Whether you need another bedroom for your growing family, an additional bathroom or a dedicated place to work at home, a loft conversion can be the ideal home improvement to gain that extra space. As with all home improvements loft conversions come with a price tag so you will want to be sure the finished product meets your requirements and is fit for purpose, so the more research you can do before you start the better.
Getting There
Before getting carried away making plans for the loft space itself you will need to consider what access you can install as this can affect the use you make of your loft conversion. While Planning Permission is not normally required (subject to certain conditions and limits), there are building regulations that you will need to comply with. If you intend the conversion to provide living space then there are specific requirements for stairs, so make sure you have all your plans checked before you go ahead with your project. If you are working with loft conversion specialists they will arrange a survey and take you through the design and planning process once the results of the survey are known.
Seeing is Believing
Even once you know the dimensions of usable space you have and what can be designed for that space, it can still be very difficult to visualise what the finished conversion will look like and how much space will actually be left once all the fixtures fittings and furniture are in place. You do not want to end up with furniture which leaves you no walking space around it or styles of windows that open causing an obstruction in the room so it is important to see these ‘in situ’. Looking at photographs of loft conversions which work to a space the same or similar in size and shape to your own is the best way to be sure that what you are asking for will work. Once you have the practicalities agreed you will still want to be sure about the aesthetics of the design and the detail of the finish so keep looking until you are happy.
Picture Perfect
Most loft conversion specialists will have their own house extension gallery on their website and these are great places to look for ideas of what might work in your home. Even if you already have an idea of what you want, it can be difficult to visualise how it might work. The galleries will give you a good idea of what can be done within different spaces so you can get a good idea of how your finished space might look.
Don’t Forget the Decoration
Depending on the process you take it may be that your loft conversion takes you up to the point where it is ready to decorate. Remember when you are agreeing the price for the conversion itself that you reserve enough of your own budget to furnish the finished space. After the time, effort and money you will have spent to get the conversion done you will want to be able to use it as soon as possible!