Loft conversions are one of the most popular ways to expand the living area of homes across London. They make use of underutilised space that is already there, tend to be cheaper than basement conversions, and can make your property more energy efficient.
Whether you live in a detached property from the 1920s, a Victorian terrace, or any other type of London house, you are likely to have an attic. Traditionally this space was just used for storage, but as the cost of property in the capital has soared in recent years, people are increasingly looking to make use of any extra space they have – which means exploring the possibility of converting their loft.
What are the benefits of converting your attic space?
The most obvious benefit of converting your loft is the extra floorspace. Depending on the design of your home and the angle of the roof, you could be creating a new space as large as a whole new floor which could be an extra bedroom or two, a home office, a luxurious bathroom, or a snug. Not only will this extra space give your family more room, but the additional square footage could also drive up the value of your home.
Depending on the type of loft conversion you choose, this could be the most cost-effective way to add extra square footage to your home. And critically, unlike a side return or rear extension, a loft conversion only makes use of previously under-utilised space instead of expanding into your garden.
What you need to consider before converting your loft
As with any construction project, the first consideration should always be planning. Does your attic have sufficient headroom? What type of loft conversion will best suit your needs and budget? Will a conversion require structural alterations to your property? Where should you put the stairs? Will you need to comply with any planning regulations?
An experienced project manager can help you right from the start. At Good London Builders, each project goes through an eight-stage process, from briefing to delivery, to make sure the project is completed on time and within budget. We can help you determine whether your project will require an architect, structural engineer, or planning consultant and help you choose them if you do. When the planning is finalised, we can help you create a detailed tender pack and appoint the best contractors for the build. And we will be on hand for logistics and management throughout the construction phase to make sure everything goes to plan.
What are the different types of loft conversion?
There are four main types of loft conversion to consider: Velux, dormer, mansard, and hip to gable.
Velux (roof light) loft conversion
A Velux loft conversion is the most simple and therefore least expensive way to convert your loft into an additional living space. The name comes from the skylights which are added to the roof during the conversion, of which Velux are the most popular manufacturer. However, a number of other brands also produce these windows, such as Dakea, Fakro, Keylite, Rooflite, and Yardlite.
A Velux conversion includes adding skylights to a pitched roof and reinforcing the floor of the attic space without making any major alterations to the structure. These conversions are ideal for keeping costs down and avoiding complex planning laws, but rely on there being sufficient height within the existing loft space, with the pitched roof reducing the total amount of useable floorspace.
Dormer loft conversion
A dormer loft conversion involves modifying the rear side of the roof to form a vertical wall with an additional area of flat or pitched roof. Dormer conversions are relatively simple and so remain a cost-effective way to convert an attic and offers some additional headroom, which makes more of the floorspace workable in comparison to a Velux conversion.
Mansard loft conversion
A mansard loft conversion involves creating a section of flat roof and then providing a gently sloping wall instead of the flat roof of a dormer conversion or the steeper pitch of the original roof. Mansard conversions are particularly popular in London terraces as people often see them as more aesthetically pleasing than dormers. However, they are also more complex to design and construct and so can be significantly more expensive.
Hip to gable loft conversion
Whilst Velux, dormer, and mansard conversions are most commonly seen on terraced houses, hip to gable conversions are designed specifically for detached or semi-detached houses. In a hip to gable conversion, one side of the roof, the hip-end, is converted to a straight wall, with a dormer conversion also commonly added as well, creating significant extra floorspace.
If you have a detached house, then you could decide to have a double hip to gable conversion, which would change a roof with four sloping walls to one with two straight walls and two sloping, adding even more useable floorspace.
Are you thinking about a loft conversion for your London home? Good London Builders will make the whole process simple for you, from finding the right architect and organising the contractors to making sure the whole project is completed on time and on budget. Call us today on 0207 978 5097 or contact us online.
