Quick and Convenient
usable. The amount of head space you will be able to create will depend on the pitch of your roof: the higher the pitch angle, the higher the central head height will be.
It is important to ask your architect to illustrate exactly how much usable headroom there will be across the finished floor as this can sometimes be disappointing, especially if your family is tall. The usable height calculation is 1.8m but it can go down to as low as 1.5m – any lower isn’t really functional.
Type of structure – there are two main types of roof structure: traditional framed, which are typically found in older-style houses, and factory-made roof trusses often seen in post-1960s builds. The former is more structurally sound and easier to open up by strengthening the rafters and ceiling joists. The latter became popular as it speeded up the build – a roof could quite literally be put up in a day – but the result has fewer load-bearing properties so requires quite a lot of added structural work to make the loft safe. This can significantly increase the cost and will likely result in a new roof.
Obstacles – if you have a water tank or chimney breast in your loft, they will probably be taking up quite a lot of valuable space. A water tank can be removed, but this will mean replacing the heating system which needs to be added to your budget. Chimney breasts
can be more problematic: it is possible to take them away but this will need to be factored into the design and will probably require more structural impact on the floors below.
Placement of stairs – this is an area where you should take professional advice as planning where to site the stairs is not always straightforward. In some cases, you may need to sacrifice a smaller bedroom or part of a room to accommodate them. In an ideal world, the staircase will land in line with the roof ridge and will require at least 1.9m of headroom – ideally 2m. Building regulations state there must be a landing not less than the width of the stairway before the loft door and there can be no more than 16 steps without a landing.
Planning
This bespoke Moduloft was made off-site for a family in Wimbledon who wanted a large media room. Craned into place in one day with installation completed in two weeks, it cost a total of £103,000 In most cases, loft conversions can be created under permitted development (PD) rights so full planning is not required, although you should apply for a Lawful Development Certificate as these are often needed when you decide to sell. PD allows you to extend up to 40 cubic metres on a terraced property and 50 cubic metres on a semi or detached house. Exceptions to this are listed buildings, apartments and properties that fall within a Conservation Area, where full planning is required.
Building regulations approval is needed for loft conversions whether you need planning permission or not. Also, if your home is semi-detached or terraced, you’ll need to inform your neighbours if you share walls and the structure falls under the Party Wall Act.
types of loft conversion
room in a roof is a simple conversion of the existing space in your loft and the most popular and straightforward style. It is also the most cost-effective and can provide you with space for an additional bedroom, playroom or office. This type of conversion normally requires some reinforcement to the floor, insulation, a staircase to the loft, electrics and skylights to provide natural light and ventilation.
dormer is a structural extension which projects vertically from the plane of a sloping roof to create additional headroom and floor space – useful if the existing roof space is limited because the footprint of the house isn’t very large. There are lots of styles to choose from, many featuring large windows which add a lot of natural light. In some cases, it is possible to include French doors and a Juliet-style balcony. Just be mindful that opting for a dormer is a more expensive option and not always needed if you’ve come up with a clever design. Seek expert advice from an architect before you decide.
modular lofts are new structures and are worth considering if your property doesn’t have a structurally sound roof or if the ceiling height is too low. They are also ideal if you want a quick and fairly mess-free extension. In basic terms, your loft is designed and created in a factory, your own roof is then removed and the modular loft craned into position. The whole process takes around half the time of a traditional loft conversion and it can offer more flexibility in terms of space and height. ➤