A quick guide to loft conversions

…and how design can make the most of the extra space

1 Increasing value

Ideal for properties in urban areas or where a two-storey extension doesn’t make financial sense, loft conversions are among the most popular home improvement projects in the UK. Although conversions start from around £15,000 for a single ‘room-in-the-roof’ conversion – with prices increasing depending on the addition of a dormer window, a bathroom and so on – Nationwide have estimated that an additional bedroom and bathroom could add around 20% to the value of a threebedroom, one-bathroom house (although beware of area price ceilings). As the Office for National Statistics found the average house price in June 2019 to be £230,292, this could equate to around £46,000.

2 Creating a new bathroom

“The bathroom needs to be situated as close as possible to your existing waste pipe, which is usually at the back of the property, and so your new facility will usually be built above the existing bathroom as this makes plumbing easier and therefore more cost-effective,” says Becke Tibbert, Director at loft conversion specialists Econoloft.

“If installing a shower, we would suggest trying to keep it under the highest point in the loft if height is restricted. An extractor fan must be fitted as standard to comply with regulations and all windows fitted must have ventilation installed.the loft conversion must have air flow from front to back behind the insulation to make sure mould and condensation do not occur.”

3 Complying with regulations

In most cases, planning permission isn’t required, but if your home is semi-detached or terraced you’ll need to notify your neighbour if the proposal falls under the Party Wall Act. Loft conversions do need to comply with the Building Regulations and it pays to take a ‘full plan approach’ – meaning the plans will be submitted for approval before works are carried out – but on smaller projects a building notice may suffice.

The areas of particular interest for loft conversions are:

• Part L of the Building Regulations requires U-value targets for thermal efficiency to be met when you convert your loft into a habitable space.

• Part K concerns preventative measures from falling, collisions and impact, and requires a minimum headroom of 2m for all escape routes, including the stairs (although the rules are relaxed a little for staircases providing access to a loft conversion).

• Parts B and P consider fire and electrical safety, respectively. Complying with Building Regs’ requirements on fire safety can be complex. In two or more storey homes, where an escape window would be more than 4.5m from the ground level, a ‘protected’ staircase needs to lead down to an exterior door — which can cause some issues if your staircase rises from a room, rather than the hallway on the ground floor, or your ground floor is open plan. There are typically solutions in both instances, but this area needs consideration with your design and/or build team.

4 Designing the space

While you can design a loft conversion yourself, employing the services of an architect or designer is advisable. Another alternative is a design and build company.

“The type of loft conversion is usually dictated by price and property type; a rooflight loft conversion is one of the most popular designs, is suitable for most homes, and as such it is the most cost-effective. Dormers are also popular and provide lots of space, however. A mansard or hip-to-gable conversion often means changes to the roof shape and our experts will discuss the implications for your property,” Becke Tibbert of Econoloft advises. “A typical dormer loft conversion provides a sloping ceiling that in many ways epitomises a loft conversion. However, think carefully about where you place a bed — banging your head every morning and night is no fun!”