Loft Conversions Battersea - Alegy Homes South London

Loft Conversion Costs

Cost appraisals and information about loft conversions

To convert the space you have in your loft is possibly the most cost effective choice for bringing additional space to your home. not every propery can be converted and the extra space can have numerous uses. To start the process and before the cost calculations you need to know can you make a conversion and will you be given permission to convert your loft!!Planning permission

In many cases if the loft conversion does not add to the volume of the property (that is extend it up or out) then you in all probability will not require planning permission . If in doubt, as always talk to your builder and/or local planning office. There are conditions in which you will almost certainly require planning permission

    * If you want to extend the roof by any amount in a conservation area.
    * If the loft conversion will at any point be higher than the existent roof.
    * If you have a dormer installed on the front of the house (facing the road) and it extends further than the roof.

As with conservatories you are able to add to your property without planning permission whenever the volume from the additional space makes up less than a fixed amount.

The volume constraints are established upon the external proportion of the conversion you are designing.

Whenever you do not need to seek planning permission (but be careful getting permission retrospectively is tricky..) then the alteration to the property will need to abide by building regulations for loft conversions.

Building Regulations

The important intention of Building Regulations are to ascertain that the property is still sound for the residents after the conversion has been added.

* Structural Safety
          1 Is the new floor in the loft substantial and will it support the additional weight?
          2. The existing properties load baring wall, interior joists and foundations were designed without a loft conversion in mind and its extra loading so does anything need altering to guarantee its still OK?

* Fire Safety
          1 The materials utilised in the building of the external skin of the conversion (walls, roof, flooring, doors) should be able to act as fire shields for a reasonable amount of time to allow for any persons trapped within the room to be rescued.
          1 At least one window must conform to dimensional guidelines regarding its size and location to assist escape via easy access from a ladder.

* Stairs
1 It is probable that a permanent stairway is built and may mean the removal of some of the ceiling joists. Obviously, the load bearing nature of this necessitates replacement with alternatives and carefully consideration.

* Insulation
1 Both in terms of sound insulating material and heat insulation. If you are part of a terraced or semi detached than you will also need to view the join between the two houses besides the floor and roof.

If the loft conversion is going into a 3 floor property then the rules are alike but stricter.

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