Loft Conversion Questions - what should you be asking?

Most homeowners do not embark on a loft conversion lightly but many fail to do a basic check list of analogy questions they should be considering. Many homeowners are actually disappointed with there completed loft conversion because they failed to ask the right questions right from the start. Here are the main 5 questions we think a homeowner should be asking before embarking on their loft conversion:-

1 - Will the converted loft room become a practical use of space for my intended use? - A formal bedroom requires a much larger area of usable full height walking head room space than say a child’s playroom would. Many bedroom loft conversions simply have no place for the bed without having restricted head room to get in and out of the bed. Some bedrooms do not have any space for a wardrobe or only very limited built in cupboards.

2 - What lower floor space will I have to sacrifice in order to locate the new stairs? - many loft conversion works require the pinching of space from other rooms - an example could be that the ideal location for the new stairs that best serves the best use of space for the loft conversion requires space to be taken from an existing bedroom that may now become only used as a single bedroom - is this an acceptable sacrifice.

3 - Is my ‘wish list’ trying to cram too much into the available roof space of the loft conversion? - Many homeowners fail to realise that although the floor area may appear quite extensive for say two bedrooms or an extra en-suite, the practical walking head room may be only half of the floor area. By cramming in too much the rooms becomes unworkable and cramped and of no real added value.

4 - What is cost to benefit reward? - Many loft conversion are very cost effective per square meter when compared to other types of house extension. However, this can often go the other way if the loft conversion is very technically challenging and complicated. Perhaps the existing roof structure is a pre-formed trussed roof requiring double the work to retain its structural stability when all the inner timbers are removed. Perhaps all the exiting wall opening lintels need replacing due to the inadequate or rotten timber lintels already in place that cannot take the increased loads from the loft conversion. These are just a couple of examples than can make the cost to benefit ratio make another form of house extension more practical and cost affective.

5 - Will the external design or dormer window (if selected) adversely affect the value of my house? - Many ugly big box dormer windows will detract from the properties value as the properties desirability diminishes from future house purchasers. Consider how the final design will look and impact upon the surrounding character of the area.