Architecture & Building, Construction Consultant, Loft Conversion

Can My Loft Be Converted?

Before any work or materials are bought you first need to work out whether your loft is suitable for a conversion to be carried out. Most houses will have an allowance of space, which means you can carry out a loft conversion following permitted development without the need for planning permission.

Even under permitted development there may be some occasions where you might still require planning permission such as if you’re based in a conservation area. The company or architect you choose to carry out the conversions will go through any permissions you might need before the work is carried out; although you can also find this information out yourself. If you’re still unsure about converting your loft space, then follow these steps below to see if your loft is suitable for conversion.

1. Look At Others On Your Street – An easy way to tell if your loft can be converted is to look if anyone on your street has had one carried out, this will give a good indication that yours is also suitable.
2. Measure The Head Height – The minimum height you need for a loft conversions is 2.2m. Many Victorian properties tend to be lower than those built from the 1930s onwards.
3. Check What Type Of Roof You Have – Some roofs will have trusses or rafters, and by looking in your loft you should be able to tell the type of roof you have from the offset. Lofts that use trusses will need extra structural supports putting in places to support the removal of the trusses.
4. Consider The Floor Below – It’s common not to take this into consideration, but it’s important to consider where stairs and access to your loft will go, even well designed access can eat into a considerable amount of space from the floor below.

What Type Of Loft Conversions Should I Go For?

There are a number of different types of loft conversions available and the type you decided on will depend on whether you need planning permission or not. The type of conversion you can have will depend on where you’re based, your budget, the roof you have and the type of property you have. Some of the most popular types of loft conversions are:

• Roof Light Conversions (Velux)
• Dormer Conversions
• Hip-to-Gable Conversions
• Mansard Conversions

Will I Need Planning Permission?

Some conversions are covered by permitted development rights and won’t need planning permission to have them carried out. However, certain style of properties and land require further development and alterations to make a conversion of your loft suitable; these occasions are when you typically require planning permission. Contacting your local authority will help you to find out whether you require planning permission or not. On the other hand, your builder or architect will work with you to obtain any permissions you might require for the conversion of your loft space.

Choosing The Right Contractor

choosing the right contractor can be one of the hardest parts of a loft conversion, talk to friends, family, neighbours about who might of carried out their conversions and this will help you build up an understanding of the best people to work with. Once you have a few companies to choose from look at their reviews online to see what others are also saying about the work they have carried out. Here at Country Construction, we have years of experience converting lofts and have developed a well-known reputation for the quality of the service we provide. Get in touch today and we’ll be more than happy to assist.