The cost of a loft conversion is a common question and one that requires a comprehensive answer. A loft conversion is not a straightforward board out and a ladder. There are many factors to consider when considering the cost of a loft conversion.

All loft conversions require building regulations, this will ensure the loft conversion will meet certain standards as set by national government standards. These include structural integrity, insulation, electrical certification and all plumbing works to name a few.

When considering the cost of a loft conversion it is usually a balance between spending the cash on the conversion or buying a bigger house for the added room.

For that reason it is wise to get a specialist loft conversion company involved as you will get the benefit of the experience and expertise required to maximize your investment in your property.

A loft conversion can easily create two bedrooms and a bathroom from a  three bedroom terrace or semi detached property. This can change your home from a three bed to a five bed which can cost up hundreds of thousands of pounds.

You may think that the process of a loft conversion is a planning nightmare but you are mistaken, most loft conversions do not require any planning as the whole system was simplified in 2008 making most loft conversions a permitted development. A permitted development is a home alteration that can be done without the need for a planning application. There of course some basic conditions which include-

• The ridge height of the existing property is not exceeded
• The overall increase in roof volume does not exceed 40m3 for terrace and 50m3 for a semi or detached home
• similar materials are used in the loft conversion externally
• any dormers are set back 200mm from the eaves
• Front dormers are not permitted, or side dormers  facing  the front of the road

Your existing loft space can easily be converted if the ridge height  is over 2 metres. Touchstone lofts are experts at converting low ridge lofts. We have converted many lofts that have a starting ridge height of 2 metres and have produced a room with internal height of 2 metres.

There are, if simplified three main types of loft conversion-

• rooflight conversion- this type of loft conversion involves no roof alterations as is normally therefore quite cost effective- they cost from £15,000 to £18,000 depending on size on conversion.
• Dormer loft conversion- this type of roof involves a major roof alteration and can cost from £24,000 to £30,000 depending on size of conversion
• Hip to Gable conversion- this type of conversion also involves a major roof alteration and costs are similar to a dormer conversion.

Loft conversion regulations

loft conversion is the process by which unused roof space is transformed into a useful habitable room, for example, an office (allowing the opportunity for homeworking), an extra bedroom, games room, bathroom, or a store room. Most often than not thirty percent of a particular property living space is usually situated within the loft area. If the space is converted, it will create an adequate livable room to be used as a bedroom, office, bathroom – adding immediate benefit and much needed space.

Regulations that bind building control will always have to be abided by – when one is planning to transform his attic space into some useful form of liveable space, as the homeowner he must ensure that the activities are in line with the requirements laid down by the concerned local council. Building Regulations are put in place to ensure that mandatory criteria as regards to construction are met and further information can be found on the planning portal website (http://www.planningportal.gov.uk)

Laws regarding health and safety should be strictly adhered to. A loft conversion project that is likely to cause danger or pose potential risk to either the owner or other people will not be granted permission to continue.

Qualified loft conversion specialists will always find it necessary to conduct searches with the local authority and confirm the legality of the project. Usually, the actual planning permission to for the transformation of an unused space is not necessary. However if the work will entail the extension of the roof, then the initial plan should be made known to the relevant local council and also the consent from the owners of the neighboring building should be sought.

It is very important for one to follow the provisions of the law to avoid inconvenience in the future or losses due to demolition orders from the authorities.

After the proper channels have been sought one can comfortably enjoy the benefits that accompany loft conversions. This type of transformation increases the value of property, although the increase rate may vary from one property to another. These conversions are also a very convenient method of getting more rooms without having to go through the upheaval of changing homes, which may turn out to be time consuming, expensive and generally stressful especially in the current housing market climate.

Chiswick is a very upmarket and trendy area of West London. Recently a property sold for £4 million pounds so the price of property is very expensive. Average three bed roomed terraced property sells for around £750,000.

Chiswick is well located for central London but also close to the M4 and M25 so its popular with residents who work in London but retreat to their country homes at the weekend.

For those of us who cannot afford this luxury basic accommodation can be easily extended upwards to make a loft conversion.

Loft conversions in Chiswick are very popular because of the very high cost of property in this popular area of London.

Chiswick is also attractive as it has a great High street. Full of local and national chains it is the ideal place to shed a wallet full of notes or to sip an expresso.

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small house

Loft conversions are the answer-crowded house Britain

Third of us don’t have enough space but can’t afford to move

Recent research have revealed that nearly a third of parents say they feel squeezed into their homes but cannot afford to move. 29% say that their property is too small to accommodate their family and 40% age 34 and under say the same.

One in four children are forced to share a bedroom. Most of the housing stock in the UK is 2 or 3 bed-roomed so couples moving into a 2 bed-roomed house have a perfect space but the same house cannot accommodate 2 or 3 children.

Children under 10 sharing and same sex up to 20 is acceptable by some but at 21 you need your own room. Grown up children who may have jobs cannot afford to move out and this is a growing problem particularly in London where average property prices are £345,298.

Many homeowners are seeing the benefit of loft conversions as you are using dead space which can easily be converted into 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. Converting your loft or attic will normally not affect your existing home as the stairs can be located over your existing stairs.

A loft conversion can provide 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. Loft conversions can be used for a variety of spaces like home offices, cinema or chill out rooms.

The cost of a loft conversions is significantly less than the cost of moving to a home to add bedrooms particularly if you want to stay in the same area.

There are many reasons not to move, lack of affordable finance, stamp duty and costs just mount up.

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Dormers are very common when a loft conversions is built. A dormer is normally built without the need for planning permission as it is usually a permitted development.

The best thing about dormers is that you are gaining extra living space for free, that is you are not having to pay for the extra airspace that you are claiming into your loft conversion. The other advantage is that you are not having to give up any valuable garden space for this extension, that could be used for a variety of different uses.

The above dormer is a flat roof dormer and a hip to gable conversion. The rear roof is extended horizontally from the ridge and the side hip roof is converted to a gable. The volume increase in the roof structure was around  25 metres cubed. This is well within the required 50 cubic meterage  for  permitted development. This loft conversion created two bedrooms and a bathroom.

A dormer is a major roof conversions and requires expert planning. It is paramount that permitted development guidelines are followed otherwise the local planning department has the legitimate powers to remove the dormer. These includes the size of the dormer and the position of the dormer base from the eaves. Flat roof dormers are the most common type of dormers as the create the most added room to your loft space.

You can see from this internal view the amount of room created by a flat roof dormer. The  bigger your house foot print and the higher the ridge height, the bigger your loft conversion.

The other most common type of dormer is the pitched roof dormer, these are required in certain areas like conservation or listed buildings. They are also preferred by some as they are less imposing.

This dormer is a pitched roof dormer with Juliet balcony, this does not normally require planning permission. These dormers look great but do not provide the same internal roof size.

This dormer looks great as the existing rear stair window is continued into the dormer window maintaining the symmetry of the rear windows.

Touchstone lofts can provide you a choice of dormer designs to suit your individual tastes.

We can cater for all aspects of design whether you are looking for a simple loft conversion design or you are looking for a modern cutting edge design with lots of glass and modern finishes.

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Loft conversions are not a simple and straight-forward building process; it requires expert planning knowledge and expert building skills. To have your loft converted right, you actually need a loft conversion specialist with experience in loft conversions.

An experienced loft conversion company like Touchstone lofts has years of experience and will be able to provide you with detailed information on the various designs available, if your empty space is right for a loft conversion, if there are any building requirements, the cost, and the amount of time it will take to complete the loft conversion.

Not every roof and empty space in a home can be converted. If you do not have the correct ridge height in your loft, you cannot have a loft conversion. On the other hand, the majority of lofts can be converted without any problem.  Touchstone lofts can convert if the height is 2 metres or higher.

An expert loft conversion specialist like Touchstone lofts will be able to show you the different types of loft conversions that will work in your loft area and from here you will be able to design your loft and create the type of room you desire with that loft space.

Trying to do a loft conversion on your own is certainly not a great idea and using a builder that has never done a loft conversion or the occasional one, is not a wonderful idea. In order to build the conversion properly and to meet any building requirements, you will need a specialist with experience like Touchstone lofts

By using an experienced loft conversion company like Touchstone lofts you can feel assured that you are in good hands. The reason is a professional loft conversion company like Touchstone lofts have been doing this for years and know the entire process, which allows them to complete the project in a timely manner.

Not only can a professional create a beautiful room with your loft conversion, but they will also be able to provide you with information regarding if the area is suitable for a bathroom or even a couple of windows. The best part of all is that you will have a professional help you design the loft conversion you desire instead of just using a blue print, making it unique and personal. If you do not use a professional, you may be missing these extras that might just help make the room more functional as well as comfortable.

With a loft conversion, you may be able to have that spare bedroom, game room, or office space with its own bathroom and window or skylight. Just by contacting a Touchstone lofts, you will be able to design and receive expert advice to create a loft conversion of your dreams.

TouchstoneLofts.co.uk is a family owned company offering a wide array of loft conversions. You can see their entire gallery for your loft conversion by visiting their website.

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When customers ring Touchstone lofts our staff will ask you about your loft ridge height. This is the height from the ceiling  joist to the apex of the roof of the loft space.

For Touchstone lofts the normal minimum required height is much smaller than most loft conversion companies.

The normal minimum height required is around 2.4 metres for most loft conversion companies. This is around the average height for a typical room, newer houses, built since 1980′s have a floor to ceiling height of around 2.3-2.4 metres whilst older Victorian house can have heights of up to 2.7-2.8 metres.

The starting point is however very important is it may not be the finishing height you are left with in the loft, there a reasons for that.

Most loft conversions require steel for the floor and ceiling structures, especially if you have a trussed roof. This can raise the floor height by 20-30cm, quite significant if your are starting with 2.1 metres. This does not include the floor joists, floor boards and final floor surfaces, like underlay and carpet, adding some 10cm more. This is only half the picture as the headroom will also be reduced with new rafters, insulation, plaster-boards and plaster skim- reducing head height by a further 10-15cm.

Head height you start with is therefore crucial especially if you are starting with a low ridge height.

Touchstone Lofts are experts when working with very low starting ridge heights and have done many loft conversions that have a starting ridge height of 2 metres.

Touchstone lofts have the expertise and professional techniques, which we have mastered so we can still make your loft conversion work with even a low starting ridge. We have recently converted a loft that had a starting ridge height of 2.16 metres, the finishing head height was 2.09 metres.

Contact Touchstone lofts, the loft conversion experts if you considering converting your loft, whatever your ridge height no other company can provide you with the expertise and technical know how that can provide you with the best design and layout for your loft conversion.

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 Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?

There is much confusion on whether planning permission is required for a loft conversion. The confusion is not without reason as the planning regulation are far from clear.

Lets begin with the simple rules, if your property is one of the following you will require planning permission-

1. Your property is either grade 1 or 2 listed.
2. Your property is in a conservation area.
3. Your property is a flat or part of any shared building like a house converted to various flats.
4. Your property lies in an “area of outstanding natural beauty” like the Cotswold’s.

If your property is any one or more than one of the above you will require planning. Touchstone Lofts are experts in tackling challenging loft conversions that require extensive knowledge and expertise. We have done many loft conversions that require expert planning liaison and detailed management.

We have converted loft in many grade 2 listed buildings and in conservation area do we understand how to provide you with the best possible loft conversion whilst complying with planning regulations.

Planning permission is not required if the above four points do not apply. Permitted developments were extended in October 2008 to allow roof extensions. Certain restrictions do still apply to the volumetric size of the extension allowed and the position of the dormer.

The likehood is therefore you will not need  planning permission for your loft conversion.

Contact Touchstone Lofts for expert advice and a free no obligation quote for your loft conversion.

sales@touchstonelofts.co.uk or ring 0800 881 8194.

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How much do Loft conversions cost?

You may see various figures be banded around the Internet on the cost of a loft conversion. There are various types of loft conversions-

Types of Loft conversions-

a) Roof-light Loft conversion- These loft conversion don’t involve any roof extensions and involve just the addition of roof-lights. However this may sound cheap there are still a number of works that are still required. These include  a new floor and internal structure, insulation, staircase, all electrical and plumbing works, not to mention all the required architectural drawings, structural calculations and other building regulation requirements.

loft conversion progress

b) Dormer conversions- A dormer loft conversion involve a roof extension, that is an extension to the roof  to create extra space. This creates extra roof space

which is more important if your roof height is low.  There are various types of dormers from small pitched roof dormer to full wrap around dormer to hip blade roofs.

If you have gabled roof, you will require a rear dormer.

So what about the cost, well if you are promised a conversion for less than £15,000 you better checkout the builder with a microscope. With the increasing costs of materials, that have to be used to get building regulation requirements it is surprising if it is possible to do it any cheaper. VAT at 20% is no help to those on a budget. Thanks Mr. Cameron, you should be discounting home improvements, we are after all spending and helping the economy!

A dormer conversion will cost around £25,000 plus Vat and if you want an en-suite, budget for around another £3,000.

If you have tanks in the loft you will need to consider the alternatives to remove this, either a pressurized cylinder or a combination boiler.

If your only parameter for a loft conversion is price, you are obviously discounting many factors  such as reputation and affiliations of the loft converter.

Are you using a specialist loft conversion company or a builder who will lack the experience of a company that is a specialist. A specialist maybe more expensive for a reason, namely they will be fully appreciative to the costs and the ful extent of works required to complete the works.

A builder may enter with a cheaper initial price but may become stuck as the costs or building regulations pile up. After all would you really trust a car mechanic to service your expensive prestige car who services all makes of car. Are you really going to trust a builder who does the occasional loft conversion.

A loft conversion specialist like Touchstone lofts is an expert in the field of loft conversions and has extensive experience in all aspect of loft conversions.

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We all need more room in our homes, the loft space over your head is usually not recognised as being habitable but can be the largest unused room in your home.

A loft conversion is the ideal way to make your home bigger without any loss of garden and major disruption to your home. Work is carried out from the scaffold directly into your roof and you will be waving goodbye to us in a matter of weeks, not months.

A loft conversion can be that master suite, en-suite and dressing room included, an office, a child’s room, a cinema room, a gym or just a chill out room.

building regulations is always required. Permitted development rights recently changed making a loft conversion possible even if you have an extension.

Most lofts can be converted, the only requisite is the minimum height requirement in your loft space. We can work from a height of 2.1
meters.

If you’re currently out-growing your home and need more space, a loft conversion may be the best and certainly the most prudent way to extend your home. It definitely beats the expense of moving home especially in these tense and uncertain times. Consider the costs associated with moving-

• Estate agents fees
• Solicitors and surveyors fees
• Removal costs
• New schools
• Refurbishment, carpets and curtains for new home

That dusty and un-used space over your head may be the answer to your growing family.

Even if your loft is of trussed roof construction, it can still be easily converted, if fact nearly half the loft conversion we convert
are of this construction.

Speak to the experts, speak to Touchstone lofts

Visit our website at www.Touchstonelofts.co.uk or ring 0207 870 1117  for a free feasibility study.

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