Loft conversion

[palacegirl77]

Hi
We moved in to our home last year and having just about completed purchasing the freehold we are looking to convert the loft. We are doing this so our youngest daughter (currently stuffed in box room!) can have a bigger bedroom. Next door have done the same, the loft is massive, the roof is really high so we are thinking of not doing a dormer - just extending the gable end for the staircase and possibly adding in a loo/sink at one end. Just wanted to ask if anyone had done a "simple" loft conversion rather than all singing and dancing - dormer ensuite etc. Im thinking a simple one would do for the next few years whilst my daughter uses it as a bedroom and we then have the option to upgrade it later down the line. Is this feasible? Or should we do the all singing now? Does anyone have any photos of one which has been converted without the dormer? As I said, luckily the roof is really high.

Thanks!

Some friends did this - they made sure that the toilet had a Velux window above it to give the head height for anyone standing up, the shower room being in the eaves. Even with the roof being high, it still feels a bit cramped in the bredroom, the insulation in the roof brings the height down quite a lot.

hmm thats a good point, I guess it seems high currently because its just boards.

We looked at this when we had our loft converted. The price differential was so minimal we went all out.

If I were you I’d go all out. Building work and materials only ever increase in costs plus you’ll have the upheaval of messy building works and decorating twice. Just do it all now and enjoy it.

@roses2 - if you dont mind could you tell me roughly the difference in price?

You might find the size of supporting steels could be different for a simple conversion versus dormer which could add cost and hassle if you decide to put on a dormer later.

FWIW, we did a simple conversion to keep costs down and while it’s been perfectly fine as a bedroom with tiny en-suite toilet & sink, I‘ve always regretted not having spent more on a dormer or mansard.

We have a massive loft and didn't put a former in as our architect said we don't need one as the space is big enough. He is right. Although I sometimes wish we had more head height in the shower room

Hi check out our page Martin J Gaskell Joinery on facebook/ checkatrade we specialize in loft Conversions and depending where you are from could help out and give quote.

Also considering doing a simple loft conversion vs full blow proper conversion.

We were quoted £35-40k for 'proper' conversion. 1 double bedroom, shower room and small storage cupboard area. Seems a lot to me. Didn't bother getting any further quotes as hoped we might be able to find someone to do it simply & cheaply. We are only in a terraced Victorian property so the space we'd be gaining would be useful but not extraordinary.

I think it was around £5k. This was 10 years ago. Having a higher flat roof makes things like putting in wardrobes and other tall furniture easier also.

I'm a carpenter specialising in lofts. 35-40k is not alot for a full out conversion. Obviously is it alot for some peoples budget. But you've got plumbers, electricians, the carpenter doing the work, roofers, scaffolding, building control, architects, and this is almost before you've even taking into account materials. And the people doing this work (like me) have little mouths to feed. I think people do expect something for nothing from tradespeople but there's an awful lot of work even for a 'simple' conversion.

Hi, yes ours is converted without the singing and dancing, i.e. no dormer and no bathroom. I absolutely love ours, its a lovely space and is super cosy, and as we don't need the extra space I wouldn't think to dormer it at a later date; I will dig out some photos for you. However, I have dormered a loft in a previous house, and if you think you definitely will want the dormer it at a later date then I would have thought it would be cheaper and easier to do it all in one hit if you can bear it.

Here you go @palacegirl77.

Thanks Wildwood, thats lovely! I think because we have two double rooms which are large, a box room where my daughter is now, the loft is purely going to be for her bedroom (and a bit of eaves storage maybe) - I have no desire to go up there for a master suite or anything so im thinking simpler might do - I dont want to go to the expense and hassle I guess when it will only be a childs room (and we are plnning on staying put so not concerned about adding value either). Been really useful to hear suggestions, thanks!