Loft Conversion Guide

And, the good news, is that most lofts in the UK will be suitable for conversion though, naturally, some will be easier to work with than others.

Some people are put off getting a loft conversion because they believe their property just isn't suitable.

But, as we mentioned above, most properties in the UK will be able to have their loft converted and with a host of new techniques available a specialist loft conversion company should be able to find a solution for most problems.

By the way it should be stressed at this point that no matter what style of property you have you will need to have loft conversion building regulations approval for your project.

But, for the homeowner, the first step to plan a loft conversion is to get up into the roof space, remembering to take a tape measure with you, and find out how much headroom you have.

Measuring vertically from a joist to the ridge in the centre of the loft you will ideally need 8 feet of space though seven feet can be OK. Next, you need to determine how your roof was built. This is crucial.

If your property was built before 1965 your roof will almost certainly have been built using purlins and rafters.

If your home was built after 1965 then it is likely that it was built with a truss rafter roof - don’t worry if you’re not sure what purlins, rafters and trusses are.

The illustrations below should make things clear.

What does this mean? Lets see……

Loft Conversion Guide – Purlins and Rafters Roof (pre-1965)

Your roof space should look like this:

If so – you’ve cracked it. Your loft is absolutely ideal for conversion into basically any design you like.

This type of roof is exactly right for a loft conversion as it has a steep pitch and lots of clear space between the timber framework.

As a very general rule of thumb the older the house the more roof space you are likely to have as in the past the tendency was to build houses with a much steeper pitched roof than is normal today.

Loft Conversion Guide – Trussed Roof (post-1965)

Your roof space should look like this:

This type of loft is more difficult to convert and you will be wise to consult a structural engineer early in your planning process.

The problem with a truss rafter is that the very much lower pitch makes a loft conversion difficult – but not impossible.

And, if your house is very new, built after 2000, then your roof may have more steel than timber trusses which makes a conversion much easier.

One consequence of a trussed roof is that, to make a loft conversion possible, the roof-line of the house will almost certainly need to be raised.

If this is the case then your work will require loft conversion planning permission because part of your proposed conversion will be higher than the existing roof-line.

Loft conversion prices vary from region to region within the UK and, of course, no two conversions are likely to be the same. But, for a full scale, and well built loft conversion, the cost is usually somewhere between £14-£30,000.

Follow the link for a more detailed guide to loft conversion prices.

Loft Conversion Guide – Planning Your Project

Planning your loft conversion is a fun process in which you can let your imagination free reign to design the perfect room.

There are lots of design concepts on this site to give you some ideas but there are also some other things to consider at this stage – these are outlined in Part Two of The Loft Conversion Guide.

For more info see the related pages below or complete the form at the bottom of the page for a free no obligation quote from tradesmen near you...

Loft Conversion Guide Part Two

Convert Your Loft

Mansard Loft Conversion

Architects And Planning

DIY Loft Conversions

Loft Conversion