Specialist loft conversion company in Watford, Touchstone Lofts
Over 1,000 lofts converted since 1989
When it comes to loft conversion in Watford, we are the company to call. We can carry out bespoke loft conversions in a range of styles and we know Watford very well, allowing us to adapt our services to meet your needs. From Watford Colosseum to Sun Printers, and all the surrounding areas, we will have worked on a street near you. In fact, one of our favourite loft conversion projects was completed on Northfield Gardens WD24, where we helped a growing family create more space and fall in love with their home all over again. They said we made life with young children so much easier – their new en suite bedroom allowed them to get the best night’s sleep they’d had in years!
We’re fully familiar with some of the most popular roads in Watford, including Whippendell Road, Maytree Crescent and Hillingdon Road, with their stunning array of homes. Can we add your road to the list? Call Touchstone Lofts on 0800 881 8194.
Award-winning loft conversions
We have been recognised for outstanding quality craftsmanship and excellent customer service by the Federation of Master Builders in their Master Builder of the Year Awards, Southern Region.
We are also finalists in the ‘Best Loft Conversion’ category in the 2020 Homebuilding & Renovating Awards.
How will a loft conversion improve your home in Watford?
Create valuable space.
Your loft is already there, so use it to add valuable space to your home. We often meet people with growing families, or those who have downsized but don’t have quite enough living space. There is so much opportunity in your loft.
Increase property price.
We generally find that a loft conversion can boost a property’s price by 20%. That’s so important for your family’s future plans – many people decide to sell up later in life. A loft conversion can help make this process easier by adding to your home’s value.
Save money on moving costs.
A loft conversion is an investment, saving you from having to fork out for all the expenses of moving. These can include removal fees, estate agent fees, commission, stamp duty… the list goes on. If you can improve the home you’re already in, why move?
You can use your imagination.
We’ve created loft conversions for all purposes, from a nursery, to a home gym, to a cinema room. Whatever you’re dreaming of for your loft, make it into a reality.
What are the options for your Watford home?
The best way to find out your options is to talk to a loft conversion expert in person. You’ve come to the right place – get in touch. Call 0800 881 8194 or send us a message to arrange a free quote and design consultation, normally worth £600!
What are the different kinds of loft conversion?
There are various types of loft conversion available to suit different kinds of homes. However, what you can do within those different types will largely depend on the experience of the loft conversion company you choose and how well they can design your space. We have more than 30 years’ experience so we can really get the most out of your loft space for you, and we can advise you on what’s possible from the very start.
Transform your home with a stunning loft conversion
What to consider ahead of your loft conversion
The best way to find out what is possible is to talk to the experts. Call us on 0800 881 8194 and we’ll be able to set up a free, no obligation design appointment where we can visit your home and look at the different options available.
This will allow us to cover:
- Types of loft conversion
- Permitted development
- Planning permission
- Logistics
- Health and safety
- Plumbing, heating and electrical systems
- Fire safety
- Roof alterations
Take a trip to our show house
Feel inspired about the possibilities – come and see our show home. It’s 2,000 square feet in size, showing the different options we can offer. You can explore various options that a loft conversion could give you, from windows, to blinds, to storage solutions. See for yourself how they could look in a real-life loft conversion. Someone will be on hand to answer questions and talk to you about all your different options. All you need to do is book. Call 0800 881 8194.
Bespoke solutions for storage
Get the process started
Your free consultation, including a full design, is just a phone call away. Call 0800 881 8194 – or if you’d prefer, send us a message. Our designs are worth £600, but we can arrange yours for free. Don’t miss out, book now!
Keeping the neighbours happy
It’s important you love your loft conversion but if you’re going to get planning approval, your neighbours have to be happy too. We design loft conversions with everyone’s interests in mind, from the positioning of the windows to getting Party Wall Agreements put in place. We take care of all aesthetic details too, using sympathetic brickwork and roof tiling. Your neighbours will have nothing to complain about.
If you’d like us to design a loft conversion for your home in Watford, call us on 0800 881 8194.
What sets Touchstone Lofts apart from the rest?
Our expertise in loft conversions.
We have been doing this for over 30 years. We will make your project a success, working with challenging builds such as those with low headroom. We once converted a loft with an initial ridge height of just 2m.
Our planning permission experience.
We have a 98% success rate with our applications. We can design a loft conversion for you and take care of the process of getting it approved by local authorities.
Full project management.
We manage all contractors, keep standards high across the board and look after health and safety. You’ll have one point of contact – you can ask them any questions, at any time during the project.
Your loft conversion questions answered
Have a question about loft conversions? We’re happy to help. Read our answers to the questions that our customers frequently ask us.
How long does a loft conversion take?
Depending on the size and type, most loft conversions take around 12 weeks.
Will I need to move out during the project?
No – it’s safe to carry on living inside the property. We work from the scaffolding before the stairs go in. Any disruption you experience will mainly come from noise.
Where will you place our new staircase?
We will be able to fit your staircase around your existing layout and will find an option to suit you. If possible, we will try to fit your new staircase over the existing staircase so that it fits seamlessly within your property.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
This depends on your location and type of property – all flats require planning, but if you live in a house that isn’t in a designated area, then permitted development is usually used and no planning is required. There are many other factors to take into account and one of our surveyors can advise further.
How much does a loft conversion cost?
Most cost between £30,000 and £50,000. This depends on the size and type – bigger and more complicated jobs take longer and therefore will cost more. See pricing information for further details.
What is a party wall agreement and do I need one for a loft conversion?
A party wall agreement (PWA) is required if you have a semi-detached or a terraced property and you are working within or near your neighbour’s boundary. We can advise when the surveyor visits.
Does a loft conversion add value to a home?
Yes – it will add from 20% to 30% upwards depending on the size, design and type.
How much head height do you need for a loft conversion?
If you have a clear head height of 2m then a loft conversion may be possible. Our surveyor will need to assess this to confirm.
What’s possible with your loft conversion?
These are some of the build possibilities you might want to consider for your loft conversion:
What can be achieved with a dormer loft conversion
Case study Loft conversion in Watford
Northfield Gardens, WD24
Road Name: | Northfield Gardens WD24 |
Town: | Watford |
Loft Conversion type: | Hip to gable rear dormer |
Duration of project: | 8 weeks |
The opportunity to create more space
Our clients, Mr and Mrs Rossetti, wanted a master suite to escape the growing children who intended to inherit the larger bedroom on the first floor. A winter start and finish for this loft conversion meant we had to make sure the house was kept warm during the project. The client wanted two large rooflight loft conversion on the front slope and two large UPVC windows in the rear dormer.
How we can achieve a conversion like this for your home
On arrival, the surveyor measured the ridge height and checked where the stairs would go for the loft conversion.
He was quickly able to advise the stair location and provide Mr Rossetti a simple sketch layout of the loft conversion and the size of room available in the current loft space.
A detailed quotation was sent together with a fixed price quotation for the works, and later a second visit to explain and discuss the loft conversion specification in detail.
The architect then prepared detailed drawings for approval by our client. Once approved the drawings were sent too Watford Planning department. As this was a permitted development, no planning permission was required. We simply needed a letter of lawful development which was provided by Watford Planning department.
A building regulation officer was appointed to oversee the loft conversion process and they would conduct three independent inspections to make sure the works were done to current building regulations standards.
The scaffolding was erected, and a crane delivered all the materials onto the scaffolding – keeping the clients driveway and garden clear of materials. The works were done from the scaffold with minimal disturbance to the client, there was no need for them to move out while the works were being done.
The steels and floor structure were completed first, and then the dormer and hip to gable front roof was built and made watertight.
There were three main types of insulation used, Rockwool for the floor which was for heat, fire and sound insulation.
Recticel and Ecotherm polyisocyanurate (or PIR) for the walls and the roof of the loft conversion. Multifoil, a blanket type material was also used.
This insulation has great heat retention and heat reflective properties. The super insulation products have a low thermal conductivity and therefore make the build very energy efficient. They reduce heat loss in the loft conversion and restrict heat build-up on hot summer days, eliminating the problem that the loft will become too hot in the summer.
The electrician and plumber carried out their first fixing. Locations for lights, switched and radiators and bathroom designs were all agreed with client.
The windows were fitted and the tiling of the dormer was completed, the tiles used were a matching design the client agreed and the brand used here was Sandtoft.
Gyproc plasterboards were then fitted followed by the stairs. The bespoke stairs were custom designed and the final staircase was approved by the client before we ordered it.
Once the plastering team had finished the electrician and plumber returned and finished their jobs.
The carpenter completed snagging. The end result? A delighted customer.
Specialists in home extensions
Are you considering extending your property, look no further, whether you are looking for a ground floor rear extension, side return extensions or even a double storey extensions, our 30+ years’ experience in the property conversion business with service you well, take a look at our extension options here.
Contact Touchstone Lofts
Looking to transform your loft?
Call us on 0800 881 8194 to arrange your free quote and design consultation.