Building into the attic for 3rd floor

[WelshMoth]

Has anyone done this? Hoping to elevate the roof on an existing dwelling (detached). Plans are drawn but we have a designer and not an architect. Builder has been to look at the house and told us that all the 3rd floor (attic) will need to be fire doors and the windows will need to be 'escape' windows too.

Has anyone done this? I have visions of big ugly doors instead of the small cottage doors I dreamt about.

Hopeful Bump

I think from memory builder right need fire doors and way of escape. it is doable but may need some more detailed plans.

You may find that the existing joists will need strengthening too. Currently they are supporting a ceiling (and bracing the roof) but you'll be adding furniture and people, and possibly removing cross bracing. I think the building department will want detailed structural calculations. We extended into the loft and didn't need fire doors or escape windows. (15 years ago)
Would an escape window be much good on a third floor unless you also had a fire escape?

You won't pass building regs or planning permission unless you employ a great architect/structural engineer.
The loft floor will almost certainly need to be reinforced. Depending on the rest of the house, other structural aspects will need to be considered.
The builder is right. Some councils allow a sophisticated wired alarm system instead of fire doors but again, take advise.
Raising the height of the roof will almost certainly require planning permission as it can affect the skyline etc. Do take advice on that too.
Staircases are another area where an architect who knows the local rules will be invaluable. There are very strict rules on thread size, pitch etc.
I don't know what you mean by a designer but quite honestly I wouldn't take another step without an architect for this type of job.

Also don't skip the planning permission side of things. As a recent build, you won't be able to sell it and as the standard gets higher all the time, you might find retrospective planning impossible to get without major works.

I would take a slightly different approach and look for a company that does only loft conversions. Very often they will have an in house design service and know all the regulations. Some friends of ours struggled on and on with architects but it wasn’t until the loft people came in that they got the design that works for them and their house

Actually I think escape windows are to do with size of the opening window and are to allow the fire brigade to get you out.

Thanks everyone. That's really useful information.

We were once going to convert a loft - we were told that fire doors would be needed, so since we were going to replace the doors anyway, we installed them.
And then didn’t convert the loft after all. But the doors (panelled) didn’t look any different from normal ones - just more ££££ to shell out.