RENOVATE & REPAIR
Maximise your home’s footprint without impacting the garden by converting unused roof space into a practical room
Extending your home can be a costly affair both monetarily and in terms of space. The average 30 square metre home extension will cost around £66,000 and can eat up a significant portion of your garden. A loft extension can add space at a fraction of the cost and with significantly less disturbance.
SUITABILITY
The first step in planning a loft conversion is to assess whether your space is viable. ‘Most properties will be suitable for a loft conversion as long as the loft measures 2.3m at the highest point. Other features that will help you decide whether your loft space is suitable are the pitch of the roof, the type of structure, and obstacles, such as water tanks or chimney stacks,’ explains John Allen, managing director at Econoloft.
COSTING UP
In order to determine whether a new addition is good value, you must think of both the outlay and the return on your investment. ‘A well-designed loft conversion can add more value for money per square metre than any other extension project, adding around from 20 to 30% to the value of a home,’ reveals John Allen. According to the experts at Checkatrade, a basic Velux loft conversion has an average cost of £27,500, while the popular dormer design is close to £45,000.
ADDING A BATHROOM
Including another wash space will prove practical for day-to-day life and will also add value to your property. ‘The difficulty of incorporating a bathroom into your loft conversion plans depends on the loft’s current layout, the available space, and the proximity of existing plumbing and drainage systems,’ says Daniel Kerley, company director at Loft Living.
‘With plumbing, the cheapest and easiest way is to make sure your new bathroom sits over the top of an existing one. It makes running water and soil pipes much easier,’ says Barrie Cutchie, design director at BC Designs. ‘You’ll need to check your water pressure. Adding in an extra floor means water has further to travel upwards which can cause issues. This can easily be alleviated by installing a pump to generate water pressure: you’ll need to know before plumbing things in whether a pump is required.’ It is advisable to consult professionals when installing a bathroom in a loft conversion as you need to ensure the addition complies with building regulations for ventilation, electricity and water supply, and drainage. ‘Depending on the weight and load-bearing requirements of the bathroom fixtures, such as the bathtub or shower, you may need to reinforce the floor structure. This could involve adding extra support beams or joists to ensure the loft can accommodate the extra weight,’ adds Barrie.
FLEXIBLE SPACE
