Please tell me the best and worst about your loft conversion

[MamaChris]

We have just discovered this pregnancy is twins, and we will need an extra room (expected dc2 was going to go in the box room, two babies just won't fit beyond the first few months). Speaking to friends, it seems a loft conversion will be quickest/cheapest. But we know nothing and need to get this done by September, and, ideally, sooner (can't imaging building work and newborns). So we need to learn quickly.

Can you please share what worked and what didn't with your loft conversion? We will move upstairs, the kids will be downstairs. We are in a (small) 1930s semi, and hope to get something with a flat roof at the back so there is some headroom, and a shower/toilet (which will need a window). Beyond that, we're not really sure what's important, how long it will take etc. Thanks

congratulations!!! twins are fantastic

Our loft was done when I was pg with dc4. It was completed 2 weeks after the birth. As a finished product it is fantastic (few pics on profile) but I felt having it done was hell (pregnancy didn't help neither did having it done over the winter months)

We have a corridor and proper staircase, two double bedrooms and a shower room. Work took 12 weeks (but it was 14 weeks as they had 2 weeks off over Christmas). It has been finished 12 mths now but still took us ages (well it felt like ages) to decorate & carpet etc before we could use it.

Hope this helps

thanks. still getting used to the idea!

12 weeks work is good news. it's possible, then. will we need planning permission?

don't know that we'll have room for a proper corridor, but definitely need to squash in a proper staircase, somehow.

We didn't need planning permission as had velux windows (would have needed it if having a dormer) but it will need to go through building regs. and the inspector visits and issues the certificate.

Our twins are 3 next month!

Pop over to the regular multiple thread they are fantastic and very knowledgable!!

We had a loft converted and if had to do it again:

-- would have dormer rather than velux
-- would not have gone for shower/en suite, but a large closet/storage space with shelves. Or perhaps a toilet/sink but definitely a closet.
-- would have moved out for first 3 weeks when it was noisy, messy and DD/DS weren't getting naps.

We had loft done and I love it (we're up there). We have dormer and it's great apart from the windows the builder installed (go for uPVC, no maintenance) don't open particularly wide, but that's a small niggle. Would DEFINITELY go for a shower room/loo up there - if only to have somewhere to go to get away from everyone else in the house for a few quiet moments. I love our ensuite and that it's ours and we don't have to share it with kids/visitors.

Ours was done when DS was 18mths and just before DD was born. The noise didn't really bother either during daytime naps as I put a travel cot up in the front room downstairs and DS slept well in there during the day. DD being so little slept through everything!

Definitely consider having a portaloo (may be cheaper for your to hire one for them)for your builders outside as you don't want to have to be cleaning a loo all the time after they've used it.

We needed planning permission as we'd already used our permitted development on our kitchen extension, but it was all very straightforward and there were regular inspections by building control.

If you can get a word of mouth recommendation then go for it. We went with the company that did our neighbours (completed in 3.5 weeks!) and were promised the same crew. I was annoyed when a different crew turned up and they were pretty hopeless. Annoyance turned to rage eventually, especially as they were the most expensive quote. However, there were many things they left undone, which we had to get done ourselves so we stopped the final payment of around £3.5k. It cost us more than that to get it finished, so make sure you don't make the stage payment until the stage is finished to your satisfaction. Other friends have had theirs done and have gone with smaller firms and they've had a very good experience. Hope it goes well.

Watching this thread with interest as we are currently thinking of buying a 3 bed semi and extending into the roof or onto the side. If you have a roof conversion with a dormer, do you know where the staircase goes from the 1st floor, do you have to build into one of the existing bedrooms or will it all fit over the existing stairs?

when we had our extension, it was possible (just) to put the new stairs over the existing stairs, but we had a good space to do it in.

i thing i would recommend is to look at having a pocket sliding door (it slides into the wall, so no wasted space either side) as it saves a lot of space. you can get fire rated ones now, and they do cost more, but loft conversions are normally tight of space and anything to give you more is a good idea.

be careful with having a shower in the roof - where we live the water pressure is very low (so low, that we have the whole house pumped), and we wouldn't have got any water out!

i would second going for a dormer window if possible as the major issue with loft conversions is roof height, having a dormer gives you a lot more usable height.

Finally, think about having fitted wardrobes, we had one built in a triangular shape, with double hanging (highest bit), then tall hanging (middle) and drawers in the low part. a little space taken up, at lot of storage!

Thanks for all the useful replies. WUB space for stairs is something I'm worried about. Have a builder coming to take a look Monday, but I can't myself see how it would be done, the space at the top of the stairs is so tight. OTOH, there are several loft conversions in our street, so it must be possible!

MrCSWS we have a separate hot water tank, so pressure for shower (now) is fine. Think we may need to move the tank up to the loft though. Triangular wardrobes sounds like a great plan.

Am going to take notes for builder chat Monday, so please keep advice coming!

remember you might need to relocate cold water tank(s) (we have two becuase of low pressure) too. look at "coffin" tanks low and long, they fit under the eaves.

Hadn't thought of that MrCSWS, another good point.

You need to ask about guarantees. Personally, would use a loft conversion company as they do lots and lots of them rather than a single builder.

Case in point: shower in loft had a leak. Called company who did conversion and plumber showed up an hour later to fix it!

You also need to know who does the plans? You hire architect or they do? Ours was inclusive of plans/planning permission etc. The advantage of architect/company doing the plans is that if something goes wrong, then they will fix it. For instance, if you get an architect to draw up plans separately, and the plan has to be remedied, then you will be paying for it in builders time/materials, further plans etc.

Visit as many conversions (ask prospective loft specialists to see their previous work)as you can assess quality and get some ideas.

Extend to the max if you can afford it. Agree- go for dormer if you can.

Definitely en-suite. You wont regret it.

Dont scrimp on power points. They are always useful. Put in TV and telephone points as well.

You wont regret it. Imagine how the space will work when your kids are much bigger.

Make sure you have lots of

Best- my lovely bathroom which I adore

worst- the builders clearly used the minimum amount of floor support allowed so it boings up and down like you wouldn;t beleive.

We had our loft converted - the planning takes a long time and we went with a conversion company who provided all the 'expertise' to help us with the planning ...

Get building approval and perhaps speak to your council about what they suggest or can offer you wrt what is acceptable/meets standards as it does have a bearing when you sell your house ..

Also remember that the loft will be warmer is summer and cooler in winter requiring more heat, so don't scrimp on insulation.

Under eaves storage is also a good idea as is a dressing room and lots of power points, tv aerial socket and telephone jack ..

Good luck and I hope you get what you want.

We had one that gave us two bedrooms and a shower room - we made sure the shower room opened onto the landing so that if guests needed to use it because family bathroom was busy, they could without coming through our bedroom. I would always recommend a dormer/mansard, makes the space feel like a real room.