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How much to convert a loft +stairs?

30 replies

HeartOrHeadDecision · 12/05/2023 23:26

Oh could somebody give me a hint at the price please? To build the stairs, convert the loft. Possibly add a bathroom. Add a Juliette balcony? Would be helpful to get a rough idea before buying a house.
We are in the South

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Ariela · 13/05/2023 01:00

How long is a piece of string? Really depends how big your loft is, are you detached or a bungalow or a terrace (how much scaffolding, how do you access), etc. How many finished rooms, and are you going to fit out and decorate yourselves or not?
A clue in terms of floor plan or square footage or even a photo of a similar type house might help!

HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 08:05

@Ariela Thank you. It is a small terraced. Plenty of room inside to stand. It was built in the 80s. No skylight or anything atm.

How much to convert a loft +stairs?
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HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 08:07

Another photo

How much to convert a loft +stairs?
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Boohooyouho · 13/05/2023 08:09

We’re in an outer London borough and ours is costing 50k. That’s for a dormer conversion, with bedroom and bathroom, plus first floor bathroom renovation. Had quotes between 40k and 60k. Those quotes were also 5k cheaper 18 months ago as the costs of materials has gone through the roof

Dogsandbabies · 13/05/2023 08:10

We got a few quotes recently. All around 75k for just the build. So no add one like bathroom, flooring. I am going to guess we will end up around 83k.

But we are a semi. So a little bigger.

AuntieJune · 13/05/2023 08:10

We're in a city in the south west. Just paid £50k and extras have added up to probably another 5kish (remember to budget for flooring, blinds, paint, fancier bathroom fittings than allowed in the quote etc). That's with ensuite, dormer and Juliette balcony.

Our city is relatively expensive and property prices going up which increases demand and cost - I'd say at least 35-40k anywhere.

Look through quotes really carefully as eg builders underestimate bathroom costs to make quote cheaper - ours allowed about £300 for a bathroom suite which is not even vaguely realistic!

You could call around loft conversion companies in that area and they should be able to give you a ballpark

Helpwhatwouldyoudonext · 13/05/2023 08:12

From the photo I think that's the 'wrong' sort of roof trusses inside, to do it quickly and cheaply.
They are holding up your roof - how will they be removed without massive structural work?
Google 'lofts suited to conversion ' and you'll see what I mean.

Hothotdamage · 13/05/2023 08:16

Helpwhatwouldyoudonext · 13/05/2023 08:12

From the photo I think that's the 'wrong' sort of roof trusses inside, to do it quickly and cheaply.
They are holding up your roof - how will they be removed without massive structural work?
Google 'lofts suited to conversion ' and you'll see what I mean.

/\ This , could be a fair bit of work structurally to do what you want. Could be 60/70k

Underthemagnificentbeechtree · 13/05/2023 08:20

We just paid 60k in Midlands for dormer conversion to add large bedroom and en-suite, however we didn’t have trusses crossing the usable space like that. You’d also need to consider how your first floor would be reconfigured to add the 2nd stairs. Currently you have very little landing space so one of your rooms needs to be (partly) sacrificed.

HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 08:44

Here is the landing facing the room rather than the bathroom but it gives an idea of width. I'm also not sure what the layout needs to be for a new set of steps to be added.

I wouldn't want to sacrifice the room space 🙈

How much to convert a loft +stairs?
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TeenagersAngst · 13/05/2023 08:44

No idea about cost but when you say there's enough room to stand up in, bear in mind you'll lose quite a bit of height through insulation. It made a noticeable difference in our loft conversion.

TeenagersAngst · 13/05/2023 08:47

HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 08:44

Here is the landing facing the room rather than the bathroom but it gives an idea of width. I'm also not sure what the layout needs to be for a new set of steps to be added.

I wouldn't want to sacrifice the room space 🙈

I think it would affect your bathroom not bedroom 3 as that's where the stair return would be

CornedBeef451 · 13/05/2023 08:53

We're in the midlands and were quoted minimum 50k.

HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 08:56

@TeenagersAngst might work I think. If we take a little bit off the room.

How much to convert a loft +stairs?
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HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 09:01

But the cost sounds so high considering the house price. Like 1/5 of the house.

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PoorlyDS · 13/05/2023 09:03

Thanks for posting this. I'd love a loft conversion but this is huge money !

Kentlassie · 13/05/2023 09:06

We are having our loft done at the moment. South London borough. 70k but I’m sure will end up costing more.

YouveGotAFastCar · 13/05/2023 09:18

HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 09:01

But the cost sounds so high considering the house price. Like 1/5 of the house.

It's MASSIVELY expensive now.

We bought a house with a converted loft during Covid and had a load of quotes for converting it properly into a room before we bought. It's got stairs, but needs fire doors, and to make it really usable, it could do with a dormer and maybe a bathroom. It then took 6 months for the sale to complete and in the meantime, costs seemed to skyrocket and availability was low, and we're now being quoted £15 - 20k more for the same job - and this is relatively straightforward; I think, as the room space is already there, as are the stairs.

I'd recommend getting quotes but build in a big contingency. I thought £5k would be enough of a contingency but it hasn't been, for us.

We're midlands based; incase that's relevant.

mondaytosunday · 13/05/2023 09:20

You'd have to take the space off both rooms to get the access right in that drawing.
I agree you are looking at circa £70k, could be considerably more depending.

HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 09:22

Oh and another question. How much time does it take?

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yoshiblue · 13/05/2023 09:26

We're starting to get quotes 65k-75k so far, but this is for a big dormer and en-suite to add to an Edwardian semi, so bigger than a small terraced house.

I'd say £50k is a good rough figure.

TeenagersAngst · 13/05/2023 10:15

HeartOrHeadDecision · 13/05/2023 09:01

But the cost sounds so high considering the house price. Like 1/5 of the house.

It sounds expensive but how much would you pay to move to a four bedroom house?

One other thing to consider is that your home doesn't become top heavy - you don't look like you have a huge amount of living space downstairs?

christmastreefarm · 13/05/2023 10:44

I paid about £60k all in 7 years ago (that's including decorating much of house as walls were knocked down and rebuilt.

I actually got most of that cost back in the house value (I'm outer London)

You also need to think about downstairs - if it's very open plan that can need extra work to meet fire regs if you add another floor.

YourWinter · 13/05/2023 10:52

Also consider whether the changes will make the house more attractive when you sell it.

My stairs go up through the middle of the house, from the sitting room, I was told there had to be an exit route that did not go through a living room so a wall and door would be needed to close the sitting room off from the stairs. Didn’t proceed in the end.