2 unconventional stairs to attic conversion ideas you can use.
Attic conversion is usually always done at one point in time, there is always that need for an extra room or space urgently.
Can be a daunting task trying to come up with an idea for converting the attic.
Here are a few ideas from the expert team at Diligent Development, use them to kick start your idea or simply just follow through.
2 amazing stairs to attic conversion ideas you can use right now
When you need extra inside space in your home, the most logical, fastest, and affordable way to achieve the needed extension is through an attic conversion. After all, there is always a need for an extra room or urgent space to house an unexpected guest or just to have a place to slip away to a cozy, quiet spot in the house. A loft extension is the most feasible ways to go about creating this much needed space, but in your loft conversion plans, don’t forget the most important elements.
Don’t forget the steps
When you think about a loft conversion, you are probably considering the extra space it’s going to bring along with extra added resale value. But, many overlook the essential elements such as the stairs. One of the most surprisingly overlooked aspects of converting a loft is figuring out the best place for the staircase.
You want an easy access to your new additional space, but it needs to be out of the way yet, depending on how the stairwell is used, it will also need to provide a certain amount of protection in case of a fire. Here are two unconventional stairs to attic conversion ideas you can use.
Learn, know, understand, and follow all building regulations
Get creative without breaking the rules
Often, following the regulations means losing the most spacious part of the loft to sacrifice for the stairs due to height and the need to wall it off for fire separation rules. This leaves your hands tied when trying to work around a stairwell for design options.
Building regulations require that, under certain specifications, you include a separate staircase with an enclosed landing that leads to your loft conversion space. The purpose for this is because of fire hazards as well as making sure you have enough space for headroom as you climb the steps.
If you enclose the landing and keep the steps separate, you have less of a chance of fire spreading should one break out.
There are, of course, exceptions to this rule. For instance, if you are using your loft area to build an en suite onto an existing bedroom. In which case, you would be able to put in small, private steps since it is technically part of the bedroom even though it’s a separate bathroom area.
Regardless, it’s important to make sure you check out what the building regulations for your specific home entail and follow them. In the meantime, provided you are within all requirements, there are some extra clever things you can do to add style and function to the stairways leading to the loft conversion.
Conventional loft extension stairways
Keep it traditional and by code without losing personal style
To be safe, you can always keep to conventional stairwells placing staircases above lower staircases with a landing in between. Just make sure that in your attempt to add extra room to your home, you don’t take up even more space with the addition of the steps by making them cumbersome and in the way of the rooms underneath the loft.
Make sure the stairs are out of the way of areas that could be kept open in the rooms below. To follow building codes, you do have some amount of play. For instance, there needs to be an enclosed landing. But, there are creative ways to go about this while still keeping with the codes.
One way to achieve this is to build a dormer on the exterior in a location that allows headroom for the steps to to be kept out of the way of the converted inside space. Instead of simply walling off the landing, let the light shine in by using a special glass flooring block as the landing that allows light to shine through.
Abiding by the building codes doesn’t mean it has to tie your hands to being artsy. Get creative by designing architectural sculptural elements along the wall and under the steps as they move you upward by painting a few of the exposed under steps that are visible in the tucked-away cove by a window or otherwise darkened stairwell wall.
Make your steps a work of art
Get completely creative
If you want to get completely creative with the steps leading up to your attic conversion, try some special touches such as positioning the steps in a gradual spiral that conserves space along a far wall.
Sometimes, you can bring the stairs into the room to avoid the space-stealing landing enclosure by positioning the bedroom door at the foot of the stairs on the lower landing, and line one side of the stairwell with a bookshelf to take advantage of empty space along the staircase.
Or, if the loft conversion is for the purpose of designing an en suite to a bedroom that is right below, you can use a small, private stairwell or make use of every last bit of space by creating an alternate step staircase where you place your foot on each alternating, almost zig-zag pattern, step as you go up. Or, create a mezzanine loft with an open floor plan that will typically eliminate the need for separate firewall safety measures.
Make your loft extension your own work of art with the help of a professional
Ask an expert
Put your space to the best possible use while making it your own. Of course, make sure that you abide by all of the local building codes and take into account the overall attic conversion cost. Within these constrains, there is a lot of wiggle room to personalise and get creative. If you have any questions whatsoever or are in doubt of whether or not your design is something that can be implemented into your loft conversion plan, never be afraid to ask an expert.
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