Can I Convert my Loft? The Definitive Guide to Loft Conversions

Here at Convert 4 Less, loft conversions are one of our most requested services, and with good reason. They’re a great way of adding extra space, personality and, crucially, value to your home without a lot of the hassle that comes along with traditional home extensions.

This guide aims to answer every question you may have about converting your loft. Our Convert team have over 20 years of experience, and in that time have heard a huge range of questions about best practices, legalities, processes and how best to make use of your new found space. So without further ado, let’s get started!

One of the most commonly asked questions we get is whether a loft can be converted at all, and in the vast majority of cases, the answer is yes!

The first major consideration of whether a loft can be converted is space. Naturally, if you’ve got a very small loft, the viability of converting a loft may be affected, although there’s always the possibility of extending your roof to create more room.

Realistically speaking, the question shouldn’t really be “can I convert my loft?” In most instances, it’s better to ask: “should I convert my loft?” Almost any loft can be converted, but in a small number of cases the potential benefits can be outweighed by the amount of work, time and money that would go into the enterprise.

One of the leading prompts of this questions is the thought of planning permission. One of the reasons that loft conversions are so attractive to building an outward extension on a home is they often afford you a similar amount of addition space without the potentially time-consuming process of applying for the council’s permission to undertake the work.

There are exceptions made for where you’re making substantial alterations to the roof of your property, but for small changes and for conversions that are solely internal, there’s generally no requirement to apply for planning permission. You can find information on what exactly constitutes requiring planning permission when it comes to loft conversions here.

Of course, another consideration is the space you have to work with. If you’re set against applying for planning permission, then consider the following when deciding if the space in your loft is going to make sense as a conversion:

• How much headroom is there? Does the shape of the roof require you to constantly keep ducking and diving in order to move around the room?

• Will the roof require any modifications or insulating? Insulation in particular can add a surprising amount of depth to a roof, so bear that in mind if you’re already struggling for space before insulating.

• Similarly, if you’re anticipating putting carpeting in your loft conversion, remember this can have a surprising impact on the amount of headroom you’ll have. This is particularly true if your loft currently has no flooring whatsoever. Many lofts have exposed beams and nothing else; in this case, you’ll need to factor in both the flooring and the carpet.

How much should a loft conversion cost?

With such a wide range of conversion options available, and such a natural variation in the specifications and dimensions of the space, it’s very difficult to offer a useful average figure. However, by breaking down the costs of the individual components and aspects of a conversion, you can gain an understanding of the sort of pricing you can expect to encounter.

The basics of a conversion will often include:

• Roof reinforcements

• Electronics

• Heating

• Insulation

• A staircase to access the loft

  • Whether this is a fixed staircase or a slide down ladder can have a significant bearing on costs.

• A skylight

  • While not an absolute necessity, it is often hard to imagine just what an impact not having a source of natural light in a room has – because almost all of your rooms will have them!

However, as with any building project, the only limit to what you can do is your imagination. Some of the most common additions to the basic requirements outlined above are:

• Dormer loft extension

• Completely altering the roof structure for added headroom

• Partition walls

• Ensuite bathroom

Another potential consideration of cost comes with a conversion that involves essentially replacing the roof. If you and your family are currently living in the property, there may be a period in which you’ll need to make alternative living arrangements. Be sure to factor this into your initial budget.

Of course, if you’re based in the North London area and want a more precise answer to this question, feel free to get in touch with us for a free quotation!

How long does a loft conversion take?

As with the question of cost, there’s unfortunately no definitive answer on how long a loft conversion should take.

If you’re avoiding any major work to your home, such as adding in a dormer extension or restructuring your roof entirely, then a loft conversion can be a relatively quick job, only taking several weeks. It can also be done without work that would make the house uninhabitable for a period, which is an added bonus.

The age of the home, the current state of the loft and the requirements for the new space are all further factors to take into consideration when planning the best moment in which to carry out your conversion. Call us today so we can help you more accurately predict how long your conversion project will take.

What is the best use of a loft conversion?

The classic use for a loft conversion is as an additional bedroom, and in many ways, this is the best option. Many prospective buyers searching for homes make the number of bedrooms a home has one of their key search criteria.

Bedrooms are also a great way of adding value to a property. Not only are they an important potential addition to your home in their own right, but they’re also very versatile, and can be changed to suit a new owner’s needs relatively easily.

However, many homeowners think of their loft conversion as little more than an investment, rather than an extension of the home’s potential while they still live there. Many households don’t need an extra bedroom, so why turn the loft into one?

Instead, don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to how to use your loft conversion. The natural light that your loft conversion can bring in makes it an ideal room for relaxation and reading. Why not take a cue from one trend that’s certain to keep growing and make it a tech-free room? On the other hand, you could take the opposite route and take advantage of the loft’s natural distance from key living areas such as the kitchen to turn it into an immersive mini cinema! Yet another option, if you’re someone who loves to exercise but can’t quite bring yourself to step out the door on frosty winter mornings, is to turn your loft into a home gym! Your loft has a whole host of possibilities.

Naturally these options won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but as long as you’re not making drastic or permanent alterations to the space, there’s no need to worry too much about the long term impact on value your use of the room may have.

How much value can a loft conversion add to my home?

As with the cost of the conversion itself, there’s no steadfast rule for how much value a loft conversion will add to your home. The area you live in, the number of bedrooms you already have, the number of similar nearby properties with existing loft conversions – they all factor into how much money your investment could ultimately be worth.

Perhaps the best guideline you can obtain is by finding the average price difference in your area between homes with the number of bedrooms you currently have, and those with the number that you would have if you were to convert your loft.

According to ThisIsMoney, in 2015, the difference between a two- and three-bedroom house in London was over £150,000, while the same conversion in Scotland would have led to a £45,000 increase in a property’s value.

By following the same methodology with your location, you can gain a better understanding of just how much value you could be adding to your property.

We hope you’ve found this guide helpful, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to discuss any questions you may have or your loft conversion.

Office to Residential Conversions: All You Need to Know

When you look at office buildings with their industrial finishes and corporate styles, it’s often hard to imagine them as homely. Visions of cramped living spaces and noisy city living have the potential to put many property seekers off their search before they’ve even begun.

But now with more and more offices getting converted to residential homes, this is a trend which shows no signs of dying out. Before 2013, there were far fewer conversions taking place, but all this changed after planning laws were relaxed. Developers no longer had to have planning permission before undertaking a new office conversion project, which meant that applications for conversions across the UK rose by 88%. These relaxed rules were made permanent in April last year as a way of tackling the housing crisis, allowing many more projects to get off the ground.

Whilst some conversions have been put on hold recently due to uncertainty over Brexit and property prices, in cities like London where space and the property market is so precious, developers are continuing to get started on projects. It therefore becomes all the more important to know what options are available to you when you start looking for a new home.

And why convert office space? Good question, but one that isn’t too complex to answer. Given the shortage of housing throughout the country, office space has become a natural solution for new flats given that they’re usually well located and can provide good space for lots of potential homeowners in a competitive property market. Many offices from the 1960s and 70s across the UK cities have been lying vacant for a while, deemed no longer fit for purpose or not used efficiently, and so developers have jumped on these empty spaces to transform them for modern-day living. Some of these conversions have had the potential to raise the value of the buildings ten-fold, and the approval process from the local council now takes far less time. Although not all office blocks are suitable for conversion, it’s easy to see why this type of building work has boomed in the last few years.

But converting offices to homes is not without its own set of issues. Drainage and plumbing can prove tricky, given that most offices only have one or two toilets per floor compared to flats which require at least one toilet each. Trenches on the bottom floor are often needed to be dug in to fit new drains. Soundproofing is also often required to protect nearby businesses from receiving noise complaints from new tenants.

In spite of these structural challenges, the perks of office conversions far outweigh the pitfalls. These relaxed development rules have allowed for the recycling of dead space, creating much-needed housing in the UK’s busiest cities. Whilst there’s no predicting what the future of housing looks like for Britain in the coming years, one thing’s for sure – office conversions will continue to be crucial in supplying the country with new housing for those who need it.

Here at Convert, we specialise in transforming office space into liveable properties. If you own or manage office space and want to investigate the possibility of converting it into residential homes, contact us for a quote today and see how we can work together to transform a problematic property into a space of huge potential.

5 Things to Consider Before Renovating Your Bathroom

Nothing beats relaxing with a hot bath or shower at the end of a long day, and your bathroom can easily become one of the most relaxing spaces in the house. But if your bathroom has started to look more shabby than chic in recent months, then you might be considering a bathroom renovation. Not sure where to start? This is completely normal. With so much plumbing involved, there’s an awful lot of potential for things to go wrong!

It’s not surprising that when it comes to changing up a bathroom, so many of us feel a little overwhelmed at the seemingly mammoth task ahead. Images of leaking taps and washing at the neighbour’s house flash through your mind, and you wonder whether the inconvenience is worth it. But a bathroom renovation needn’t be stressful. With the right preparation and a professional team of builders on hand to help, you can be sure to get the bathroom of your dreams – without the stress.

Our team here at Convert 4 Less have years of experience in plumbing and redesigning everything from small ensuites to full bathrooms, so we thought it was a good idea to break down exactly what every homeowner should consider before they start on their new bathroom project. Read on to find out everything you need to know!

1. Set your budget

Whilst a fairly obvious starting point, sitting down with a piece of paper and a clear idea of how much you’re willing to spend on your bathroom is an important first step for any project. Once your renovation gets underway, it can be very easy to get lost in the amount of choices you have to make when it comes to design and features. Ornate taps, tiling and plumbing features are displayed teasingly in catalogues, designed to make you spend more than you initially planned, but by setting a clear budget from the beginning, this will act as your guide on decision-making throughout the renovation process.

2. Prepare for hidden problems

Whilst bathroom renovations are mostly straightforward, there is always the potential for things to go wrong – particularly if it’s been many years since your bathroom was touched up. Whether it’s some pesky plumbing or water damage to the floor or walls that needs fixing, keep in mind that not every aspect of your project is necessarily going to go to plan! A trained team of professionals will always aim to provide the most efficient service possible, but unforeseen problems are part and parcel of every renovation project. Don’t be disheartened if something crops up that delays your renovation time – your builder will be doing all they can to fix the problem in the best way!

3. Consider style and substance

It’s always exciting when you embark on a new home project, and certainly your bathroom has a great deal of potential to ‘wow’ when you pick a design that suits you. Now that there are so many styles and design solutions for any bathroom, it’s possible to make your space look stunning without having to spend a ludicrous amount of money. But it is worth keeping in mind that whilst design is important, your bathroom also has to function properly. As a bathroom is usually one of the smallest rooms in the house, factors such as the location of existing pipes and electrical wiring might limit what you can achieve design-wise. Before you let your inner interior designer get carried away, be sure that you know exactly what you’re capable of doing with your room and what you’re not!

4. Lighting

Although not often considered as an important part of a bathroom renovation, getting the right lighting can actually transform the space like nothing else. Whilst dim lighting is perfect if you want to use your bathroom primarily for relaxing in the evenings, brighter lights are usually required for those shaving or applying makeup in the morning. In order to create an atmosphere that will be both practical yet luxurious, it’s important to consider all types of lighting to ensure that you get the right choice for you.

5. Ventilation

As dramatic as it may sound, moisture is the arch-nemesis of every bathroom. Without proper ventilation, your bathroom and even other rooms in your house could end up at risk of mould and mildew – both of which will quickly ruin your new renovation work! To properly prevent this from happening, make the installation of a good vent fan one of your priorities. An extractor fan, or even a dehumidifier for smaller or windowless bathrooms, are both excellent options for ensuring that the air is circulated well around the room and stopping moisture from getting trapped. 

If you’ve been considering getting your bathroom redone, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Convert 4 Less. We’d be happy to discuss any questions you may have about your bathroom.