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Bedroom Loft conversion Help & Beds for sale.

Boom or Bust a Bedroom loft conversion is a great way to increase space and add up to 15% to the value of your property.

Top 10 Loft conversion Tips

1) Is there enough head room?

The first thing you need to check is your loft suitable for conversion? The quickest way to do this is to stand up in your loft and measure the highest point which must be at least 2.3m. Planning requirements often mean that a loft conversion is set at the back of the house so that it doesn’t change the house’s appearance from the road.

2) Know what you want the extension for?

Converting a loft is a major job and will require an architect to draw up the plans which cost money. So before you set of to the architects make sure you have a clear idea of what you want from your loft conversion. If you are adding another bedroom then you may also want a small bathroom which will take up valuable space. So think shower for the loft as this takes up a lot less space. Maybe you are looking for storage space in which case you will need to plan for extra weight in the roof. How will you light the new space? The obvious solution is to install a loft window or maybe you have enough brick wall in the loft to place a window in it, either way it is going to cost to add windows and yet without them the space will then require the use of constant electric lighting. Also plan for electrical requirements – if you are going to put an office in your loft then you will need a lot of power points to power all your gadgets and a bit of thought before building could save you from using unsightly extension cables & sockets.

3) Check with your council about planning permission and materials that can be used.

There is no point in getting carried away with yourself and spending thousands of pounds having your loft converted into the ultimate bedroom only to find that you have infringed planning regulations and will have to take it all down! Remember old houses often require any changes to follow strict guidelines and use only certain materials so don't fall fowl of the planning regulators.

4) Use professionals

Converting a loft will require electrical knowledge (Which is very heavily regulated), possibly plumbing knowledge, carpentry experience as well as general building knowledge and should only be tackled by an experienced builder or professionals. The old saying a little knowledge can be dangerous rings true and taking on a loft conversion could cost you double if not triple if you should damage plumbing and flood your house or set fire to your house because of shoddy electrics. Knocking holes in walls can also effect the load bearing of the wall and result in complete collapse so no matter how tempting it is, leave converting your loft to the professionals unless you are an experienced builder. www.findabuilder.co.uk is a great site to find professionals.

5) Bed Room, Bathroom or both?

Most loft conversions are for adding an extra bedroom, bathroom or both to a house and the layout will largely be dictated by the position of the staircase and existing plumbing. Of course if money is no object then you can place the rooms in any order your like but for most people money is a driving factor and placing a bathroom that requires re-routing a soil pipe and plumbing can add considerably to the budget. If you are planning on adding a bathroom then check that your existing boiler and heating system are capable of handling the extra demands and whether you will need to fit pumps to give you good water pressure in your roof.

6) Planning, Planning & more planning

A good loft conversion is down to planning and sticking to the plan! If you set of with a half baked idea then don't be surprised when you start to fall out with your builder over the ever escalating costs because you keep moving the goal posts. Use an architect to get the most from your loft space and then get quotes from at least 3 separate builders making sure that they are all accredited by the appropriate boards.

Remember there will be structural considerations to take into account and you may have to install . new beams in the roof, add a floor & strengthen it to take the extra load demands that will be laced on it from having extra living space. Houses that are terraced or semi-detached will probably require a Party Wall agreement with the neighbours which refers to walls, ceilings or floors which are shared with other properties. Remember to check for planning restriction regulations.

7) Keep within the law

Loft conversions must meet current building regulations and strict insulation standards so make sure that your architect and structural engineer are up to date with current planning laws & regulations and to be 100% sure submit full plans to your local authority building control department so they can advise on any changes needed before work begins. One of the main areas to bear in mind is fire regulations and adding an extra floor will often require upgrading the fire resistance of existing roofs and doors.

8) Insure yourself

Whether you live in London or the Lake District, the cost of converting your loft can vary from £20,000 to £50,000 and should be insured for unforeseen circumstances. Your general household insurance will probably not cover the building of an extension and so you should check with them where you stand should something go wrong with the building. It may cost you a few hundred extra pounds to insure the building work and 90% of the time nothing will go wrong but do you want to be in the 10% category where the loft conversion has not gone to plan and face a huge bill to put it right on top of the money you have already spent.

9) Research your professionals

Just because there card says they are accredited to a hundred boards doesn't mean they are. With easy to use desk top publication software and a quick scan on google it is possible to fake certificates and make very professional looking stationary. If their card says they belong to RIBA then check with RIBA. Get recommendations from previous customers. Ask to view previous work done. You are about to part with a large amount of money and the building industry suffers from just as many rouges as any other business, so don't get conned and stay smart by doing your homework.

10) Professional Institutions & useful links

RIBA – (Royal Institute of British Architects) – www.riba.org 020 7580 5533

RIAS - (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland) www.rias.org.uk 0131 229 7545

RICS - (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) www.rics.org.uk 0870 333 1600 or www.rics-scotland.org.uk 0131 225 7078