9 decisive loft conversion questions to ask
When you’re thinking about getting a loft conversion, there are a series of questions that you could ask prior to your project starting. These are questions that you could ask yourself regarding decisions about what you’re looking for, as well as questions to ask your loft conversion company. Knowing the answers will ensure that you are appropriately prepared for everything that comes your way throughout the process!
Questions to ask yourself
These are a selection of questions that you could ask to help you make a decision about what exactly you are looking for from your loft conversion.
What do you want to prioritise?
Knowing what you want to use your new room for will allow you to make informed decisions about what type of loft conversion to invest in, whether to convert into one large room or insert a partition, and whether to install an en suite bathroom or not. Your priorities could include natural lighting, more storage, or to add the most value possible to your home. Knowing this in advance will ensure that design decisions are being made so that your space is tailored to your desires.
What’s your budget?
A budget is incredibly important in the process of a loft conversion. It can impact the type of loft conversion you decide to go with. When deciding your budget, it’s a good idea to also give yourself a contingency amount, so that if things go over, you have the funds available. Knowing your budget will allow your team of loft conversion experts to advise you accordingly, recommending and designing the best option for you.
What style and colours will you opt for?
When getting your loft conversion completed, there will come a point where you need to make style and colour decisions. The colours you choose may have an impact on the feel of the room, such as how bright it is or how large it looks. Choosing the style of the conversion in advance may also help you decide where to place windows and whether to include storage spaces.
Practical questions
There may be many questions you have about the practicality of your loft conversion process. Gaining answers to these will put your mind at ease and make the process more comprehensive for you.
How long will my loft conversion take?
Knowing the answer to this will allow you to plan ahead for the future, especially where your budget is concerned. Having a timeline is very important, especially to keep a project on track.
Do I need to move out?
In most cases, you won’t be required to move out of your property for your loft conversion to be completed. However, sometimes it may be more comfortable for you to be somewhere else, especially if you are at home a lot, as there will be a fair amount of disruption. Knowing whether you will need to find alternative accommodation is important in advance, giving you time to plan.
No other homes on my road have a loft conversion – does this matter?
Even if you are the first home on your road to convert your loft, this won’t stop you. As long as you have the relevant permissions and the facilities to do so, such as enough head height in your loft space, you should be able to proceed, but having concrete confirmation of this is important for your planning process.
Questions for your loft conversion experts
There are some questions that only the experts know the answer to, and this will mean that there are some things you should ask them before you get started.
Will I need planning permission?
Obtaining planning permission is dependent on the specific project. For some, permitted development may be sufficient, but in other cases, planning permission will be needed. Luckily, our loft conversion surveyors will be able to advise you further for your home and will handle everything relating to planning permission for you.
How much head height do I need?
In order to make your converted loft a comfortable space to live in, there needs to be a specific head height of 2m in your existing loft space. This will ensure that there is enough space to create a room that allows you to move around comfortably. There are occasionally ways of converting a loft without this much head space, but this is something our surveyors will discuss with you.
Do you have space for a staircase?
It’s important to know whether you have the appropriate space for a staircase. Without this, your loft conversion may get a little trickier… For example, there must be at least 1.9mm of headroom at the centre of the flight of stairs. You can arrange for one of our surveyors to assess your property, as they will be able to help you make a decision about whether your staircase will be feasible.
Our loft conversion experts here at Touchstone Lofts have been answering questions about the construction process and practicalities for years. We have the reliable answers you need – just give us a call on 07889 760042 or email sales@touchstonelofts.co.uk.