There are a number of renovations or projects that can increase the value of your home for when you come to sell it. One of these renovations is a loft conversion. However, in addition to increasing the value of your property, it can also help to make sure that it continues to meet the needs of your growing family by providing you with more space. A loft conversation can be a big undertaking which is why we have put together the following guide for you. So, let’s get into it.
Assessing Your Loft
Before you commit too much to the project, you will need to work out whether or not your loft is suitable for a conversion – not every home will have a loft that can be converted. If your home doesn’t have permitted development rights, then you will need to apply for planning permission to convert your lost, but don’t worry, most homes do have permitted development rights. There are size restrictions for some homes; for example, terraced houses can’t exceed forty cubic meters, and semi-detached can’t exceed fifty.
You will also need to check what type of roof you have. Most homes will have either rafters or trusses. Rafters run along the edge of the roof, whereas trusses run throughout the loft. Rafters are easier to work with in terms of a loft conversion. The minimum height for a loft conversion is 2.2 metres, most homes built after 1930 will have this, but homes built before this might have less room. A lot of people also already have insulated lofts, and this might be enough, but in some instances, you might need to install heating, so consider this too.
Access
After you have assessed your loft to determine whether or not it is suitable to convert, you will then need to think about how you are going to access the loft. For most people, this will mean installing a loft staircase. A lot of people tend to forget that a loft conversion will also affect the floor below. A staircase is going to be the easiest option in terms of access, but even a small one will take up some room on the floor below, so try to think about where you are going to put it to avoid disruption. While not technically a matter of access, you will also need to think about window installation to open up the space; the windows don’t necessarily need to be in the walls. They can go in the roof too. Take these fakro pitched roof windows designs from Roof Window Outlet.
Types of Loft Conversions
There are a few different forms of loft conversions, but there only tend to be four main ones. Firstly, there is the roof light conversion which does tend to be more affordable although often short on space. They do hinge on your loft, though you might not have a loft that will work for this. Dormer conversions work best in properties with sloping roofs, but they do require you to make more substantial structural changes and so they can take a while.
Hip-to-gable conversions usually offer a more natural-looking finish than a dormer conversion. Although they are more expensive, they require you to have a free-sloping side roof. Lastly, mansard conversions are suited to many different types of property, and they create more space; that being said, they alter the shape of the roof, which can mean that the home looks odd, and they are usually one of the most expensive options.
Expected Timeframe
Truthfully, it is hard to provide you with an expected time frame – your tradesperson or builder should be able to give you one, though. This is because it depends on the type of conversion that you are dealing with. They often range from a month to two months if there are no delays in the process. The first couple of weeks tends to consist mainly of prep work followed by exterior work before they get onto the loft itself.
Home Insurance
If you are having any substantial work done on your home, you should always inform your home insurance provider; failing to do so can make your policy null and void. In terms of a loft conversion, they need to know because you are changing the structure of your home, its habitability, and its value. Your home insurance provider will need to adjust your policy accordingly. If you need to move out while the work is conducted, they need to know this too, and you should give them enough notice. Lastly, it might make sense to take out an additional policy to insure your property against damage or other things going wrong during the project.
To Conclude
A loft conversion can dramatically increase the amount of liveable space inside your property to give your family more room. The extra room can become a bedroom, an office, a playroom or a second living room – it can fulfil any need that your family has. They can also help to increase the value of your property, which does make them a worthwhile investment.
