Tricky loft conversion - any advice?

[MotherOfPuffling]

Have moved into a house that is too small as was vaguely affordable, and had always planned when buying it to convert the loft to make it big enough. Was assured by the estate agents that the loft was definitely big enough for a conversion, but having bought it and moved in it turns out the headroom isn’t sufficient. It will mean dropping the ceilings on the first floor from 2m 38cm to 2m 8cm (building regs require 2m minimum). I’m worried this will make the bedrooms and bathroom look/feel poky. Has anyone done this? Does anyone have such low ceilings? How does it feel? It’s a small 2 up 2 down so none of the rooms are very big anyway. Not doing the conversion isn’t really possible as house just isn’t big enough without it, but I’m scared of ruining what we’ve got. Especially as will have to lose space from main bedroom for the stairs to loft, though have been assured will just lose one corner.

It’s going to cost a fortune (about £60k plus built in storage in eaves), so I need to get this right. If anyone has any tips or hints or warnings, that would be amazing! Firm doing it were recommended by several friends who used them, and are well priced for the area (SE London).

Hi

this is pretty common for two ups and two downs - and 60k is a pretty standard figure for completing the job

if it’s a Victorian house in SE London - we had one and the ceiling was quite high anyway so to drop the ceilings slightly shouldn’t impact the general feeling downstairs and you will get a lovely master room upstairs which will make it worth it

but the work will be pretty messy (without dropping the ceiling you can confine the work to the loft space without breaking through until the end)

I would ask a loft conversion company who does this day in day out - we got quotes from econoloft. And ask to see some of their precious work on similar houses so you can get a feel for it

if you are on instagram there are some good accounts which have done this so I would look at that to get a feel

2m 8cm is very low. Can you possibly raise the roof instead? I did that, but the house was detached and even with the extra height was below my neighbours' roofline.

We've just done a loft conversion where we had to drop the 1st floor ceilings (240cm down to 220cm). It has made such a mess and has been a big pain to move out all the furniture. Make sure you factor in redecorating costs of basically everywhere except downstairs rooms unless you are willing to it yourself.

What i would say is that i grew up in a tiny cottage with low ceilings and It only really bothers DH when we go back there. How tall are the tallest members of your household? Rooms can be decorated to avoid a pokey look but if you have a tall family, it might feel worse to them!

We had to drop our ceilings in the new loft conversion to 2m5cm to come into permitted development. I was worried but actually it looks great. It would depend on light/size of the rooms as to how pokey it might feel but 2m is 6ft8. I don't know anyone that tall (I'm only 5ft2!) so fine for me 🤣 all I'd say is we spent more than £60k without dropping any ceilings (there's 2 rooms and a bathroom up there though)

That’s interesting about raising the roof. What kind of impact did that have on costs? I am worried about the mess and disruption of the lowering of the ceilings, it will additionally mean giving over my bedroom to DD and my mum (reason for needing extra bedroom) while I sleep on the sofa for a week or two, plus there’s making good. That’s doing one section at a time so we have one usable bedroom at all times.

It’s a relatively new built house (about 30 years old) but in a conservation area so more complicated. I think the local Council are pretty good about approving plans, but I’m not sure it they’d agree a roof raise. Don’t suppose anyone has done this with Lewisham Council in one of their conservation areas?!

Good point, @23NameChange, we’re all shortarses in my family so won’t be affected in practical terms by low ceilings! DD takes after her dad so may end up tall, but she’s got my titch genes to combat, plus she’s only 9 so it’s a few years away 😊 (Her father is non resident parent so no issue there)

@Hall84 that’s reassuring, thank you

Are you a terrace? We did ours in Merton and we were categorically told that a roof raise would not be permitted unless we were detached but it will vary from borough to borough. Also id prepare to move out for at least 3 weeks whilst the roof is off unless you can all sleep downstairs.

@Hall84 DH is 6'6 so tbf the roof is prob a bit closer to him than me 🤣

Hi @Namechanger355 I’ve never done instagram but would def like to see anything relevant. Are there any people you would suggest following? Is that how it works on Instagram? Or are there just links you might be able to share?

Yep, mid terrace. Blast, sounds like a roof raise is likely to be out! Think we’re going to have to sleep downstairs, well me anyway. Ex is willing to have DD stay there part of that time, and my mum (he always did like her best!), but he doesn’t have room for me and the animals as well, and I’m not putting elderly, sick cats in a cattery. I doubt they be accepted into one anyway tbh. Still at stage of getting planning approved and trying to time it so worst bits in terms of DD’s room being unusable are during one of the school holidays.

6’6”!! Wow! I’m nearly 5’2” and am one of the ‘taller’ women in my family!

Avoid raising the roof if it's likely to get refused (conservation area) as you'll waste cash on architectural drawings and surveys (and planning and planning surveys!)

I think your proposed ceiling heights sound OK. It's a messy job! Those naughty Estate Agents sound like cowboys. That's really pissed me off on your behalf!

So many EAs go around thinking they know building regs. Idiots.

Anyone mind sharing the recommendations they got for loft companies in SE London?

And you definitely can't extend out the back of the property? Even if you move the bathroom downstairs and turn the existing bathroom into a bedroom?

(That's if it is upstairs!)

I work in architecture and we've done some clever shenanigans to make use of internal space x

I was recommended South London Lofts, and Econolloft (a pp also mentioned them)

2m is less than 6'6. I have quite a few friends who wouldn't be able to stand upright!

Ooh, I wish I could! That’s my other worry, that the house effectively being bigger will make the garden feel too small. It’s quite balanced at the moment - tiny house and tiny garden. Definitely no room to extend that way. Annoyingly there’s a 2m front garden and a path, if I could just shift the house forward into the front garden it would be perfect as could go backwards then. I could see if I can find the Rightmove link to when I bought actually so you can see the layout /
size?

2m 8cm will be OK. If you have a look at Australian bungalows (think neighbours!) Their standard ceiling height is 2.4cm.

Have a look at some Aussie houses (maybe look at the older styles like Ramsey Street) and see what you think. 😂

That's the weirdest construction advice I've ever given anyone! X

Yeah the Rightmove link would be useful :)

Sorry ignore my advice re aussie bungalows. It differs from state to state and has changed a lot recently (Sorry for my crap advice! Good job I'm sitting next to a bossy Architect!)

Found the current floor plan…

Hahahaha @Cornishsausageroll nothing wrong with unusual advice! And that’s a good point re bungalows actually.

Hmm actually maybe I should take that down in case my neighbours are on here and realise it’s me when they get the party wall agreement!

Op I was in Lewisham borough too and am the one who recommended econoloft

we also had a two up two down in a conservation area. Wouldn’t have been able to raise roof but could do what we needed to within the existing shell as permitted development