Loft Conversions: A New Area At Home
In order to save as much money as possible, it is worth considering purchasing a house in renovation or conversion. One of the most widespread solutions to make your attic a ‘useful’ room is the conversion of a loft. Thanks to a loft conversion, you transform an empty attic space into a functional room, typically used as either living accommodations or storage space.
Loft conversions are a very popular form of home improvement in the UK as a result of their numerous perceived benefits. But it is not as common in France, except in very specific cases.
Quick and Cheap
One great advantage to a loft conversion is that you are not building on to your home. You are simply using space already available in your French house. This means that you do not need building permits for loft conversions. However, the installation of a loft conversion remains a difficult process as it can be a very large amount of work, depending on what you want to change in your attic. If you would like to convert the space into a bedroom, make sure your insulation and your ventilation system are perfect. The more you stay in that room, the better insulation must be.
There is a large amount of work involved in a loft conversion. Should you not know how to convert a space or if you meet difficulties when you attempt a “Do-It-Yourself” loft conversion, you might want to consider hiring a specialist loft conversion company to undertake the task. It is possible to fill in a quote request online, explain exactly what you wish, and then provide an idea of the amount you have to invest. It is very easy: Simply choose the room you want to convert (a former veranda, kitchen, game room, etc.) and write a small description. These companies generally answer quickly and sometimes, will even assist you with taking out a mortgage.
So, if you really want to start a loft conversion, you have to take into account the different steps involved during the works:
Step 1: Feasibility
Maybe you have an attic whose floor is not very new. You will want to ensure, for example, the weight of a desk would not damage the floor. Moreover, you will need to establish that there is adequate room under the ridge of the roof for a loft. A measurement of 2.3 metres is required to allow enough headroom, although you may find that you can still get a useful room from as little as 2.1 metres (7-feet). There must be at least 2 metres clearance above the position of the access stairs. If so, an office is very practical as you spend your time seated on a chair.
Step 2: Dimensions
The second stage of any loft conversion is a close inspection of the loft space to measure its dimensions and to determine whether conversion is feasible. For example, it is pointless to attempt a loft conversion for a bedroom in any space over 40 to 50 square metres. It might be better to take advantage of so much space and convert the area into a flat with bed, cupboards, bathroom, and toilet and put it up for rent.
Step 3: Roofing
The roof should be checked for any sign that rainwater is entering the space. Over the short term, it does not matter if you discover a small hole in your roof. But two or three years after your room has been converted, it may be hard for you to address this problem. We advise you to let a specialist (e.g. a roofer) check your roof. He is the only professional with the ability to detect any small amount of damage which would cause trouble to the framework in the future.
If you do not want to contact a roofer or if you believe your roof does not need to be checked, be aware that the appearance of dark stains on the roof rafters is a strong indication that a problem exists. Repairs to the roof are usually carried out as part of the loft conversion process, due to the construction of dormers and fitting roof windows.
Be sure to take into account of the slope of the roof and the required access headroom, as the feasibility of this type of project is dependent upon a minimum height of approximately 2.3 metres (7-feet 6-inches) measured from the floor to the apex.
Step 4: When You Down a Wall
When you want to widen your room, make sure you do not take down a bearing wall. It is paramount that you study it very closely, as consequences could be tragic if it collapses. Always remember, a loft is supposed to contain structures that support the roof. Furthermore, it is likely you will need permission before cutting through the wall or when wiring new lights.
You’re not sure how much work for your loft conversion would cost? It’s not as difficult as you might think. Simply provide a small description of your project by completing a quote request, along with other pertinent details. Please have a look at the websites listed below to get a free estimate for your loft conversion:
Take into considerations all of these essential steps and you will save a lot of money creating a new space in your own French house.