A loft conversion is one of the most popular home improvement options in the UK, due to a number of reasons; as a family grows, instead of the hassle of moving away and trying to find somewhere just as nice, within a given budget, adding additional space upwards is far more convenient. Loft conversions are also one of the best ways of increasing the value of a given property, in some cases, the value added from the loft conversion can be more than the expense of carrying out the work. In turn enabling the homeowner(s) to remortgage, releasing that increased value by way of equity, in turn paying off the expense of conversion.

Loft conversions are also a great solution for properties in urban areas or where an expensive two-storey extension doesn’t quite make financial sense.

Most Attic / loft space transformations will in general fall under Permitted Development, yet you will require arranging consent on the off chance that you live in a listed building or a designated area. You will always need to stick to the Building Regulations.

You will likewise need to consider your current rooftop structure and the requirement for another staircase, just as how you will light, warm and ventilate the new room(s).

Building Regulations and Implications

When converting your attic/loft, you will require Building Regulations endorsement. A structure control surveyor will review your change at different stages and will be liable for giving a finish declaration upon definite assessment.

In the event that your house is a semidetached or terraced, at that point you should tell your neighbors of your arranged work on the off chance that it falls under the necessities of the Party Wall Act.

With regards to the works carried out, the main areas in regards to Building regulations to be aware of are Parts L, K, B and P of the Building Regulations.

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

Part K concerns protection measures from falling, crashes and sway, and requires a minimum headroom of 2m for all getaway routes, including the stairs (the rules are a little relaxed, for staircases providing the route of entry to a loft conversion.)

Parts B and P are concerned about fire and electrical wellbeing respectively. Agreeing to Building Regs’ prerequisites ablaze security can be perplexing. In at least two story homes, where an escape window would be more than 4.5m from the ground level, a ‘secured’ staircase needs to lead down to an outside entryway — which can cause a few issues if your staircase ascends from a room, as opposed to the hallway on the ground floor, or your ground floor is open plan. There are ordinarily arrangements in the two cases, yet this region needs thought with your plans.

Can all Lofts/Attics be converted?

Evaluating your space’s appropriateness for transformation includes thinking about various variables, including:

• Available head height
• Rooftop pitch
• Rooftop structure
• Impediments, for example, water tanks or chimney stacks

On the off chance that the roofspace review uncovers a head stature of under 2.2m, there are two options that are available to provide the adequate headroom.

Arrangement 1: Raise the Roof

This is basically attainable, however the serious issues are the significant expense and getting arranging consent endorsement. In the event that the entire rooftop territory needs removing, a covered scaffold structure, to shield the house from the weather during the works, would likewise be required.

Arrangement 2: Lower the Ceiling in the Room Below

This will require all the existing roofs of the floor below the loft to be removed, meaning a slightly bigger project.

You will likewise need to evaluate whether the space you are picking up in the loft compensates for the space you are losing in the rooms beneath.

Adding a Staircase to a Loft Conversion

The perfect area for a staircase to land is in accordance with the roof ridge: this will best utilize the available height above the staircase.

The Pitch line minimum height requirement is 2m, although a reduction of this can take place; 1.9m if in the centre, and 1.8m to the side of a stair.

Practically speaking, the staircase position will rely on the format of the floor underneath, and where necessary the required height can be accomplished by utilizing a dormer or adding a rooflight over the staircase or, if suitable, changing over a hip roof end to a gable.

Do I Need to Replace the Ceiling Joists When Converting a Loft?

By and large, additional new joists will be required to agree to the Building Regulations as existing ceiling joists are probably not going to have the capability to take a conversion floor.

The structural engineer will determine the size and grade required.

The new joists span between load-bearing walls, and are typically raised marginally over the current ceiling plasterwork by utilizing spacers underneath the joist ends. This spacing must be adequate to avoid any new floor joist deflection from contacting the ceiling plaster beneath.

The new joists run alongside the current joists. Above window and door openings, thicker timbers are utilized to bridge the opening, with the goal that weight isn’t put on the current opening lintel.

Rolled steel joists (known as RSJs) are also specified to distribute the load, and in certain installations are utilized to carry the ends of the new joists. Where head height is limited, thicker joists, more closely spaced, can be specified.

Bringing Natural Light into a Loft Conversion

You have two options with regards to guiding natural light into your conversion — rooflights or dormers.

Rooflights

The most convenient and simple strategy is to utilize rooflights that follow the pitch line of the roof. This sort is fitted by removing the tiles and battens where the rooflight will be fitted. The rafters are cut to clear a path for the rooflight after appropriately strengthening the rest of the rafters.

The rooflight frame is then fitted and flashings included before making good the surrounding tiling.

This kind of window is the most economic, and more likely to be allowed without planning permission.

Dormer Windows

Dormers give natural light but can also add space to a loft conversion. They are especially effective where the pitch angle is high, as the useful floor area can be increased.

The mansard sort will give give maximum conversion roof space, since it projects the maximum available head height, in turn giving a greater usable floor area. A hip to gable conversion has a similar effect.

Dormers and other comparable conversions are typically installed by opening up the roof, and cutting the necessary specified timbers to size on site.

Adding a Bathroom in a Loft Conversion

In the event that you are adding a bathroom you’ll have to consider the area of existing services. Adding hot and cold water supplies is simple, simply branch off the existing plumbing system, either at the boiler or from the floor below. Adaptable plastic plumbing is anything but difficult to string through the joists.

Existing soil pipes are probably going to be vented above roof level and it might be possible to add a connection into this, or into another soil pipe on the floor beneath. Where there is no current soil stack you might have the option to add one; in any case, a smallbore adaptable waste pipe can be utilized to connect to the drains.