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Original poster

Can we have a Loft Conversion Lessons Learned thread?

50 replies

NotAnotherJaffaCake · 18/04/2018 09:41

Just instructed architect for loft conversion. Given the Kitchen thread saved our bacon when doing our kitchen, does anyone fancy sharing their loft conversion do's/don'ts?

OP posts:
OneDayIWillHaveAGreatUsername · 18/04/2018 10:11

I would say the three key things I wished I'd known/thought of before we did ours were:

  • I wouldn't bother with having a Juliette balcony in the dormer extension (which most people seem to go for). It limited us as we couldn't put any furniture against that wall (as it would block it) and when we wanted it open it was impossible to keep the curtains closed (at night obviously).
  • Really think about your ensuite placement (if you are having one in the loft). We only realised late on in the build that ours meant that we had no room to fit in our [albeit giant super king] bed and be able to walk past! In the end we changed the shape of the ensuite to provide enough space but we could have done it way better with more planning.
  • We didn't put in a skylight above our loft stairs and I always regretted that. It wasn't that they were dark in any way but the extra light would have been lovely anyway.

I hope that helps!

Svalberg · 18/04/2018 10:35

If you're having a big storage cupboard built, for the boiler/storage tank/that awkward space, a light in there can be a very good idea.

We went with a shower room that isn't an en-suite but the loft conversion only has the bedroom & shower room on that floor - the access to the shower room is at the top of the stairs (as is the bedroom access. This gives us more wall space in the bedroom, means others can use it in emergencies without disturbing us, & loo visits in the middle of the night don't disturb anyone asleep.

AClearShotOfTheStreet · 18/04/2018 11:07

If your loft stairs are cutting across a window, definitely get that window taken out and resized. A few of our friends just let it cut across and it does not look good.

It gets HOT up there. I wish we had had air con put in and probably will at some point. One of our bedrooms was unusable for three weeks last year. Probably less of a problem if you are only having one bedroom as you will get a cross breeze.

Svalberg · 18/04/2018 12:12

I'd agree with the heat, and I'd get an air con unit too. The first thing I do when I get home is open all the windows to get a breeze through.

OneDayIWillHaveAGreatUsername · 18/04/2018 13:52

Oh yes! The heat! It gets so so hot!

LoftyLou · 18/04/2018 17:40

If head height is an issue, get your veluxes put in as high as humanly possible close to the apex of the roof, because you get about an extra 12cm height under the glass compared with under a sloped ceiling. So the walkable area is extended under the veluxes by an extra foot or so (depending on the angle of your roof). Hope that makes sense!

Also be prepared for walls being set in stone (well, timber) after the first 2-3 days of work. We kind of thought we’d have a look once we could access it, and maybe move things around from the drawings. No (well it would have been extra to undo/re-work).

I may have more when ours is finished!

Ubercornsdiscoball · 18/04/2018 17:42

We have literally just started this so watching closely!!!

Trippedupagain · 18/04/2018 18:40

Having sold a house a couple of years ago with a loft conversion I would say definitely make sure you are scrupulously careful with keeping all the paperwork, the guarantees, the planning permission, etc. We stupidly didn't have most of ours and it was such a headache and I've heard other people say the same. I would also agree with the terrible heat in summer and also say that the noise from rain on velux windows is deafening in a storm. Ours used to remind me of being in a caravan when it rained because of the noise on the roof.

Dozer · 18/04/2018 18:50

Finding a good builder and spending ages on the specification etc. Look round their other jobs (plural) and talk to clients.

Even builders registered with FMB can be cowboys! Guarantees can be meaningless in practice.

Svalberg · 19/04/2018 08:38

I'd also say to work out where your bed might go, then make sure you have an electrical socket either side (double if possible) - if it'll fit in two places, put sockets for both. Make sure you have a socket on each wall. Don't scrimp on sockets - you'll need plenty options for where to plug the fan in in summer.

jigster01 · 20/04/2018 16:20

We are just waiting for a quote for loft and seperate bathroom ..so first question...what other expenses are other than the normal planning fees etc ..I was told all the doors need to be fire doors and what about smoke / fire alarms? Are they the regular ones you just put on the ceiling? Anything else ...thanks

Svalberg · 23/04/2018 13:45

@jigster01 Depends totally on the council I think. We were told initially that the house needed fire doors throughout but the building inspector said he'd be happy with smoke alarms in each room of the house. The smoke alarms are wired into the mains. We had a partial glass door into the kitchen & had to replace that with a fire door.

Pastwordprotected · 24/04/2018 10:17

A couple of issues cropped up with our loft conversion:

  1. Due to the position of the ensuite, we needed a macerator unit. Beware - they are noisy and apparently a nightmare to fix any problems.
  1. The builders were unable to get the necessary head height and the council refused to allow them to raise the ridge height. This meant having to put an RSJ into the room below which caused more mess and resulted in us having to redecorate an extra room.

Good luck!

Original poster
NotAnotherJaffaCake · 24/04/2018 10:19

This is super useful thank you all! I want to put a super king size bed in so will get measuring.

OP posts:
mrsplum2015 · 24/04/2018 10:24

We have a great builder who is also a friend. He recommended we go with a loft conversion company.
Absolutely the best decision. There are only so many options with that type of space and therefore a bespoke design really isn't necessary. Dh and I got ours exactly as we wanted it with a dressing area under a velux and wardrobes on either side, big bedroom, en suite and separate study accessed from the landing. Stairs over the stairs to minimise disruption and lost liveable space. Our design was all included in the quoted package price and any issues were quickly dealt with as they'd seen it all before.

slippermaiden · 24/04/2018 10:28

I'm very happy with our loft conversion...only 2 regrets.... wish we had windows both sides, instead of just facing the back garden, would let in more light and allow me to be more nosey! And it really caused a rift with neighbours on one side who kicked up a massive fuss when we decided to have it done. They didn't speak to us again and infact since moved house!!

LoftyLou · 25/04/2018 20:56

A lesson learnt by us today... when deciding on the window frames for dormer windows, insist on seeing the actual view first and base the position of any vertical or horizontal window bars based on that.

We’ve just had the dormer windows put in and the horizontal bars block out the ‘horizon’ wherever you stand, which is annoying. If the bar had been a bit lower it would have semi-obscured a row of overlooking windows, and the eye would have been drawn up to the treetops and sky.

Seems like a very first world problem when I see it written down, but I was very upset earlier. Blush I think it’s just the permanence of the mistake that stings.

Sassybynature · 20/11/2018 21:46

Any more tips? Just at the stage of getting some quotes in.

somewhereovertherain · 20/11/2018 21:53

Put in windows on more than one aspect helps with airflow in warm weather.

Titsywoo · 20/11/2018 21:59

Expect movement for a year after the conversion goes in! So plaster will probably crack in places etc. We have a shower room and the grout in the shower cracked when it moved over the first summer. Building regs stated we had to put 25mm of insulation under the plasterboard between that and the batons. This meant when movement happened the screws holding the plasterboard to the batons popped through the plasterboard slightly. So that needed to be sanded back and repainted. Ideally don't bother decorating until a year has passed and it's all settled! We haven't had many issues with heat as it is so well insulated and we have the bedroom windows at the back and velux at the front in the hallway so can get a nice through breeze. During heatwaves it gets a bit too warm but with a fan and the windows open it's fine. It never gets cold up there even if the radiators are off. If you can have hung tile on the outside it looks much nicer IMO.

muddledmidget · 20/11/2018 22:02

We used a specialist loft company which meant all our building work was finished in 3.5 weeks which was less time than next door had for a kitchen and bathroom! Also meant they had really good ideas about how we could utilise the space.

We went with the door to our bedroom at the bottom of the stairs and then a velux over the stairs which follow the roof line of our bungalow. On the other side 2 more veluxes so we get a good crosswind. We also went for a walk in wardrobe and besuited upstairs. Think about where you want light switches, how many lighting circuits you want and plugs before you start building, ours went so quick we got home one day and realised the first fix electrics were in and we couldn't have half the spot lights on one circuit and half on another so it's either bright or dark!

Also find out what boarding they'll put in the waves space (not required in a bungalow but part of building regs in a house) and how many access points are included in the quote (we had to pay extra to be able to access both sides!)

Air con should definitely be considered, it really does get hot, although we can reduce this by closing blinds and opening windows upstairs when we get in from work

One other thing, our company we're late starting due to an overrunning job before ours so the schedule got thrown out the window on day one due to when other trades were booked, so make sure the downstairs of your house is ready from the start as well. We got home from work on day one to find the walls downstairs were already built, with our furniture inside them so ended up moving most of our belongings into a neighbours house at 9pm. That might just be us though!!

MMx

somewhereovertherain · 20/11/2018 22:24

Add more plug sockets.

Holty99 · 21/11/2018 07:31

I would never have one again. The wind noise was horrific, I thought the roof would blow off every time there was high wind.

I second the separate bathroom rather than ensuite. Gave us a wall to put wardrobes against.

Our builders mostly ignored the plans and did what they thought was best.

We had to replace the flat roof after 2 years as birds had killed it.

Toomanycats99 · 21/11/2018 08:14

Some of these are probably mentioned before.

Definitely think about plug sockets - bedside lights, Hoover, tv etc.

We have one large room with bedroom one end and office space the other - wish I had put lights on 2 circuits instead of having them all on one.

We have a velux over stairs - let's light In and I also think heat out. I find the front bedroom is cooler since we have had the loft done and loft doesn't get that hot either.

Under stairs cupboard - we have one in bedroom. We can not access it all the time as a beds in front but it gives lots of extra storage.

Eaves cupboards - they get dark so stick lights in!

If you are mid terrace think about bathroom waste pipes - ours have to go through house.

Toomanycats99 · 21/11/2018 08:20

And think about everything before - we used an all in loft company and extras do bump up the price.

Eg an extra window was £800 or something! So if you get more than 1 quote compare the numbers of lights, plugs windows very carefully.

Oh and one more - check if they include a 'tin hat roof' when doing building work. I'm assuming it's bumps up costs but reduces chances of leaks.