The rising costs of property ownership has made life difficult for homeowners, especially those looking for an extension of space in their home. This is where moving up into the mostly unusable space in your home may prove to be a solution. A loft conversion for your home is a very delicate task, but it can add up to 10% to a property’s value. The following are some of the things you need to consider while getting a loft conversion.

  • Are you using your loft as a storage space? If yes, then you will need to find a new place for all the stuff that’s up there, or get rid of it altogether.

  • If you plan on using a boiler, and you probably are, you will need to find out whether or not the boiler will be able to cope with the extra pressure that is needed to feed hot water to the loft conversion. We have professional central heating installers that can assist with this survey.

  • If you plan on turning the loft space into a bedroom then adding a bathroom also will add value to the loft conversion and make it more attractive to potential buyers. But make sure that that you have enough space and the funds for both.

  • A loft conversion could also result in a higher insurance premium for the building, which is why you need to inform your insurer and mortgage lender of your plans on getting a loft conversion.

  • In some cases, the dimensions of a loft, such as the reduced height and sloping walls, mean that you can’t use standard furniture. This means that you will have to ask your architect or building contractor to include built-in furniture in the loft conversion plans.

  • It is good to always be aware of building regulations. In many cases, the ceiling and the doors on the floor below the loft will need to be changed. You will also need to make sure that the loft has the proper ventilation.

  • And finally, you will need to ask the building contractor if the loft conversion will compromise the space you have on the second floor. That is, unless you have a large landing below to provide upper floor access.

It is important to note that not all houses are suitable for a loft conversion, so homeowners will first need to consider certain things such as pitch, angle, the type of roof structure, and the available head height. These three factors will have to be checked first before carrying out a loft conversion.

If you plan on considering rear or side home extension in place of a loft conversion, we offer guidance in our article:

 Things you need to Know before you carry out a Home Extension

Guide to Development Rights for home extensions in London

5 More things you need to Know before you carry out a Home Extension

and also 5 More things you need to Know before you carry out a Home Extension. Or check out our page on Home Extensions for more information on the topic.

Hope this information was helpful. The Diligent Team.

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