Loft conversion
 

i'm wanting to mkae a loft conversion

a) do i need planning permission if all i'm gonna install is a skylight?

b) what structural improvements will i have to make to the flooring?

c) anyone know of any good builders who have a track record of such things?

thanks!

Re: Loft conversion
 

only if its a habitable room.
What flooring?, is there already flooring?, whats it used for, what do you intend to use it for ?
Is the roof lined, is there a proper stair case to it?

Re: Loft conversion
 

If you intend to make a loft thats just got a loft floor down into a habitable room, yes you need planning permission, and it will be expensive.

Re: Loft conversion
 

i should imagine it'll be used for walking on :rolleyes:

Re: Loft conversion
 

*LOL*

the family's expanding and our current room isnt big enough so we wanted to get the loft done

so its gonna b used to for bedroom activities *L*

Re: Loft conversion
 

I was on about the loft not the floor, but ye the floor could be used for walking on or just storing things on

Re: Loft conversion
 

well walking and putting furniture on.
Sounds like you need a builder m8, and if you haven't got a propper staircase you'll need one putting in, and you'll deffinatly need planning permission.

Re: Loft conversion
 

thats where you're wrong madhatter, unless you are putting in a dormer it is only building regs that you need,. I have recently just had my loft converted, with full new staircase, full new floor and skylight and it is now a bedroom. It was done completely above board with HBC and in fact the building inspector there was great!

Re: Loft conversion
 

I always thought a stair case was classed as something planning permission was needed for.

Re: Loft conversion
 

well according to that site you can even have a dormer if its not facing the public highway.
I must be thinking of building regs on the staircase and habitable room thing. which would make sense, you have to have a stair case not a ladder.
It says you may need pp if its a conservation area(your rights may be removed) or a listed building.
All irrelevant of course cos you still need building regs n it's got to be done all propa like, not bodgit n scarper

Re: Loft conversion
 

well as long as any maintainence doesnt affect the outside visability of the building nor affect the structural integrity u can do as u please - hence we dont need to get permission to refit a whole room etc *though with some people's tastes...*

if the outside look is affected then u need plannin permission

if the structural integrity is affected u need the building regs

i guess the fact if ur having a skylight or a dormer affects who u need.

harwood - if u dont mind who did u have it done off? how much did it approx cost?

Re: Loft conversion
 

Are congratulations in order? :D

Re: Loft conversion
 

Re: Loft conversion
 

When we had our new 'upstairs' put on the bungalow we had to pay for an engineer to calculate the strength of the RSJs that would be needed to hold the floor etc in place. Effectively our new floor is suspended from three RSJs, one in the apex of the property, two just above the 'new floor level'. Our work was done by Stephen Astin and he did a superb job but unfortunately he died of a heart attack a few years ago. He did play merry hell about the size of two of the RSJs, he reckoned that the top one needed to be larger than the two bottom ones and that the engineer just calclated the top one and said all three to be the same. Still better to be over engineered than under :)

As for costs, as ours wasn't just a loft conversion it won't give you much of an idea one thing to remember is that it does cost a lot more than just the builders quote though when you add in carpets, curtains, poles, paint, trimmings, furniture etc.

Re: Loft conversion
 

Will dig out the number for you Mani, he was called Andy and his trade is joinery. I had a lot more done to the house than just the loft, in fact the whole house was remodelled. So price wise it's hard to say how much just the loft cost. But now deep breath everyone. The final amount I paid was a few hundred quid under his original quote!!!!! And even better he's a regular stanley fan!! He is very busy so you would probably need to book him quite a few months in advance. Don't forget for building regs you will need proper plans drawn up too

Re: Loft conversion
 

hmmmmmmmm yeah wud b nice if u cud have the number for us...

as for time well i've got 9 months to go so far *L*

Re: Loft conversion
 

Don't forget the electrickery, has to be done by part p registered bod, unless you just have one light n one socket.

Re: Loft conversion
 

the beauty of all the work I had done, is I organised for the plans to be drawn up, contacted andy and he organised all the other trades to do the jobs that needed doing

Re: Loft conversion
 

iv just getting things moving for a loft conversion planning permission needed with fire escape and all my ceilings be lowered by 18" so complete job ,i have to move out for a month and at a cost of £15k plus rent and removal for a month

Re: Loft conversion
 

wow... i think i'm gettin a bargain!

i've got a guy who's doin it for 10 and its a huge loft too and i've seen the standard of work he does it to aswell and its top notch all done to plannin permission requirements

our ceilings are gonna b lowered too by the same amount thankfully we have the house next door so its not too far - though i cant b arsed moving all the stuff aswell...

then later on in dec time we're having the cellars converted over too

Re: Loft conversion
 

Excellent time to let everyone know that I've just started a loft conversion business under a nationwide franchise Pinnacle Lofts. Fir a standard conversion with "proper" staircase no PP is needed but a Building Inspector will need to inspect a)when the floor goes in b)pre plaster & c) for a final completion certificate which will be needed when selling the property.

Be careful when choosing just on price paid as invariably you get what you pay for. (For example a non approved conversion could be only £5,000 but adds no value to your property!)

A good loft conversion company will manage the whole job including all project management & expect to pay £11,000 upwards......

However, when you weigh up the cost of moving home a conversion is very affordable

For more info on my company see www.pinnaclelofts.co.uk

Re: Loft conversion
 

well i got my loft conversion done for £10k + Vat room turned out well and done by roofspace of nelson
did a good job and good lads that did it

did such a good job that my house has sold ,,,to asians due to it being in an asian area of blackburn and having 4 bedrooms,,,didnt even need to put it thru an estate agent,,,and got top dollar to boot even though the rest of the house has been renovated and needs finishing...

all work done to building regulations although planning is not required in blackburn all electrical work and fire alarm done by NIC electrical contractors with fire escape through roof,

any one want a pic of it just ask

roofspace nelson ,,,recommended