If your family needs another bedroom but you don’t want to give up garden space, the answer may be above your head. A well-designed loft conversion can add a bedroom, an ensuite or a home office, and it is one of the most effective ways to add value to a house.
Is your loft suitable?
Head height
The first check is height. Measure from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge. As a rough guide, around 2.2 metres or more is a good starting point, though solutions exist for lower roofs.
Roof structure
Older houses with traditional cut rafters usually have an open roof space that is easier to convert. Many homes from the 1960s onwards have trussed rafters with diagonal timbers across the space; these can still be converted, but the roof structure has to be redesigned by an engineer.
Stairs
A permanent staircase is needed, and finding room for it on the floor below is often the trickiest part of the design.
Types of loft conversion
- Roof light conversion: the roof shape is unchanged and roof windows bring in light. Usually the simplest and least expensive option
- Dormer conversion: a box-shaped extension projects from the roof slope, adding headroom and usable floor space
- Hip-to-gable: on a hipped roof, the sloping end is built up into a vertical gable to enlarge the space
Regulations to be aware of
Loft conversions need building control approval. Key requirements include:
- Structural strength of the new floor and any roof alterations
- Fire safety – typically a protected escape route, fire doors and linked smoke alarms
- Insulation to current energy standards
- Safe stair design and adequate headroom
Planning permission may also be required, especially for dormers on the front of a house or in conservation areas.
Living with the build
Much of the work can be carried out from outside and within the roof space, so disruption to the rest of the house is often less than people expect, until the stairs are connected.
Talk to an experienced builder
SC Developments carry out renovations and conversions across Northern Ireland. Get in touch and we can advise whether your loft is a good candidate.
