Loft conversions are a popular choice for Londoners looking to expand their property. They are one of the most cost-effective ways to expand the floorspace of any home, but beyond the extra room they can also improve a property’s energy efficiency and help bring down energy bills.
Whether you intend to use the attic room as an extra bedroom, a study, a playroom, or anything else, the conversion process will involve a complete transformation of your loft space, including improving the insulation in your roof. Good insulation helps maintain a more consistent indoor temperature, preventing heat loss during the winter, and heat gain in the summer months, which in turn can help reduce energy use.
Many London properties more than 30 years old will have no loft insulation at all, so any improvements will reduce energy consumption. Research by the Energy Saving Trust shows that an uninsulated home loses up to 25 per cent of heat through the roof, and by adding good quality insulation, home-owners could save up to £370 per year on their energy bills.
Roll vs board insulation
There are two ways to add insulation to an attic space – rolls of fiberglass or mineral wool insulation or boards made from rigid foam or fiberboard. When converting an attic, headroom is generally at a premium and therefore insulation boards tend to be the better option. They are slightly more expensive that rolls of insulation, but take up half the space, which can mean higher ceilings in your new attic room.
Insulation boards also have a lower U-value (heat transfer coefficient), which means reduced heat loss in the colder months and heat gain in the summer. They are also more durable and more resistant to moisture, mould, and pests.
Reduce your energy bills further with solar panels
When converting an attic space, it is worth considering whether adding solar panels to your roof at the same time makes economic sense. Solar panels, combined with an in-home battery, can significantly reduce your energy bills by utilising the energy from the sun and reducing your reliance on the energy network.
There is a significant upfront cost to installing solar panels, but the long-term savings on energy bills can make it a good investment, especially if you can take advantage of any government grants or subsidies.
Is your loft suitable for conversion?
The main deciding factor in whether your attic is suitable for conversion is the headroom. To see whether your loft has sufficient height, stand in the centre of the roof and check whether there is at least 2.8m of vertical space. This may sound like a lot, but after you install new floors and install insulation around the rafters, then that height quickly starts to shrink.
If you have the headroom, then a loft conversion should be relatively straightforward. If your roof does not offer enough height, then a loft conversion may still be possible, but you would likely either need to apply for planning permission to raise the height of the roof. Alternatively, if the bedrooms beneath have high ceilings, you could consider reducing their height to give more space to the attic room above.
Beyond the headroom question, before starting on a loft conversion, you should also ask yourself where the stairs to the attic room might go. The ideal place for this new staircase is directly above the existing flight, as this would not eat into any other bedroom floorspace. However, this location does sometimes clash with the roof slope which may make a new dormer directly above the staircase a necessity.
Finally, you need to consider the cost. Loft conversions are generally one of the most cost-effective way to expand the floorspace of a property. However, if your property’s foundations are not sufficiently robust to support the additional load, or if you will need extensive scaffolding for long periods, then this can significantly increase the price.
If you are interested in converting your attic to create an extra room, or have questions about your property’s suitability, then call Good London Builders today on 0207 978 5097 or contact us online.
