Has anyone ever gone into the loft space to create a mezzanine?

[Katz]

We have a good sized single bedroom which isn't quite big enough for DD1 and all her stuff. We can't convert the loft the ceiling isn't high enough but were wondering if we opened up the room into the loft to then pinch some loft space to create a mezzanine on which we could put her mattress freeing all the room for her to play in.

We'd not want to put a velux in would just put spot lights in as the room has a huge window.

it will be very cold as you will be open to the wrong side of the loft insulation.

you can't cut the ceiling joists out as they stop your roof collapsing and pushing the house walls over. If it is a habitable room you will probably need Building Control approval and protected means of escape in case of fire.

Apart from that it should be OK.

we have the roof space open on our extension which has tonnes of insulation under the plaster board - so I assume it would be ok, but the loft in our house is freezing!

I think I need a structural engineer.

yep. Or an experienced draughtsman if he has done similar work before and knows the pitfalls. Or maybe an architect especially if you can get a fixed-price first consultation, and s/he could be able to tell you how much their services would cost and if it is worthwhile for a small job. Whoever you ask, it will not be as common as a typical loft conversion, so they are unlikely to know off the top of their head. Common work is so straightforward you can draw it yourself and the BCO will either approve it or point out some easy errors or omissions.

It will need some design.

I've seen it done - it can work really well but, yes, as PJ has pointed out, it isn't a quick fix: the insulation issue is a fairly straightforward fix but cutting into those joists is a major job. I'm assuming you just want to create a sort of sleeping platform above your daughter's room making her room more of a space for toys/hobbies/hanging out with her friends - would that need a protected means of escape? I've seen it done two or three times with just a ladder-type staircase within the room up to the mezzanine.

I'll be interested in this in case I ever want something similar. Part of my house has a cut roof over a small bedroom. I'm envisioning a sort of cabin bed arrangement or steps on top of cupboard units leading to the roof space; depending on orientation, you might only have to take out one joist and you could get an 800mm gap, but it it would be longer than the usual trimmed hatch.

Cutting trussed rafters is more troublesome.

Will keep you posted.

Going to phone a couple of the loft conversion companies to see if they'll come and tell us what they think.

Will also contact the architect who did the plans for our extension as he was good and reasonably priced too

Katz Did you ever pursue this? I'm really interested in what you found out!

Me too

Me too!

Me too... we have a single story extension on the side of the house which is a spare room and en suite. I'd love to go into the little loft space above it and do something similar.