversion for. It may be an extra bedroom or two, or it may be an entire functioning floor. Your first decision when planning a loft conversion is to decide on the purpose of the extra floor space you’ll be creating. Step up into your loft space and try and picture the area as you’d like to see it. Your next step is to call the professionals at Eternal Design and Build to help you design your loft conversion project. Our team can help you every step of the way. From drawing up the plans, to carefully examining the structure to see where new walls can be installed.
Planning And Researching Your Loft Conversion
Loft conversion is not something you want to rush into. There needs to be a process of careful planning and research to ensure every detail is carefully planned and executed. After all, a loft conversion is pretty much a permanent addition to your home and you want it to be done right.
There are a number of different loft conversion options for you to consider and it all depends on the type of roof space you have. If there is sufficient floor space and the height of the roof is adequate, you have the simplest and most economical option of simply putting in some extra walls, flooring as well as joining the plumbing and electrical work to the rest of the house.
If your roof height is not adequate than you may be looking at a dormer extension. This type of loft conversion involves adding an extra extension to the roof so you can get the extra height you need. There are other types of loft conversion that involve working with a party wall, which is a wall you share with a neighbour in a row of terraced or other attached homes. If there is a party wall, you will need to give your adjoining neighbours a Party Wall Notice so they are aware of any construction happening on your side.
Whatever type of loft conversion you are planning, it’s important to know whether or not you will be working within the building regulations in your area. No one understands this better than Eternal Design and Build so we can help you to ensure the work is done according to regulations to avoid any personal or legal problems with local authorities and neighbours.
Roof Pitches And Floor Space
Many houses in the Northern Hemisphere have roof pitches that can handle heavy snow fall. In the UK, the average roof pitch is between 40° – 50°. However, many contemporary homeowners are opting for flat roofs. When working with a loft conversion, the roof pitch may determine how much extra space you can get. If you are working on a tight budget, extending the roof may not be an option and this may mean you lose some of the floor space along the perimeter of the house. Don’t despair though, the areas where the ceiling will be the lowest in a loft conversion can still have a purpose. You can always add a few small doors to access these spaces and use them for storage.
Eternal Design and Build has a dedicated team of designers, consultants and contractors to guide you through every phase of your loft conversion. Our focus is on giving you the extra space you need for an extra bedroom, living space or an office that will be constructed to the highest quality standards for your pe
