Important things to consider when thinking about a loft conversion

Loft conversions are an increasingly popular household renovation and a great way to make better use of the liveable space in a household. They can be the ideal solution for an extra bedroom, secluded study, home office or simply a storage room. 

Furthermore, reports from Nationwide suggest a loft conversion in the form of an extra bedroom is the number one way to increase a property’s market value. So, although a conversion will require upfront expenditure, if you keep control of costs, it is likely to be a worthwhile investment.

As with any home renovation project, it’s important to carefully plan your conversion before you begin work – and in this guide we provide you with advice on some of the key things to consider for a loft conversion:

Is it practical to have your loft converted?

First and foremost, do an initial assessment of your loft and consider the basics - is there enough floor space and headroom in your loft to make it a suitable living space. Lofts are not always designed for conversion and therefore won’t necessarily offer suitable space to accommodate a person.

In terms of headroom, industry standards suggest you should have a minimum loft height of 2.3 metres. This gives you enough space to install the floor and leaving you with a minimum practical ceiling height of 2m.

What is your loft used for at present?

Work taking place in the loft is typically less disruptive than other home renovations, simply because it will not be an existing living space. However, should you use your unconverted loft for storage it will mean you need to consider where to move your stored items too.

How do you want to use the loft space?

It is important to think about, even sketch out, the layout of your loft conversion well in advance of starting work. Think about exactly how you would like to use it - as an extra bedroom; with or without en suite; as a home office; as a playroom for your children (or even you) – the options are plentiful.

Also, you need to think carefully about storage. Built-in space can often be included, especially in the eaves where the roof meets the wall of your loft space.

How will you access your new loft space? And how much space do I need for loft stairs?

Some of the more common approaches to integrating a staircase to loft living include:

• The continuation of the existing staircase, which is generally the most popular option as it is in keeping with the existing style and flow of the home.
• Cutting off a section of an upstairs bedroom, or to reduce impact on a single room, between room.
• Introducing a space-saver staircase (also known as loft stairs, paddle flights and alternating tread stairs) which does as it says, requires less space than a typical staircase.
• Utilising a spiral staircase, although many of the more stylish, decorative spiral designs require a more significant amount of floor space.

If you wish to include a door, which will only work with some of the above options, you’ll also need to decide whether the door is at the foot or top of the staircase. 

Are you aware of the building regulations for loft conversions?

All loft conversions must comply with building regulations which ensure:

• the loft floor is structurally sound and of sufficient strength;
• the structure (including the existing roof) is stable;
• there is a safe escape in the instance of a fire;
• stairs to the new loft are safely designed; and
• there is reasonable noise insulation.

This useful article lists the specific regulations.

There are also specific regulations regarding loft staircases which state:

• a fixed staircase must be in place to provide safe access to and from the loft;
• there must be at least 1.9 metres minimum headroom height for the staircase;
• all risers must be equal;
• when there is a drop of more than 600mm, which on most staircases is around two steps, a handrail must be provided.