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Property/DIY

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Original poster

attic conversion

20 replies

frazzled74 · 19/10/2009 16:29

please can anyone advise me of rough costs to convert an attic into a bedroom. It is a 3 bed terrace and we would want a basic, small 4th bedroom, no ensuites etc. we would want to steal part of bedroom 2 to make a staircase.This is a future plan/dream and i would just like to know if it is ever going to be possible, then i can start saving.

OP posts:

missingtheaction · 19/10/2009 16:30

Twice as much as the largest estimate given, even if that estimate was given in jest

Spidermama · 19/10/2009 16:34

30 grand.

CarGirl · 19/10/2009 16:36

With one velux window - no dormer £25k but then you will need to carpet, deocrate etc

Itsjustafleshwound · 19/10/2009 16:39

How long is a piece of string???

When we had our loft extension/conversion done the quotes and advice varied - I guess it pretty much depends on what needs to be done and what actually needs to be done - we had a bathroom installed in ours and our loft space converted into a bedroom and it was in the region of £40K (but bathroom was an expensive option)!!!

We also used a specialist loft conversion company which did everything including project management and building approval - I am sure there are cheaper options and we paid for the service ...

RatherBeOnThePiste · 19/10/2009 16:43

40/50 grand maybe but as missingtheaction says - double any quote given. Costs add up too when you add in flooring, extra furniture, curtains/blinds etc. We had decoration thrown in as a sweetener with one quote (which we actually took.) We also had to change doors on the ground and first floor and make some fire proof because of new building/fire regs. Someone may come along in a mo who knows more about that. That was another extra.

Original poster

frazzled74 · 19/10/2009 16:45

will forget that idea then, i was expecting 15-20k.my house is only worth 120k.

OP posts:

Original poster

frazzled74 · 19/10/2009 16:51

has anybody done their own attic conversion?

OP posts:

CarGirl · 19/10/2009 17:06

our loft storage room - this can only be used for storage does not require planning permission and the same stair and steels requirements cost £14k (this is in the SE)

LyraSilvertongue · 19/10/2009 18:07

My friend had her done last year by one of the big loft conversion companies in London. It was around £55,000 but she had two bedrooms and a bathroom. Yours should cost a fair bit less if it's just one small bedroom.

CarGirl · 19/10/2009 19:00

most of the cost though is in the structural work - steel beams, staircase, dormer window built etc the extra rooms (cost of a dividing wall) and a bathroom are quite small IYSWIM I'm afraid.

LyraSilvertongue · 19/10/2009 19:10

But they do charge by the cubic ft/metre, so the bigger it is the bigger the cost.

LyraSilvertongue · 19/10/2009 19:11

Plus a new bathroom requires a whole lot of plumbing which can be very pricey.

HappyHome · 19/10/2009 19:11

Hi,
we did our own and it cost us approx £7k. We did everything ourselves except the plastering, fitting the velux's and fitting the spindles/newels to the new staircase. We knew exactly what we wanted and got a structural engineer to draw up the relevant plans for the building officer.

Having said that my DH and I are experienced in property renovation and have a good knowledge of building regs etc. It was HARD work but well worth it.

Original poster

frazzled74 · 19/10/2009 20:15

thats a bit more reassuring happyhome.I may be able to rope in some family to help, we have a plasterer and a chippy, and my late fathers best friend is a builder.

OP posts:

kitsmummy · 19/10/2009 21:52

God those figures are high! We had ours done by a good builder for £20k - this was done to building regs and was 1 bedroom with ensuite shower room. Probably cost another £2k on top for shower, toilet etc and to carpet.

CarGirl · 19/10/2009 22:22

kitsmummy if you're not in the SE that sounds about right to me. Our quote of £25k was for a room and showeroom/WC in the SE with dormer.

CarGirl · 19/10/2009 22:22

kitsmummy if you're not in the SE that sounds about right to me. Our quote of £25k was for a room and showeroom/WC in the SE with dormer.

JandLandG · 20/10/2009 13:01

nice 3 bed terrace with nothing fancy loft conversion will cost £10-15k max.

try to get the staircase built on the landing though...don't use up space in another bedroom unless absolutely ness

£20k odd + would be for reasonably large semi with dormers and en suite.

oh those silly londoners and their silly prices...

Original poster

frazzled74 · 20/10/2009 22:44

thankyou jandland, i feel like its achievable now, I think we will have to take some off the bedroom for staircase though unless mde very steep one,

OP posts:

BicycleBelle · 22/10/2009 23:54

Rather than get a quote from a builder to do a total package, get a cost for the structural work alone, i.e forming the dormer, installing new joists, adding window, foor, staircase etc. Depending on the size of the extension and what part of the country you are in this should be in the 8-10K mark.

You can then get quotes for, or pull in family and friends, for electrics, heating, plaster boarding etc. as you can afford each element. By doing this your costs should stay in your 15-20k estimate.

A lot of costs are hidden in those all encompassing quotations, but if you break it down into individual trades everything is much more transparent and controllable.

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