Loft Conversion.

Wayfair · 17-01-2010, 15:58

The misses and I are going for plan A, which is sell the two houses we own and get a bigger one.

Not really keen on plan A to be honest so before I spring plan B on her I thought I would ask here.

I live in an end link house with a large detached house next door.

Here is a pic link of the house.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=bi8klu&s=6

What I was thinking of was getting a loft conversion, maybe squaring up the roof line with the outer wall!

There are 3 sets of links in the street, all with 6 houses in each link, no one has has this done, in fact looking at the front of the houses no one even has a velux type thing in the roof, 'I will I spy on google maps to view the backs'

I know we have some buildy, surveyor, architect types here

Would my plan B be a goer? what would be a realistic price?

Any suggestions will be gratefully received, well as long as they are plan B related.

Ta Muchly.

martyh · 17-01-2010, 16:03

i doubt very much you would get permission to change the roofline to such an extent so a conversion using a velux or possibly bormer window may be acceptible

Jon T · 17-01-2010, 16:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyh

i doubt very much you would get permission to change the roofline to such an extent so a conversion using a velux or possibly bormer window may be acceptible

Expaning on what martyh said, you'd need to talk to building control and the planning section of your local council.

Building control may throw it straight out if the loft space isn't deemed suitable to be converted into a room.

Planning could object for a number of different reasons, but then again they may not.

Taf · 17-01-2010, 16:22

Extra poll tax too if it's considered a bedroom...

martyh · 17-01-2010, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon T

Expaning on what martyh said, you'd need to talk to building control and the planning section of your local council.

Building control may throw it straight out if the loft space isn't deemed suitable to be converted into a room.

Planning could object for a number of different reasons, but then again they may not.

agreed ,and i would look at the expense of getting plans drawn up and the cost of going through planning before any firm applications are made because it will most probably turn out to be a huge waste of money

17-01-2010, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayfair

The misses and I are going for plan A, which is sell the two houses we own and get a bigger one.

Not really keen on plan A to be honest so before I spring plan B on her I thought I would ask here.

I live in an end link house with a large detached house next door.

Here is a pic link of the house.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=bi8klu&s=6

What I was thinking of was getting a loft conversion, maybe squaring up the roof line with the outer wall!

There are 3 sets of links in the street, all with 6 houses in each link, no one has has this done, in fact looking at the front of the houses no one even has a velux type thing in the roof, 'I will I spy on google maps to view the backs'

I know we have some buildy, surveyor, architect types here

Would my plan B be a goer? what would be a realistic price?

Any suggestions will be gratefully received, well as long as they are plan B related.

Ta Muchly.

If your going down he proper conversion route along with all the plans that have been mentioned above you have to make sure that the access to the loft conversion is a solid staircase and not one of these pull down ones, you'll also have to have the joists strengthened if you want to make it into another bedroom.

**Rob** · 17-01-2010, 20:16

Loft conversions are often viable, and are increasingly popular. The key thing is whether you will have enough headroom (think of your existing ceiling joist top to underside of the ridge, take off at least 100mm for an increased floor and work out if you have enough height left to stand up comfortably - there is no minimum height of rooms specified in the building regulations anymore), and how much room you'd loose from a first floor room for a staircase.

There are two main aspects of regulations:
Planning - decides how big it can be, how it will appear
Building Regulations - decides the construction standards i.e. strength of floors, staircase style, etc.
You can normally satisfy building regulations, albeit at a cost. Planning is a lot mor fickle and arbitrary. Getting planning for loft conversions has become a lot easier: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/eng...oftconversion/

Satisfying the structural needs, especially the flooring standards can involve a lot of beams. You do need the services of a good plans drawing service to work this out for you. Don't forget that if your beams will be attached into the dividing wall with your neighbour's house, you need to comply with the Party Wall Act, potentially more expense of surveyors.

To do it properly (and you must do it to the right standards if you ever want to sell your house) will cost. A neighbour's loft conversion (bedroom and ensuite shower/wc) cost them around £35,000 last year.

**Chris** · 17-01-2010, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf

Extra poll tax too if it's considered a bedroom...

If we still had the Poll Tax, improving his property wouldn't alter his bill by a single penny.

Halcyon · 17-01-2010, 20:25

Looking at your house, a loft conversion (unless the roof is extended) would result in very little space as then you would have the sloping roof restricting you.

I'd ask yourself do you really want to stay in this house or is there enough to drive you elswhere?
If you fancy a change then save yourself paying for two houses and go for option A.
Then if you get a bigger house you could probably do a loft conversion on that and it will be a lot bigger and nicer.

Matthew · 17-01-2010, 21:35

Just to add that location looks familiar, got a feeling I know where it is and my answer would be go for it.

Flyboy · 17-01-2010, 22:51

End of terrace hip-roof loft extensions are quite tricky. It would mean reshaping the roof and there is also the building next door (that rather ugly looking mock-Tudor one) that seems to be quite close to your roof, that needs to be taken into consideration. You may find that the costs outweigh any benefit.

What is the problem with selling the two houses and buying one big house?

---------- Post added at 22:51 ---------- Previous post was at 22:49 ----------

Looking at that horror next door though, it seems that planning regs in your area are quite lax.

LondonRoad · 17-01-2010, 23:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Looking at that horror next door though, it seems that planning regs in your area are quite lax.

That's my house.

What's wrong with it.

Flyboy · 17-01-2010, 23:04

You were done!

But seriously....it is a post-modern mock-Tudor building, next to a late Victorian/Edwardian terrace, it just doesn't fit.

danielf · 17-01-2010, 23:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyboy

You were done!

But seriously....it is a post-modern mock-Tudor building, next to a late Victorian/Edwardian terrace, it just doesn't fit.

The terrace doesn't look late Victorian/Edwardian either...

Angua · 17-01-2010, 23:19

Looking at the roof line you may have problems getting rid of the hipped roof as it could appear over dominant. This may have been why there was a hipped roof in the first place.

Always worth a word with the planning/development department just to get a feel of what may or may not be allowed. Take some other shots from a different angle as the picture you posted makes the roof lines look very squashed and more likely to be not recommended by the planners for approval.

Also worth bearing in mind the cost of loft conversion is not always met by an equivalent increase in property value.