Half a loft conversion....

[PipPippin]

Our loft was already converted when we bought our current house but it's not a great conversion. Basically there is a small dormer on one side and no skylight in the other side. We would be looking to replace the current dormer with a bigger one and add another skylight. Anyone done anything like this? A sort of loft 'update' rather than a full conversion? Trying to get an idea on the cost before I get a load of builders in to quote...

Modern building regs apply, so complete removal and start again price.

Do you know when your loft conversion was built? We wanted to do the same but our loft conversion was built in the 1980s and doesn’t meet modern building regs, so we’re taking it down and re-building. We’ve applied for a certificate of lawful development rather than full planning and estimating it will cost around £80k.

Thank you. I believe the original conversion was done in 2000.

Very interested in this, just considering offering on a house with a similar situation. You'd think if the conversion was done recently enough it should be up to regulations and a full width shouldn't change the calculations drastically, or is this not the case?

I have a loft conversion without a covered staircase and door at the top of the stairs, it doesn't meet modern building regulations and can't be called a bedroom. It doesn't have a dormer, just skylights. It was converted in the early 00s. I didn't realise they were so expensive to fix, 80k is a lot. @SwedeInLeeds I would look into the costs, I didn't realise how much work it would be to convert it properly and I'm having to leave it as it is.

@icecreams81 It might be easier in your case, but for us there are serious concerns regarding the construction of the floor, so we are re-building, and being in London it’s particularly expensive to do.

Have you had a second opinion on the floor? It could be absolutely fine and safe, just not up to current standards. I'd be wary of any quotes that are too quick to declare it all needs ripping out and starting again.

@FurierTransform It probably is safe as it’s stood since the 1980s but we want to reconfigure the room and make it bigger and can’t do so without building control sign off.

We had an architect, builder and structural engineer all in and they all thought it was decidedly iffy!

@mobear I think the floor/structure of the conversion is ok, my neighbour had their loft converted and their structural engineer had to check mine to make sure they didn't need to reinforce the foundations or something similar. They didn't so I'm guessing that it was solid enough, the engineer didn't have any concerns with mine.

Sorry you have to do so much to yours, London is very expensive.