3 Considerations to Make When Converting Your Loft
Most of us treat our home with love and care to keep it clean, tidy, and safe. However, many people fail to pay equal attention to the rooms in their house, often keeping the kitchen and living room spotless but completely forgetting about the loft.
There are many possible reasons for this, perhaps the most common one is that lofts are quite annoying to access. That being said, your loft does not have to be stuck in a state of disrepair. With a little bit of effort, you can turn it into a stunning room that provides you with extra space and increases your house’s value.
However, before you go ahead and renovate your loft, here are some things you must consider.
1. Reasons to convert
To convert your loft, you must first ask yourself why you are doing so. Some people turn their loft into extra storage to avoid more drastic home improvements. For others, it becomes their hobby room where they can enjoy their pastime without any disturbances.
Whatever reason that might be, be sure that you are not investing too much. Such a conversion can add value to the home, but it can only do so much. This can mean that you will not find a great return if you spend too much.
2. Possible issues
There are a variety of issues you may face when you convert your loft, such as floor space and roof pitch.
For instance, roof pitch, ceiling height, and floor space can affect your conversion plans. If you are planning to install an office up there, then you need to make sure there is enough head clearance throughout the loft and space to move around and put all your things.
Another problem you can face is if the loft is used for something else. For example, if it was previously used to hold water tanks or have plumbing running throughout the room, you may need to have them moved out.
Whatever case you find yourself in, make sure to do a thorough analysis of the loft and note any issues that may affect your plans.
3. Legal approvals
The main legal consideration you will need to make when transforming your loft is to seek approval from the Building Regulations. To gain permission to proceed, you will need to do a lot of testing, such as testing the safety of the stairs, the integrity of the loft, the strength of the roof and floors, and so on. If you plan to extend the roof to make more space, then you will also need planning permission. This is because you may be extending the roof over legal limits.
In any case, you will want to work with local builders and planners during the process to ensure that your plans will be approved and that you can maintain safety. This will also help you quickly identify a more accurate cost for the transformation.
Conclusion
A loft conversion can be an exciting prospect to many. It lets you turn a seemingly useless room into something more useful and increases your property’s value. If you plan to convert your loft into something extraordinary, remember to work with professionals. They will ensure that your plans comply with regulations, keep safety in check, and do their best to make your dream room come true!
Are you looking for local builders in Richmond to help with your loft conversion? We at Embury Building Services can offer you the services that you need, such as electronics, plumbing, and more to achieve your goals. Get in touch with us today!
