please help re loft conversions, conservatorys etc

[mustsleep]

ok we live in a 2 bed ex council house (semi)

i am currently pregnant (17 weeks) with our 3rd child so we are going to need more space, we cant afford to move to another house as these are out of our budget so we are now thinking of extending

does anyone know about loft conversions, can reccommend any builders or firms that do these in the Leeds area? any idea the price range (dh thinks we willneed a dormer that would make it moe expensive)

we thought about having a two storey extention but we would have to move out when the inside work started i think and we would have no where to stay

so we were also thinking about getting a conseravtory so we would have more downstairs space

please any advice etc would be really appreciated as we do not really have a clue about what to do or how to go about this

Loft conversions...you need to speak to your building dept at the council to see if it is allowed under your 'permitted development' quota or if you need planning permission.

See if any one in your surrounding streets has had one done and if they would reccommend their builder or company.

Once you have the numbers of some rec. builders get them round, ask for basic ideas on costs, plans etc. They may use an architect that will draw up plans for you. Or you can contact an archiltect independently (again, on rec is best) and they can design a layout for you.

We had a Dorma and 2 extra bathrooms put in and it came to between 50k and 60k. I am in Surrey tho!I had to have my stairs turned round too.

Thats something to bear in mind, how would you escape from a fire...by law I don't think you are able to exit through a 'habitable room' so that means you need a landing/hallway. I may be corrected on that but that was the case here.

Hi there! You're the second person today wo needs some building help. My dp is a builder so I will help as much as I can.

Loft conversions - I believe you need planning permission, but please double check. Maybe look on your local councils website, or phone your planning department.

Converting your loft does tend to cost more than a 'normal' extension. I have no idea on costs, and it all depends on how big your loft is and what utilities you will have up there (water, elec. etc)

If you have a two story extension (depending on where it attaches to your existing building) could the extension not be built, then knocked through to the existing house near the end of the build?

Conservatory - can be nice, but will a conservatory room be as useful to you as a 'normal' room? Also I am not sure what the planning regulations are around them.

thanks, i think it is going to be more than we can afford as they will only lend us upto 90% of what the house is worth and i don;t think that a oft conversion would add alot to the value judging by the house prices here at the moment

have just had a quote for a conservatory that would be 10.6 square foot and a new front foor that came to £10K so might hae to go with that and see about dh splitting the bedrooms and making a boxroom for which ever kid is a different sex iykwim

hopefully the house prices will settle down or we will come into some cash