When it comes to their homes, most people would love to have more usable space. This not only offers a greater level of practicality to the home but can also help to increase the value of the home. One of the ways in which this can be achieved is by converting a space such as the loft into a usable and functional room.
If you do decide that you would like to transform your attic into a proper room, you might well need to do some forward planning. In this article, I will talk about some of the key things that you need to consider if you want to convert your loft.
Is a loft conversion a viable solution for your property?
You can do a lot with a loft conversion, such as creating a guest room, turning it into a den, or even using it as a home office with an office desk and chair along with other essential office furniture.
The first thing you need to do before you start getting carried away with planning is determine whether a loft conversion is a viable option for your property. In order to do this, you will need to consider a range of vital factors. Some of these include:
What will the cost of a loft conversion be? The first thing you need to consider is affordability, as there is no point looking into this if you don’t have the money to pay for it. A loft conversion can be costly, so you need to work out what your maximum budget would be and where you will get the funding from. Some people decide to borrow against the equity in their homes while others will look at taking out a personal loan to fund the conversion.
Is there enough usable space? You need to walk through the loft and determine whether there is actually enough space to create a usable and practical room. For instance, floor space and the pitch of your roof may play a big part in whether a loft conversion is a viable option for you. If there is enough space, then a conversion could be ideal. If not, you may struggle to create a space that you can really make any use out of.
What permissions do I need? You also need to look into the permissions that you will need in order to convert your loft. When it comes to planning permission, you should be able to extend roof space up to 50 meters depending on the type of property you have. However, you will also need to get Building regulations approval for the conversion that you are seeking. Therefore, working out whether or not you are actually able to have a loft conversion is vital.
Getting an expert to take a look
Most houses should be okay to have a loft conversion although the level of work required will vary from one property to another. The best thing to do if you want to be certain is get an expert out to take a look at your loft space and they will be able to advise whether it is possible and viable to have your loft converted. If it is, you can look forward to creating more space, an additional room, and adding value to your property. It can also help to make your home more saleable in the event you decide to put it on the market in the future.
