Probably a ridiculous question - loft conversion

[AbeSaidYes]

I have a 2 up 2 down type house, mid-terrace

has anyone in a house like this had their loft converted and what's a ball-park figure for this kind of job?

My friend had it done in a bigger house and stayed living in it while it was done! What are the chances of that in a teeny house?

The age of the house and its original roof construction "style" are the main "yes" or "No" answers to this question. I am a Building Regualtions surveyor, and a loft conversion is "nearly always possible" but the costs can be for some original house & roof types "not worth while".

Loft conversions
Converting the space under the roof of your home can be a cost effective way of creating extra bedrooms or living areas. But not all lofts are suitable for conversion. As a first step you should check the following:

Height: Is there enough room in your loft to stand comfortably? For your loft to be classified as a bedroom once converted you will ideally need a minimum of 2m headroom – but remember this will be after new floors, beams and panelling have been fitted, which may take up another 300mm of headroom.

Floorspace: Is the floor area large enough to make a useable room?

Utilities: Would any chimneys, tanks, pipes or services require moving to create a usable space?
If your uncoverted loft space is too low, or too small or has too many utilities it may still be possible to convert it, but it will be much more complex (and expensive). And you should talk to your local building control team for advice.

Get professional advice
Any loft conversion is a complex project, so you should get professional plans drawn up by an architect or building designer and get them approved by your local council’s building control team before starting work - you may also need Planning Permission so it's always best to check with your Local Authority Planning Department. The plans should cover:

Roof – structure (loading, supports and beams), materials, insulation and ventilation
Access – stairs (angle, width and height), fire escape, handrails and bannisters
Floors and walls – structure and strengthening, insulation and sound proofing
Electrics, power and heating
Windows and doors
Fire safety – escape routes and smoke detectors.
Bathrooms – connection to water supply and drains, ventilation

Advice is available on the LABC Website (The National "Local Authority Building Control") See www.labc.co.uk and a video at www.labc.co.uk/advice-building-projects/homeowners/building-a-loft-conversion

There are also many other "Building Regualtion" websites.

John Bone, C.Build.E MCABE, BSc Hons

Thank you. :)

The loft space is definitely tall enough and you could fit a double bed in with ease. Someone down the road has had it done. I might ask them too.

Have a look on your local council planning website to see if your neighbours loft conversion plans are available to view.

Hi,

We're a London based Loft Conversion company and although we'd need more details to give an accurate figure, we can at least give you a broad idea of what it's likely to cost. For a house of your description we'd normally quote something in the region of between £40-45k.

This would include architecture and structural engineering fees. This may vary if you decide to go with a local builder and source architects and structural engineers separately so do bear that in mind.

We'd also strongly recommend that you ask your neighbour but also make sure you check that whoever you use has all the right guarantees and insurances in place just in case the company folds. (you can see what our insurance and registrations are to compare www.landmark-lofts.com)

Re staying in the building whilst work is done, some people do this like your friend and others just can't bear the dust. If you do decide to stay whilst work is being done, I would say be aware about the amount of dust there will be - it's unavoidable - and have a contingency plan just in case you decide you'd rather move out.

Hope that helps.

Landmark Lofts

Terrible reviews of Landmark Lofts online.

So, buyer beware

I am in Wales.

I asked a friend about her loft conversion in a larger house and she paid £18,000.

As a ballpark figure for just one room I'd say around £20k based on what we paid a few years ago.

We did stay living in our house but they put up scaffolding and did most of the work through the roof and but the stairs in as one of the last jobs possible.

"Buyer beware" is sound advice when investigating any loft company.

Always check that the company you decide to go with has a ten year underwritten guarantee and that they have recent clients you can meet whose projects you can see, that way you can find out directly what their experiences were. You should also check that they are members of an independent regulatory body such as RICs (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors), or are a Chartered Building Company.

We are always happy to receive specific feedback from clients and would welcome the opportunity to discuss their concerns directly by phone or email. If they aren't satisfied with our response then we are the only loft conversion specialists in London to offer free redress to the Property Ombudsman who has the power to investigate and make a binding decision.