Loft conversions have proven to be a popular and cost-effective way of adding extra space to a home. This guide will take you through the five things you need to consider when planning your loft conversion, which you should consider before even thinking about having a loft conversion fitted.
This blog post is for homeowners considering having their lofts converted but need some help thinking about the generally forgotten issues. Consider these five tips before making any final decisions on what type of work needs to be done in your home.
Only Thinking Of Extra Space
One of the biggest mistakes you can make when planning a loft conversion is the extra space it gets you, not that it may not suit your home or your family lifestyle.
Homeowners need to ensure the loft conversion fits in with their current lifestyle and has a purpose; more often than not, we find that loft conversions are built with the resale value in mind, not the use of the new room now.
One of the most significant parts of this mistake is that resale value in areas such as London or city centres is based on room numbers, not room size, so loft conversion is split into two small box rooms rather than one sizeable multi-functional space, quality over quantity should always matter.
Not Checking The Space Is Usable
Not all properties are suitable to have a loft conversion fitted; you need to check this before starting to plan. Otherwise, you could be wasting your time. If you have a trussed roof, you may be spending time planning something you can’t do; it will be a lot of work and can become a real pain.
Check your roof space is useable…
- Can you stand up?
- Do you need loft storage?
- Can you fit furniture in?
Before starting your loft conversion, you need to plan and work all these things out; you don’t want to spend the money and then be disappointed.
The Risk To Your Floor
Where you put your stairs is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding loft conversions in your home. When planning, it is scarce for people to step back and think about where the stair up to the loft will go or its impact on the floor beneath.
You want to make sure you climb upstairs is easy and safe, but also that it does the flooring beneath. The best thing we can recommend is to use the time to plan; your loft conversion stairs should go as close to your original staircase as possible; this depends on where the loft conversion is in your home.
Also, ensure the stairs’ flooring is fitted to take the movement of climbing up and down. For example, the carpet could get marks and holes, and the wooden floor could delve.
Natural Light
Another mistake made when the planning loft conversion is working with the space you have; more often than not loft spaces don’t have windows, but now imagine a room with no natural light?
Windows and natural light need to be considered; natural light brings a whole new element to space, but it can also reduce your electricity bills. Keeping your loft conversion lit up during the day without natural light flooding in will cost. The best option to achieve this is to fit a rear dormer.
Have You Considered An Extension
If it is more space you are thinking of, have you considered an extension? There are many potentials to expand your home in other ways rather than a loft conversion.
You could expand out the back and up, meaning you get more space that is just as functional as a loft conversion, if not more so. The downside to this is that it costs more than a loft conversion, and you will need planning permission to build.
Contact ACS Xtra Space For More Information
If you’re thinking about getting a loft conversion, several factors may be worth considering. These include the size of your property and whether or not it’s an old building with high ceilings.
A loft conversion is often quite costly, so do some research beforehand on how much the project will cost and what materials you’ll need for the work. ACS Xtra Space can help with all these considerations and more! Contact us today if you want our expert team members to take care of everything from start to finish!.