With the ever rising expense of purchasing a home as of late, not everyone can even find the funds to move to a bigger home simply to gain some extra space. It is not only the housing prices which affect this, but also the actual cost of physically moving, which can be really expensive lately. If you find that your house is not large enough to accommodate your growing family, physically moving home isn't the only alternative.
You could choose to put an extension onto your house to make extra room but this may be costly and may depend on whether or not you can get the required planning permission. You could possibly do a garage conversion, as long as you have a garage and you aren't currently using it for your car. The last alternative is to have a loft conversion, which can not merely be cost effective, but can also add value to your property without extending its footprint.
For many of the reasons mentioned above loft conversion has become really popular in recent years. Before heading along this avenue, you need to check that your home is actually suited to a loft conversion. A number of contemporary homes which have got roofs made with trusses aren't generally suitable. The vast majority of homes constructed before the nineteen seventies have loads of headroom and they are the most suited to loft conversion.
You will want to call in a builder to evaluate the situation with your loft space and make sure it's suitable. If everything's good to go forward with your loft conversion, you could request a quote from the builder. Speak to quite a few builders and collect a number of estimates so that you have a broad idea of the likely costs. Try to use your intuition rather than simply thinking about the price when deciding on who is the best to do your loft conversion.
Loft conversions pretty much never require the need for planning permission, so it's improbable that your one will. The planning department is the place to head to see whether you need planning permission.
Though for homeowners, getting a loft conversion may be a good choice, it still requires a considerable financial investment. Most people ask the bank for a loan for a project like this, or even get a second mortgage. As a rule of thumb you might expect that a loft conversion will cost around as much as a fair sized brick built ground level extension although the likelihood is that you will generate more extra space with an attic conversion whilst not raising your property's overall footprint.
The layout and design of your property determines the kind of loft conversion you can have. Loft conversions are available in different designs such as: roof lift loft conversions, roof light loft conversions, dormer conversions, loft pods, mansard conversions, velux loft conversions and hip-to-gable conversions. Your chosen builder or loft specialist can tell you what one is actually most suitable for your property.
Dormer Conversions
Possibly the most favored sort of conversion nowadays is the dormer pattern, a concept which offers decent value for your money, yet yields the maximum extra space. This is a popular option with property owners because its both functional and attractive while offering all which could possibly be needed. With a dormer conversion it may even be possible to put in a little balcony, meaning you're generating supplemental outside space too. There are different types of dormer conversions including shed dormers, hip to gable dormers, Velux window dormers and flat roof dormers. Consult with a professional to learn which one is actually appropriate for your specific home.
Velux Windows
One of the most famous names in roof windows, Velux, have been around for over fifty yrs and they can be trusted to deliver a loft window which is both efficient and superior quality. These windows are supposed to be fitted in line with the slope of the roof and thus don't change the look of the structure, they don't generally require planning permission and they are fairly inexpensive to fit. Velux windows produce a decent amount of light and in reality might even require blinds in the summertime. If your loft has a decent amount of headroom, Velux windows may be just the ticket for you, particularly if you've got limited funds.
How Long Could it Take to Complete?
The time scale for completing a loft conversion is dependent upon various variables which include the degree of forward planning that's undertaken, the trustworthiness of the building contractors, the design of conversion, the availability of materials and the prevailing climatic conditions. As an approximate guideline a rear dormer conversion undertaken on a terraced home should take around four or five weeks, a hip to gable dormer on a semi-detached home ought to take approximately five or six weeks.
You'll discover plenty of uses to which the loft conversion can be put, as soon as it's complete. Some families use it as an additional bedroom, a gym or a new bathroom. Nevertheless there's a lot of uses to which a well designed loft conversion can be put, restricted solely by your inventiveness!
Tags: Home Improvement Experts, Loft Conversions, Loft Conversion, Creating More Space