A GUIDE TO Loft conversions

LOFT CONVERSIONS

If there’s room up top, it’s worth seeing whether a loft conversion could take your home to new heights

WORDS IFE ADEDEJI PHOTOGRAPHS TIBOR SILVA Love your area, but need more space? The great thing about the ageing UK housing stock is that there’s often a lot of potential to improve and build on what’s already there. As a homeowner, it makes sense to look into expanding what you already have rather than moving into somewhere new. This is made more appealing if you have a family and don’t want to create a longer commute or school run. While building a loft extension or converting the attic room in your home will cause some upheaval, we promise it’ll pay off in the long run.

Once you do start thinking about converting your loft, you’ll need to see whether it’s feasible to use the space that you already have or if you’ll need to adapt the structure. This will lead to more questions such as whether you need to seek permission from the local council. While it might seem daunting initially, if you get the right team on board, you could potentially increase the value of your home by around 20 per cent – not to mention your own comfort levels. Here’s how a young couple created their dream home by taking on this project.

GLOSSARY

BUILDING REGULATIONS

A set of standards that should be adhered to when renovating or building a new property

PLANNING PERMISSION

A request made to the local council to carry out building works on your property or garden

PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT

Works that can be undertaken on a property or garden without needing planning permission

LISTED BUILDING

A building subject to regulations because of its architectural or historical importance

CONSERVATION AREA

An area of special architectural or historical importance

OFF THE SHELF

An item that’s in stock rather than made to order and customised. It’s usually cheaper than a bespoke option

PARTY WALL

A shared border wall that separates two adjoining buildings and demarcates ownership

COST SAVINGS If you’ve already got the head height, you can cut the cost of your loft conversion drastically by simply adding rooflights to an existing attic space. You might even be able to finish off the works once the builders have routed in the plumbing and electrics – why not take up the mantle and do the decorating? Another way to save is to try and keep as much as you can out of the skip by reusing elements in the build.

Top level

It’s a familiar story: a couple see a typical 1930s semi-detached home that hadn’t been touched in a long time. But despite its crumbly walls and pretty unlivable state, they know they could transform this ugly duckling into a swan. They also found that the loft was home to spiders and old wasp nests, which were moved out to make way for a new master bedroom suite.

‘Despite its shortcomings, we could immediately see that the house had great potential and a beautiful outlook over the park from the back of the house,’ says owner Katie Goldberg.

‘We were keen to create a family home that we wouldn’t have to leave unless we wanted to, and adding a fourth bedroom was a big part of that. Of course, that would also add value if we did decide to move on at some stage.

‘Our neighbours actually have two bedrooms and a bathroom in their loft, but we very much visualised this as a master suite, so our brief to our designer James was to include a bedroom, en suite and dressing room/walk-in wardrobe, as well as lots of glazing to maximise light and the great views over the park.

‘James came up with a great plan for that space that hit all of our requirements. He suggested pocket doors, which are great space savers, and this works perfectly between our bedroom and en suite. We eventually ended up leaving the walk through to the dressing area as an open archway – a theme we continued on the ground floor of the house, too. James helped us gain permission for the absolute maximum width dormer we could have,

Top tip

GLORIOUS GLAZING

Top-down lighting can make a huge difference to this space, but don’t forget that traditional windows can also be very practical and effective. The glazing you choose will need to be suited to the space you’re going to create, so talk to an expert about which will work best for your scheme and budget. which was fantastic as every inch of space counts!

‘The loft conversion has allowed us to have a really luxurious and serene master bedroom suite. It’s also given us loads more storage, both for clothes and bigger things, like suitcases, that need hiding away. It was worth considering how every part of the space would work and having the granular details planned out, even if there are certain elements you are planning to add or come back to later –for instance built-in joinery. We’ve found that loft conversions often involve playing around with awkward angles, sloped roofs and little nooks that need careful and considered advance planning in order to get the best out of the space.’

Before you start

qHow much will it cost?

aExpect to pay from £20,000 for a straightforward rooflight conversion. For a dormer conversion, Checkatrade estimates an average cost of £45,000; for a hip-to-gable, £55,000. Costs will, of course, vary depending on where you are in the country and the size of your project.

qHow long will it take?

aBetween four and 12 weeks, depending on the type of conversion.

qAre there any restrictions I should know about?

aYou can usually complete a loft conversion under permitted development rights (PD), providing that: > You live in a house, not a flat, maisonette or other building; > You don’t live in a listed building or designated area; > The additional space isn’t more than 40 cubic metres for a terrace or 50 cubic metres for a detached or semi-detached house (this includes any previous additions); > The materials you use are similar to the existing house; > The extension isn’t higher than the highest part of the roof; > Side-facing windows are obscure glazed and non-opening. Check out planningportal.co.uk for the full guide.

Structure

What you already have will in large part dictate what you decide to install, as will planning and budget constraints. If you have the required 2.2m of height, you may not need to move any walls or add a dormer, which could be the most affordable option as you don’t need to make any structural changes. You will need to install stairs, which can be a big cost.

Roof spaces with rafters are easiest to convert, whereas if you have trusses you’ll need to adapt the structure and replace them. Adding a dormer – a structure that projects out from the existing roof – can still be a relatively affordable option, offering you the room you need. Hip-to-gable structures work on pitched roofs and extend the existing slope, while a mansard, the most costly, extends the length of the roof, making a pitched form vertical and giving a lot more usable room.

Top tip

WHAT’S THE USE? Since the pandemic, there’s a growing trend for home offices – but that doesn’t mean you need to dedicate an entire room to work. A smart desk can be integrated into a guest room with an en suite, creating a multifunctional space. Think about what you’ll benefit most from now and in the future: this will affect the layout you have and the electrics and plumbing that are fitted.

Top tip

THERMAL EFFICIENCY When the loft was used for storage, thermal efficiency may not have mattered that much – but now it’s being turned into a liveable space, it needs to be a comfortable room that doesn’t overheat in the summer and isn’t freezing in the winter. It will also need to meet Building Regulations standards, which means topping up the insulation levels or introducing some if there was none. On the plus side, doing so will help you save on your heating and cooling costs overall.

Access

Converting the loft will have some impact on the floors below, taking away space from a room in an area directly beneath it. This is because you’ll need to add a staircase to access the new area. These are usually placed above the existing set of stairs with the highest part of the loft, in line with the roof ridge, being the ideal position for a staircase to land in the space. If your set-up lends itself to a standard straight flight, this can cost as little as £1,000. A space-saving spiral version may start from £2,500, but if you need a bespoke set, expect to pay from £5,000.

Top tip

BESPOKE OR STANDARD? Loft conversions can make for awkward edges and corners, but that doesn’t mean that you need to have everything custom made. Enlist a crafty joiner or carpenter to update off-theshelf items, making them look bespoke to the room.

COSTS & CONTACTS

Project cost £50,000 Architectural Technologist James Lai of JL Architecture, jlarchitecture.co.uk Interior design Katie Goldberg, @85_WF, theWalmingtonproject.com Construction time Nine months (as part of full house renovation)

Top tip

MATERIALS The textiles and finishes you choose will make all the difference to your space. Warm wood takes the edge off white walls that make small loft rooms look bigger but still stark. Soft furnishings such as throws and cushions, and fabric lampshades instead of metal, can help create a cosy atmosphere. Glass and reflective materials help to bounce light around the space.