Convert A Loft

Why Build A Loft Conversion?

Well, why not?

Loft conversions have never been more popular and they offer a practical and cost effective way to increase the living space in most homes.

Utilising the wasted space in the roof of the house makes marvellous sense for most of us and the projects are generally easy to manage, time efficient and will even boost the value of the home.

When all is said and done there is very little reason for most homeowners not to convert a loft, or at least to seriously consider such a project.

Alternatives to loft conversions for adding extra living space to a family home are ground floor extensions and even digging out a basement.

But both of those projects are more expensive and harder to achieve than is a loft conversion and it is little wonder that many homeowners will look to the roof when they consider where they can obtain more living space from.

For most of us the space in the roof was only used to store items that would ‘come in useful one day’ or where the water tank was located. In the past few people considered the roof space in their homes as having any practical use apart from as storage.

The ventilation built into the space meant they were subject to freezing blasts of cold air in the winter but were unbearably hot in the summer.

Added to this was the trend, from the mid-1960s, for builders to use masses of truss rafters in a very shallow roof when building new houses. For a long time houses built in such a manner were impractical and off-limits when considering a loft conversion.

However, the massive rise in housing costs in the last decade or so has propelled loft conversions into the number one slot when it comes to home improvement projects.

To convert a loft is now a manageable and economically viable option for most homeowners.

Is It Practical To Convert A Loft?

Most roof spaces can be utilised; though naturally some projects are bigger and more complicated than others.

A loft conversion will probably be impractical from both a technical and financial viewpoint if the project would involve raising the height of the roof above its present ridge line.

However, most roof spaces will lend themselves to conversion with older houses offering the most potential as most homes built before the 1960s were constructed with huge amounts of roof space.

Most things a homeowner would need to consider when thinking about whether to convert a loft is discussed in our loft conversions guide and elsewhere on this site. A list of related articles that you may wish to read can be found at the end of this page.

A Typical Loft Conversion

The vast majority of loft conversions carried out in the United Kingdom involve adding an extra floor to an existing two storey house.

This additional floor will, depending on the space available, house one or usually two extra rooms.

Flat and bungalow conversions are possible but are seldom carried out.

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