Loft conversion - lessons learned/tips etc

[loftconversi0n]

Hi,

Can I please ask for any good tips /guidance /things to avoid when starting on a loft conversion project?

I have read in Mumsnet horror stories of architectural designers not getting measurement right etc but our builder has recommended an architectural designer.

Also is there any special insurance you can take out in case it goes horribly wrong?

Thanks

If you have neighbours with similar properties who’ve had theirs done ask to look, it’s really useful to see how the space can be used in differing ways.

If you want maximum space check the drawings- our builder could have made ours quite a lot bigger but to avoid going to planning they made it within permitted development. That was in my last house. Our next house has a huge loft which has been maxed out.

Having matching stairs looks much nicer than a different style.

Get velux windows that close automatically when it rains.

Very few people have done it on our estate as the houses are only 8 yrs old. There are two or three but they are different styles - albeit people who have been in them have described them to me.

@Tara24 nice tip on the windows!

We realised just in time that the stairs we had planned took too much room out of our bedroom, we'd have had to climb over the bed to get out of it! Had a rethink, put a twist at the bottom. Gave us the extra 18 inches we needed. Had to demolish and rebuild the landing cupboard. Think about head height, storage. Try to visualise being in the space, don't just go by the floor plan.

Get a window over the stairs. Makes a huge difference to the light on the first floor.

Agree with pp - matching stairs makes it look less out of place.

Think about aircon and heating. We had bad advice on our radiator from the plumber on site and wish we'd spoken to another firm for a second opinion. Putting in aircon at the time would have blown our budget, but we had wiring etc put in the place where it will go for future installation.

Use a loft conversion specialist in favour of a general builder

Consider where all the sun comes from. We have a crap loft conversion which was done by the previous owners, and we're planning on re-doing it in the next 18 months or so. Because they wanted to do it under permitted development, we've got velux windows on the south facing pitch of the roof and it's like a sauna up there from March-October. We're going to go to planning to try and get dormers at the front which is north facing, it makes a HUGE difference to the heat on the top floor in the summer months.

Like a PP, we're also going to fit aircon (and solar panels) while it's being done.

If anyone has tips on stopping Velux window leaking if it rains really heavily, would be useful.

Had to move bed to another part of bedroom as water fell directly on to it.

Leak doesn't appear to be where the window opens either, the one place you might expect it.

Would love to change it to a dormer but it would cause massive disruption.

Ours was already converted when we bought the house two decades ago.

If I were planning one now, I would include air conditioning. In hot weather it's 5° hotter up there than in the rest of the house.
(In the winter it's 5° colder than the rest of the house, but at least you can put more layers / blankets on).

My husband def already wants us to include air con.

Our Velux windows dont leak at all, even in stormy weather. In fact, we can leave them slightly open all summer with not a drop of rain to be had.

We leave our windows slightly ajar all summer long and it doesn’t get too hot - south facing roof. During July, we kept the blinds closed 24/7 to minimise the sun in the room.

Here is a diagram. We have 4 bedrooms and a study at the moment. This is not a good scale. The rooms are bigger than this makes it appear. One suggestion from one company was the remove the wall in the study - open up a landing and then the stairs would be in the corner. This to me seems like a good idea as the window from the study will then let in light. It's quite dark in our upstairs hallway. The other option includes lowering the height of the current stairs.

Definitely pay a little extra to get a velux window over stairs it makes the whole landing brighter. We also had to lose one of the built in wardrobes from our second bedroom due to the second flight of stairs. We had two very large rooms with a shower room in the middle, immediately at the top of the flight of the second staircase. We could have had 3 rooms up there but settled on 2 larger rooms for teens. Get a full width staircase to go up to the second flight.

I'm wondering if the bloke who lived here before me put it in himself as it's possible it's quite an old window. I'll have to look at the new ones on the website and consider getting a new one put in.

It's a right bloody nuisance though, I've had a washing up bowl on the floor ever since the weather changed, so for about a month or so now. 😡

The builder we are using is a specialist. He did our friend's conversion. Well he was an employee when he did theirs but the finish is excellent. He has since started his own business.

@Coastalcreeksider are they actual Velux windows? Ours are at least 30 years old and have never leaked.

We did a loft room on a typical Victorian type terrace.

We pushed out the back further than originally proposed and fitted in a loo and shower. It was separate to the room rather than en-suite.

we fitted a bubble skylight at the top of the stairs. It made the area and the landing below so much lighter.

Because of building insulation regs lofts can get very warm. We fitted a small velux at the front and a Juliet balcony at the back. We also put in a ceiling fan. This meant air could flow even on the hottest day.

Yes, it has the Velux logo on it. I'm wondering if the wooden surround is a sign that it's a really old model.

We didn't fit a dormer as our loft is large, but I regret it and I would say if you can afford it, do it.

If no room for a window over the stairs, have a suntunnel (recommended by our builders).

Have stair treads on the half landings yo max space within the loft room.

Consider air con etc as stifling in summer.

Found a better Floor plan 😂

@GrunkleStan thank you for the tips! I don't think I know what you mean by stair treads on the landing??

Make sure you tell your home insurer before work starts, I forgot to do this then had to find another insurer when work had already started as my original insurer wouldn’t cover us as the building work had already started.

Check how much actual floor space you’ll have - our bed can only go in one location so no option to move the room around.

Soundproof the wall between you and next door if you’re attached to another house.

Position windows each side of where the bed will be to help with dead height getting in and out.
Similarly over the basin if having an en suite.
If there is room, try to get the window holes splayed out so the gap on the inside is wider than the window as it helps the light.