Why are my loft conversion quotes so high?

[SleepingInYourFlowerbed]

We're looking at having our loft converted into a bedroom. We're not having an ensuite or dormer or anything like that. So far the rough quotes we have had have all been £35k - £45k. Everything I read suggests this is more in line with a dormer and ensuite conversion! Why is it so high? Or are prices just increasing? We're in Surrey so that will be a factor but it still shouldn't be that high should it?

Ask on a local forum or the local Mumsnet Surrey. It is probably because you are in the SE.

You could be cheeky and ask someone in your road who has recently had a loft done. You could ask a local estate agent how much value a loft conversion would add to your house as the price usually reflects the cost of the work. They tend to know the cost of works as people tell them "we spent xxx on the loft last year" when assessing the value of the house.

Seems about right to me

I don't think you could get a dormer and ensuite for 35k.

Seems slightly high but that's probably because you're in sorry!

Well it depends on the complexity of the work! If you're in a small Victorian mid terrace with decent existing roof height and stairs suitably positioned then it's fairly straightforward - maybe £20k. If you need the shape of the roof adjusting that'll cost more. FWIW ours cost over £100k 10 years ago - massive job though.

It is really straightforward. No changes to roof height, nothing out of the ordinary, that's why I'm puzzled. It is a small victorian terrace house. It's definitely not going to be a difficult job.

NewtsSuitcase why do you think it sounds about right?

I have seen lots of articles online about the price of building materials rising this year above inflation (thanks to weak pound) and fewer builders as something like 12%of the construction industry is EU nationals. I think lots of online calculators have yet to catch up! But seconded about costs being higher where you live. All you can do is get more quotes and mutter darkly about brexit.

I live in the north east and we paid £35k for our loft 2 years ago. We did have an ensuite and a dormer for the stairs but with the increasing cost of materials and southern inflation it sounds about right to me.

From jobs that we/friends have had done £35-£40k seems about right.
£45k plus seems high

Sorry should have added - we are SE - had lift extension with en suite done 10 years ago and it was about 46k

I think it can be a question of the building trade being fairly buoyant and so they are not fighting over the jobs. We were surprised how hard it was to get anyone interested in doing ours. We paid 40 for one with bathroom and huge dorma in South West.

We’ve just had our loft done. SE London,1930’s terrace,one room Plus ensuite.
£37k. We had 4 quotes and 3 were the same at £37 and then 1 was 45k
This quote was about a year ago so obviously would be a bit higher now.

Wow SarahBeeney, who did your loft?! We’ve just paid £60k for ours also in SE London and now I’m worried that we’ve massively overspent. It is a big room though and this did include high spec shower room fittings, new roof, alumnium windows, carpentry and painting. The other quotes we had were similar, too. Still.... yikes

Just had a £175,000 job (priced by QS) quoted at £230,000 to £280,000.
I was told it was "market forces". I think builders can pick and chose, sub contractors are quoting high and brexit also has an effect.

Haggis That’s not including the bathroom fittings/carpentry/decorating or carpet.**
With all these extras it was around £50k.* The quote above was the loft company quote to a plaster finish.*

And we didn’t need a new roof. So yours doesn’t sound too much more with all your extras. Sorry for bold fail in previous post!

OK, looks like I'll have to accept it will be more than I originally thought!

I think it's about supply and demand every other home round here is or has had a loft conversion. Builders can name their price

That’s reassured me SarahBeeney, thanks! It also occurred to me that a ‘hip to gable’ conversion (which is what we had as ours is a semi) might cost more than a terrace one...

Ours was £40k (dormer and en suite) 5 years ago - Surrey. If that's any help!

Good luck - made big difference to us and I love our room!

We had one done in Surrey a couple of years ago - reasonable size but not complicated, no access problems etc. Ours was just under £37k to finish including making (but not fitting) a bathroom, no plumbing and just a plaster finish.

Ours was 50K (London) but as an end terrace had to have a hip roof converting to gable. That didn't include shower room fittings, carpet, painting, tiles, tiling or furniture. It did include a double fitted wardrobe.

Sadly that sounds about right. There's lots of information online telling me that London extensions cost around £2k per square metre (and this information has been published in the past couple of years). Sadly, it's more like £3-3.5k.

Sorry - my point is that anything involving building work in London and the SE is £££ at the moment. When we get quotes for work they're always about double what I expect!

Sounds about right to me.