Loft Conversions - Can I have one? What do I need?
It is possible to convert any loft space from a dusty old draughty loft space into clean, dry, safe and light storage space. However to convert your loft into a habitable real extension to your living space, that could be a bedroom(s), playroom, or home office (with or without plumbing for a bathroom/shower room) there are strict criteria set out by all the local building control departments (L.A.) throughout the country.
These "Regulations" are in place to ensure that any project undertaken is built to a standard that is not only safe and environmentally friendly but is also practical and easily usable. There are literally hundreds of regulations and requirements set out by the L.A. all of which reputable loft conversion companies must know. To try to help you determine whether or not your loft will comply with these, we have shown a few very simple drawings to explain some of the initial requirements.
What's First?
This is a typical example of a cross section through a terraced house. Note Dimension A, this is the first thing a loft conversion company surveyor will wish to check. We must have at least 2.15M (7ft 2inches).
Note Dimension B, the regulations state that whilst climbing a staircase and indeed at the final flight of a stair we must have 2.00M here. To obtain 2.00M at Dimension B due to construction methods we need at least 2.15M at Dimension A. If you have 2.1m or just over then you will probably need a dormer conversion.
This dormer will probably have to have a flat roof. If you have perhaps 2.6M or more on Dimension A then it may be possible to create a room within the existing roofline and not necessarily need a dormer.
However please consider the facts that the difference in cost between a roofline conversion and a Dormer conversion may be very little, and looking again at the diagram you can see that with a Dormer a far better space is available.
Must I have a flat roof on my Dormer?
Flat roofs over the past years have not had a very good reputation for weathering. This is due to the traditional method of covering a flat roof. Hot bitumen is spread over the roof, and then covered with a very thin layer of felt, even if this process is completed two or three layers, the hot bitumen (acting as adhesive) cools to a hard material.
This structure is then a solid fixed cover with very little elasticity. During the changeable British summer and winter months the finished product can not expand or contract as it needs to and airline cracks start to appear and then eventually seep through to the inner membrane of the room.
At Luxus we have a product that is a 4mm thick flexible waterproof membrane (this looks exactly the same as the old method) that is laid cold with a unique adhesive. This product is manufactured by Marley roofing Ltd (one of the biggest manufacturers of roofing products in the U.K.) and has the backing of such. This product expands and contracts with the seasons and so does not crack or tear under the stresses of British weather. However that said not everyone likes the simple appearance of flat roofs and in some cases it may be possible to construct your Dormer with a sloping Tiled roof just as the rest of your existing house roof.
To enable us to do this we would need a difference of 0.7M (70cm) (2feet 6inches) between Dimension A and Dimension B so if you have a Dimension A of at least 2.8M we could do this. These figures are a very general guide covering the most common types of properties. We are more than happy to visit you in your home - completely without charge and with no obligation - to ascertain which loft conversion option would be best for you and your home.
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