Not every homeowner can find the money to move home at present, with property selling prices soaring and expenses spiraling. There are far more expenses than merely the asking price of a new property to think about, the act of physically moving house costs money and there are plenty of additional costs to look at. Nonetheless moving house is not the sole solution if you find that your family is outgrowing your present home.
If your property is suitable, you might be able to build an extension to gain that much needed extra space. You will definitely need planning permission to do this and it could be costly. You could convert your garage, if you have a garage and you aren't at present parking your car in it. Another solution is a loft conversion, which may not just be cost effective, but could also put more value to your house without extending its footprint.
Lately, for some of the reasons given previously, loft conversion has become more and more popular. You will have to make sure that your house is in actual fact well suited for a loft conversion before making a final judgement. Homes that have got roofs made with trusses aren't normally suitable. Slightly older properties that were constructed prior to the nineteen seventies are typically perfect for loft conversions as they were created using solid timbers and there tended to be lots of headroom.
You will have to bring in a loft specialist to take a look the scenario with your loft space and make certain it is suitable. If things are good to move forward with your loft conversion, you could ask for a quote from the builder. Don't simply opt for the very first quotation you receive though, get a number of quotations before selecting your loft specialist. Use your instinct rather than only considering the price when selecting who is the best company to accomplish your loft conversion.
The majority of loft conversions carried out in do not require planning permission, so there's a reasonable chance that yours won't either. Seek the advice of your planning department or chat to your conversion specialist about whether planning permission is likely to be needed.
Whilst for householders, getting their loft converted may be a wise decision, it does require a substantial financial investment. It is not likely that many householders will have that type of money available, therefore it might be necessary to ask the bank for a loan or a second mortgage. As a guideline you could be expecting that a loft conversion will cost approximately the same as a fair size brickwork ground level extension although the chances are that you'll generate more space with a conversion without expanding the footprint of your property.
Your house's design and layout will be the deciding factor for which form of loft conversion is the ideal one for you. The different types of conversion comprise: mansard loft conversions, roof light loft conversions, dormer loft conversions, hip-to-gable loft conversions, loft pods, roof lift conversions and velux conversions. The loft conversion specialist or builder will advise you which one is actually most appropriate for your property.
Dormer Conversions
Possibly the most popular style of loft conversion right now is the dormer type, a design that delivers the best affordability, although still generates the maximum possible space. This is a popular option with property owners because it is both practical and attractive while offering almost everything which is likely to be required. With this layout its even a possibility to add a balcony, meaning you're creating extra exterior space too. You'll discover there are various forms of dormers such as flat roofed dormers, hipped dormers, shed dormers and Velux dormers. Consult with a professional to find out which one would be the perfect choice for your specific property.
Velux Conversions
Without doubt one one of the foremost brands of roof windows, Velux, have been around now for in excess of 50 yrs and they can be relied on to provide you with loft windows which are both good quality and effective. Velux windows are made to be fitted flush with the slope of the roof and thus don't change the shape of the roof structure, nor do they generally require planning permission plus they are relatively economical to fit. Velux windows let in a good amount of daylight and in fact might need window blinds during summer. If your loft has got a fair bit of headroom, a Velux windows could be the perfect option for you, particularly when you are on a tight budget.
How Much Time Could it Take to Complete?
The amount of time that it may take to complete a standard loft conversion depends on various things such as the availability of components, the design of conversion, the degree of forward planning that's undertaken, the prevailing climatic conditions and the trustworthiness of the constructors. As an approximate guide it should take around 4 to 5 weeks to do a rear dormer loft conversion on a terraced property and approximately five to six weeks to do a hip to gable dormer conversion on a semi-detached house.
There are a lot of purposes to which the conversion can be put, once it is complete. Some folks turn it into a new bathroom, an additional bedroom or a TV room. But certainly there's a lot of purposes to which a well built loft conversion can be put, restricted solely by your inventiveness!