Loft Conversions

Not everybody can find the money to move at present, with property selling prices rocketing and costs spiraling out of control. The actual cost relocating needs to be combined with the price of the new property plus all of the extra expenses when determining the total outlay involved. When your family is outgrowing your home and you cannot afford to buy anything bigger there are still some good options.

If your property is suitable, you could potentially build a brick extension to gain that extra living space. You will unquestionably need planning permission to do this and it could be expensive. You could possibly convert your garage, if you have a garage and are not currently using it to park your car. Probably the perfect answer is to have a loft conversion, which could add a lot of value to your house and isn't likely to need any planning permission.

For many of the reasons given loft conversion has become increasingly popular lately.  Before you head along this route, you must make certain your home is in fact suited to a loft conversion.  Homes which have roofs made with trusses aren't really suitable. Older houses which were constructed prior to the 1970's are often perfect for loft conversions because they were created with solid rafters and there tended to be lots of head space.

To evaluate the scenario with your particular loft and make sure it is suitable you will need to bring in a loft specialist. The builder will provide you with an estimate for the work as soon as he has established that your loft is okay for converting. Don't merely stick with the first quotation you receive though, get several quotes before picking your builder. When choosing the best company for the project you should use your instincts rather than just opt for the lowest estimate.

Most loft conversions in do not require planning permission, so there is a high likelihood that yours won't either. Your planning office is the place to check if you're going to need planning permission.

Whilst for homeowners, getting their loft converted may be a good option, it requires a substantial financial commitment. If you do not actually have the required cash you can always ask the bank for a loan, which hopefully will not be too difficult as the likelihood is that the loft conversion will add significantly to the value of the house. As a guide you could assume that a loft conversion will cost roughly the same as a fair sized brick extension although the likelihood is that you will generate more space with an attic conversion while not raising your property's footprint.

Your house's design and layout is what establishes what kind of conversion is perfect for you. Loft conversions come in different designs such as: hip-to-gable conversions, roof lift loft conversions, roof light conversions, mansard conversions, loft pods, dormer conversions and velux conversions. Chat with the builder or loft conversion specialist to decide which sort is the best choice for your property as well as which is the most economical to match your allowed budget.

Possibly the most favored style of conversion currently is the dormer type, a design that provides value for money, but still delivers the maximum additional space. This is a popular alternative for homeowners since its both effective and appealing and provides every little thing which is likely to be needed. With a dormer conversion it may even be possible to put in a balcony, meaning you're creating added outside space as well. You'll discover there are various forms of dormers and these include hipped dormers, shed dormers, flat roof dormers and Velux dormers. Ask a professional to learn which one will be the most suitable for your specific house.

Definitely one of the best known brands of roof windows, Velux, have been around now for more than 60 years and you can rely on them to deliver loft windows that are both reliable and superior quality. Velux windows are supposed to fit flush with the slope of the roof and hence do not change the shape of the roof structure, they do not in general require permission and they are fairly economical to fit. They produce a good amount of light and in reality might need window blinds the summertime. If your loft space has got a good bit of head space, a Velux windows could be the perfect choice for your project, especially if you're on a tight budget.

The length of time that it should take to do a conversion on your loft will depend on four or five aspects including the weather conditions, the capability of the constructors, the style of conversion, the level of forward planning that is done and the availability of components. As a rough guide it should take about four to five weeks to accomplish a rear dormer conversion on a terraced property and approximately five or six weeks to do a hip to gable dormer on a semi-detached property.

You'll discover a number of uses to which your conversion can be put, after it is completed. Some people turn it into a new family bathroom, a new office or an extra bedroom or two. But naturally there are numerous applications to which a decent conversion can be put, restricted merely by your imagination!