lofty ambitions

[madcol]

Any experience of loft conversions in Edwardian terraces. e.g. cost ; disruption ; problems.

Any companies to recommend in SW London?

My place is Edwardian - lofts eminently convertible in that period of building (but make sure you have modern water system without huge tanks in the roof space). Cost about £29k for plaster finish and I got two bedrooms and shower room with mansard roof for that. Most of mess is pretty contained until they cut through into landing which causes Armageddon. I used Loft Conversions Direct whom I had a lot of problems with but all down to the usual of builders not keeping word .

I used charles grosvenor to do a first fix in our loft (completely different type of house to yours) we have been really pleased with them. If you contact me I can give you the phone number, they are based in the midlands but do lots of work in the London area. They are long long established so I don't see them going bust as they rode the last recession. Had quite an in depth chat with the co-owner who came to inspect 3 times in the 2 weeks our work took!

My friend used a diff company who she was pleased with but I can't remember the name - she's on holiday at the mo so can't ask!!!!

We're having a loft conversion done at the moment, but not in an Edwardian terrace (1930's semi that was extended in 1995). We're getting one medium sized bedroom out of it (only converting the original side of house, not the extended bit), and it's costing around £55-65k (having some other work done too, hence not completely certain of price for loft only). This is in North Herts - would happily recommend builder (specialises in loft conversions), but not sure that he covers SW London.

There's been a fair bit of disruption for us, but that's because they had to begin by removing a gable end and then a steel that ran right across the landing, so there's a hole the depth of over half the house through which rubble can still fall. This was, I understand, only due to the way that the house had been extended, so isn't typical. Usually most of the work would be self-contained in the loft and then they would cut through to put the stairs up.

Currently in south London having our Edwardian loft converted (semi rather than terrace).

It's going very slowly thanks to first Thames Water digging up the whole street for 2 months with no notice (so scaff trucks couldn't get in), and the builders' cashflow problems (partner ran off with £60k after underquoting people - and we know that's actually true as MrNC agreed to fix the builder's computer and ensure said partner wasn't hacking into it!), but not much inconvenience - it helps being a semi because the scaffolding goes round the sides of the house and the builders can just climb up in the morning to reach the back, so until they're well into banging away they don't wake me up.

There's a corrugated iron temp roof extending beyond the walls - apparently you should make sure your firm do this and not skimp with a tarpaulin. There's not been much mess in the house yet as cutting a hole in the floor and putting stairs in happens near the end.
It's £40k for two bedrooms and a bathroom, but the plumbing for the bathroom is already extended up to the loft from when we got the main bathroom done, and water tanks have also already been removed. In fact, every firm quoted the same amount, but the large famous firms (South London Lofts and another) basically said 'you get one bed, one bath for your 40k, the way we do it, and if you don't want the way we do it, go elsewhere'.

I think our builders are doing a good job but just taking forever...let's hope they get on with it soon!