It can be frustrating as your family grows that your dream home starts to feel like it’s shrinking. When looking for more space in your home, there are plenty of options out there. Whether that’s adding a conservatory, extending into the garden or, in this case, converting your loft into a home office.
When looking to convert your loft, we’re here to help you find out if you can convert your loft and what you need to remember before you begin.
Check That Your Loft Suitable For Conversion
Apart from the obvious obstacles, such as a chimney stack or water tank, the minimum height you need for a loft conversion is 2.2m. This is something you can check yourself before you spend any money; run a tape measure from the floor to the ceiling at the tallest point. If it’s 2.2m or more, then your loft should be tall enough to convert.
In most houses, you don’t need planning permission to convert your loft. If you live in a conservation area, it would be best to have a surveyor visit your home to check how to proceed.
Once you have determined you can go ahead with your loft conversion, it’s time to look into structural engineering services. It is crucial to have a structural engineer carry out a visual inspection before you hire any builders, so seek the support of RWA Consulting before you begin your project. A visual inspection will determine whether the building or structure suffers from any structural problems, saving you from potential headaches down the line.
Don’t Forget The Staircase
Many people forget to consider where a staircase is likely to go and how much room will be needed to install it. Even a staircase designed to save on space will take up a large chunk of any room, be sure to spend time planning where you are happy to lose space on the floor below your conversion.
Not planning for the stairs can increase your costs beyond budget. It is always a good idea to sit down with a project manager to cover what will be needed for your conversion and the costs involved.
Fire Safety
Making yourself aware of the fire safety regulations surrounding loft conversions is definitely something to remember. An escape path needs to be included in the plans, and the whole route must have a fire-resistance of 30 minutes. Investing in fire doors and smoke alarms is also a requirement, and many people go the extra step to have a home fire extinguisher installed by a professional.
Taking it Outside?
A fantastic addition to loft conversions that people rarely think of is outside space. Adding a small terrace to your loft could give it that extra touch of luxury and give you enough space for a small bistro set to enjoy in the warmer months. It would also offer you more fresh air while you work, and it could also be used as an area to work outside. A structural engineering company will be able to determine if it is possible for your loft conversion to have this brilliant feature.