Considering a loft conversion - Shouldn't do it really, but need an extra room!

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We are rapidly outgrowing our house. But we're not able to move for a while (potentially up to eight years).

We live in a 3-bedroom Victorian terrace so a loft conversion would be pretty straightforward and would give us an additional room.

But there are several reasons why we shouldn't do a loft conversion:

• house re-roofed and loft insulated about four years ago
• house completely decorated in 2020, still looking pristine
• back garden (well, yard) landscaped and planted up in 2021, still looking pristine
• several neighbours say they can't regulated the temperature of their loft conversions - too hot in summer/too cold in winter

But the draw of an additional room is very tempting.

Please tell me your experiences of loft conversions (having the actual work done, and then living with them). I need to decide once and for all Thank you!

The level of disruption would primarily depend on what they need to do to put a staircase upto the loft. If they need to knock down walls to bedrooms to create 'turning' space, then expect a lot of disruption and dust.

As previous posters said, a simple 1 bedroom/ensuite dormer can take 6 to 8 weeks, with the majority of the work happening from the outside. Once they break through into the house, around week 3-4, the main disruption is the staircase installation. Plumbers and electricians will also need access. The plumber won't create much disruption, but the electrician may create some wall/ceiling damage depending on the state of your wiring and whether a new fuseboard is required.

@sparklyponies

Unless you're having ceilings lowered etc, it only affects the room the staircase is going in. And even then it's pretty much dust rather than damage. Scaffolding / roofing leaves a mess, but it cleans up, it doesn't damage anything.

I love mine. It's the favourite room in the house. And you might find that you don't need to move again...

May I ask you how much you paid and if it's got a dream ensuite?

I had 2 extra rooms and a bathroom put in a few years ago. Around 60k. Yes as others have said, the level of disruption depends on if they have to knock any ceilings through. They did in my room and my DSs room so we didn't have those two rooms for 8 weeks and had to completely clear them. Half the problem was where you put the furniture from those 2 bedrooms. When I say cleared I mean carpets up, wallpaper stripped off , fitted wardrobes affected etc . And the dust!!!

I look back now and it was hugely disruptive but mainly because of the ceilings. Otherwise it's fine. Yes noisy and dusty but a good company will be used to doing a good job with minimal disruption.

Despite all of the above- I wouldn't change it for anything. We have so much more space and I barely remember the hassle as the benefits have been so many. Absolutely worth it. (Though yes it does get a bit warm in summer but it's still v much worth it)

This was never my intention but I found myself with a lodger too and it's been fantastic both as an addition to our house and as an additional source of income.

I did a lot of research re companies. Local forums etc. got 4 quotes and whittled it down. Went to see 3 that were done by the company I had decided on and talked to the people who had had them done.

You'll look back and won't regret it!

No advice but I love the fact that you’re not moving in order to keep your dog happy. Bought a little tear to my eye.

we had a loft conversion done in a victorian house; modern insulation is so good it is the warmest room in the house! i think it is a really good idea but..

a) it would be a miracle if done in 8 weeks
b) it will cost you about £40k min when you have got a good architect and builder involved.

personally i would go for it; will enhance your house and its saleability. but there is disruption

Go for it OP 😃

We’re doing it. Ceilings are being lowered too so it will be really disruptive. But we need the space. Moving to my mums for the first couple of weeks then ‘camping’ downstairs. Builder says 6-8 weeks. Upstairs furniture going in storage.

Totally dreading it but will be worth it.

Mine took 6.5 weeks. Basic cost 37k but with new combi boiler and new roof tiles (not needed my choice) and bathroom suite and painting etc it was 45k around four years ago. No real mess. Very unintrusive. Got two small doubles and a separate bathroom with bath in our small terrace which was my choice rather than typical en-suite. We lost a bit of the third bedroom for the loft stairs so we now have the two original doubles which are quite large, the two new doubles which are small but not terrible and two family bathrooms and a small study. It is well insulated so is quick to hear and cosy in winter. On hot summer days I keep the blind down when not in the room and open window a bit before going in it.
Best thing I ever did for the house/

We’re having ours done later this year. It’s taken a year to get planning permission (conservation area) and then find a builder and then work out the final layout and get on the list for the work to be done - they’re very busy! They’re promising 3-4 weeks for the bulk of the work to be done.

Ours is costing 40k plus Vat. We’ll then be spending another 10k or so repainting, recarpeting and improving decorative finish around the house. It will give us a good size bedroom with a v small en-suite shower room.

Think it will be worth it - we definitely need the space as we need a bedroom for each child as well as a spare room/ office.

We will probably move anyway in 2-3 years. Just didn’t fancy doing it now with a small baby. Although we are also considering just living more minimally and staying here.

As jobs go, our loft conversion was fine. I’d just recommend making sure you get the right layout (look at neighbouring properties)- 1 or 2 rooms, en suite/ separate bathroom- and if you live in the south think about an air conditioning unit. Our conversion was lovely, light, big, quiet and was never cold, but it did get quite warm in the height of summer (only for a few weeks though).

@JudyGemstone
We are in a similar boat , could I ask how much it is costing?

Would like to also but no space on landing for staircase so Would have to lose the box room to stairs so 40k plus but not gaining an extra bedroom (though we would be losing a box room for a large ensuite).

[quote Bumtum126]@JudyGemstone
We are in a similar boat , could I ask how much it is costing?[/quote]
It’s £45k all in except for bathroom fittings.
Am in Bristol, might be cheaper elsewhere.

I remortgaged and borrowed the money as have really decent LTV.

@JimmyShoo

No advice but I love the fact that you’re not moving in order to keep your dog happy. Bought a little tear to my eye.

Ah, thank you! The dog rules our entire life but she's completely worth it.

Thanks so much everyone for the advice. The staircase would be fairly easy, no need to knock down walls or anything - it could just sit 'above' the existing one. It's so good to hear about prices too to get a realistic sense of how much we might be looking at. Thank you!

@Monty27 £20k but 10 years ago and lots has changed! My only regret is not having an en-suite. I didn't have sufficient water pressure, but have since had a new boiler so I'm weighing up how much I want an en-suite vs the mess of adding it now.

Good luck OP. I would always consider the dog. Of course they're head of the household 😃

@JimmyShoo

No advice but I love the fact that you’re not moving in order to keep your dog happy. Bought a little tear to my eye.

Me too, such a lovely thing to do, I’m so glad your dog has found such lovely caring owners OP.

Scaffolding shouldn't ruin your garden if you move any pots etc away from the house first and stipulate in an email to the scaffolding company that your flower bed is important to you and please could they take care when erecting the scaffold.