Loft Conversions in Surrey, London and Across the Southeast
Do you want to convert your underused loft into a comfortable, functional living space? In the early stages of your project, there are numerous aspects you need to research. A small selection includes conversion types, planning permission requirements, relevant building regulations and reputable conversion builders. Due to the amount of information flying around, you may find that for every question you ask, at least one more pops up in its place.
At BOC Construction Services Limited, we make loft conversions as simple and hassle-free as possible. We provide end-to-end project management for jobs in Surrey, London and across the South East.
We want you to feel confident for the duration of your project. To ensure this happens, we communicate with you regularly, clearly and honestly. At the outset, this involves answering any conversion-related queries you may have.
In this blog, we answer 4 of the most popular questions our builders receive during the pre-build phase.
Loft Conversions | Your Questions Answered
Is my loft suitable for conversion?
This is a vital question in the preliminary stages of your project. Unfortunately, not all lofts meet the suitability criteria for conversion. There are various aspects to consider when assessing your own loft, such as:
• Head Height
• Roofing Structure
• Pitch of Your Roof
• Water Tanks
• Chimney Stacks
• Other Obstacles
Current industry guidelines state that lofts need a minimum of 2.2m of headroom to qualify for a basic conversion. We measure this from the floor to the tallest part of the roof.
For clarity, there is currently no minimum ceiling height outlined in the Building Regulations for converting a loft. This figure only reflects the 2m of space needed for our builders to install the access staircase linking your new room with the floor below.
What if my loft has a head height below 2.2m?
Homeowners in Surrey, London and the South East still benefit from loft conversions even with less than 2.2m of headroom. However, the solutions are more complicated, disruptive and expensive.
• Raise the Roof – While feasible in a structural sense, this requires planning permission and will significantly increase the size of your budget. If we need to remove your entire roof, your property will need a temporary roof scaffold to protect your property during the process.
• Lower the Ceilings – By lowering the ceilings in the rooms beneath your loft, you create the necessary extra headroom. Again, this requires a much larger budget and causes significant disruption and mess, both of which our builders minimise. Naturally, you will also lose headroom in the affected rooms.
Will my roof’s pitch affect my loft conversion?
The higher the angle of your original roof’s pitch, the more central head height your loft has. If you choose a dormer conversion (the UK’s most popular style of conversion), our builders can increase the available floorspace. This results in a new room with plenty of clearance overhead.
In comparison, a roof with a pitch at a lower angle is more likely to need a roof redesign. And even if your structure avoids this, a lower pitch generally results in less comfort overall.
Put simply, the higher the angle of your roof’s pitch, the more spacious and comfortable your new space will be.
Do the Building Regulations apply to loft conversions?
Be they in Surrey, London or the South East, converted lofts must always comply with the relevant building regulations. As you would expect from reputable builders, BOC Construction Services Limited schedules the required Building Control inspections to ensure the necessary sign-offs. This includes a completion certificate following the final inspection.
Your converted loft will comply with Parts B and P (fire and electrical safety, respectively), Part K (preventing falls, impacts and collisions) and Part L (U-value target relating to thermal efficiency).
Call 01372 626 216 to discuss loft conversions in more detail with a member of our team. Our builders are the trusted choice in and around Surrey, London and the South East.