How To Use Difficult Spaces In Loft Conversions

It is the very rare loft space that is perfectly square or rectangular. In most UK homes the loft has at least one or two awkward corners, or low hanging beams that may make it seem like a successful loft conversion would be hard to pull off without wasted space or odd, empty bits. And loft eaves certainly almost always present something of a design challenge. However, a good loft conversion specialist can almost always find a way to work with these difficult spaces.

There are, in fact, some rather ingenious – and certainly very practical ways – that difficult loft spaces can be utilized for some very practical – and attractive – purposes. Here’s a look at just some of them:

Replace Walls With Windows

Most lofts are rather dark, at least compared to the rest of the home they belong to. That means that the addition of windows and/or skylights to add light is very common in loft conversions. And often the best place to add these windows is in those odd nooks and crannies. A low triangular space, for example, can be a great spot to add what would be a very striking window. And while having an ‘odd shaped window’ may mean it’s hard to find blinds or curtains that issue can be solved using light-sensitive tinting or even textured glass.

Make Use of Height

If you have plenty of height in your loft but not much floor space, building upwards can be the answer. These spaces are perfect for loft type bedroom spaces, a look that is as beautiful as it is practical. Loft beds almost always feature plenty of room for under bed storage as well, another way to ensure that you make the most of a limited amount of floor space while making a very practical addition to any home.

Add Storage

Whatever you decide you want to do do with your loft space after conversion you are certainly going to need storage of some kind. Odd corners are great for creating ‘storage nooks’, with built-in shelving and more. There have even been some loft conversion specialists who have found a way to turn odd under eaves spaces into that most desired of storage spaces; the walk-in closet and others have used them as mini librries to showcase all those beautiful books that are all too often hidden away in boxes when they really deserve to be displayed.

Add a Bathroom

In the average busy family household, it can often seem like there would never be able to be such a thing as too many bathrooms, and it is for this reason that a bathroom addition is a very common feature of loft conversions. Often the area below the eaves, which can be awkward to fit into an open plan loft, does make the perfect location for an attic bathroom.

These are just a few of the uses those difficult loft spaces can be put to doing a loft conversion. A good loft conversion specialist will be able to help you come up with many more.

And while we are on the subject, that really is the key to a successful loft conversion of any kind. Working with a loft conversion specialist. While a general contractor may be able to handle the basics just fine they lack the specialist knowledge of loft spaces to really make the most of them. A loft conversion specialist, on the other hand, has the experience and expertise to take that blank canvas, even if it is rather oddly shaped, and help you turn it into something very special.

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source https://www.abclofts.co.uk/how-to-use-difficult-spaces-in-loft-conversions/

5 Things No One Tells You About a Loft Conversion

You’ve been considering commissioning a loft conversion. After all, there’s a lot of space up there and all you are doing with it at the moment is storing the Christmas decorations and a ton of random boxes that you can’t quite remember why they re there (or what they contain)

There are tons of articles, videos, blog posts and idea type lookbooks out there that can be very useful in helping you make a decision about a loft conversion for your home. But as much great information as many of them contain there are some things they do tend to leave out. Here are 5 of the most important.

Your Home – and Your Life – Will Change

The one thing that lots of people who have already converted their loft can tell you is that it makes a BIG difference to your home and the way it functions. Which means it makes a big difference to your life. Whatever you choose to do with your new loft space – an extra bedroom, a study, maybe even a granny flat – having all this new extra functionality takes some time to get used to. But once you do, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.

You Have to Check the Legal Stuff

There is a lot of information out there that suggests you can give DIY loft conversion a go if the space is already partially livable. The one thing that these advice pieces tend to fail to mention however is that there are legal ramifications involved with converting a loft and if you don’t know what the rules are, and you break them, you could be in quite a bit of hot water.

You’ll Probably Save Money In Unexpected Ways

Did you know that the addition of livable new space in the loft is also the perfect opportunity to make your home more energy efficient? This is because the installation of specific insulation is a requirement of building regulations and the insulation required is of a higher standard than it is for a loft space that is not intended to be occupied.

What this means in practical terms is that a lot less heat will be lost through the roof (heat rises remember) and that will help keep your home warmer in the winter. Conversely, because the warm summer sun will be trapped by the new insulation when it shines down on your roof your home will stay cooler in the summer too.

It Might Not Cost As Much As You Think

There’s no denying it. As far as home improvement projects go a loft conversion is a biggie. But the costs may not be quite as high as you imagine. In fact a good loft conversion can be just as affordable as a big kitchen refit, and add just as much to the perceived market value of your home.

You Have to Get the Right Help

Ask around and you will hear plenty of nightmare stories about loft conversions gone wrong. Lofts that even when converted did not become the great usable space that their owners had envisioned by a badly constructed disaster area instead. But, in most cases, that happened because the homeowners didn’t take the time to find the right loft conversion specialists, they just went with the lowest bid instead.

The right loft conversion specialist is one that has plenty of experience, is transparent and upfront about a loft conversion project’s costs and is committed to doing a great job from start to finish. They will be able to provide you with good references and answer any and all of your questions, before, during and even after the project is completed.

Image Credit: kantec.co.uk

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source https://www.abclofts.co.uk/5-things-no-one-tells-you-about-a-loft-conversion/

What You Should Know About Bungalow Loft Conversion

From Average to Awesome and Amazing Attic Remodeling Ideas Are you making the most of the loft space in your home? Bungalow Loft Conversions projects offer so many options and opportunities to add functional living space to your home that the whole family can enjoy. With the help of a loft conversion specialist, your loft can be transformed from average to awesome in a matter of weeks. Still, need some inspiration? Look no further. Loft Conversions Basics The average loft is a repository for clutter and chances are you really do not even pay it a visit until it is time to get the Christmas decorations down every winter. However, a loft can be so much more and with the guidance and assistance of a good loft conversion specialist space above your head can provide a way to add extra living space to your home as well as upping the perceived value should you ever decide to sell up and move on. London loft conversion does present a unique set of challenges. Building codes specify that the roof should be a certain height and there may be insulation and flooring issues to be addressed before the real remodeling work can begin. A consultation with loft conversion company will allow you to find out what realistically can or cannot be achieved with the loft space in your home. The majority of lofts run the entire length of the home, meaning that there is an awful lot of square footage for you to work with. Here are some ideas for attic remodeling projects that you might want to consider: The Loft Bedroom This is one of the most popular uses for converted loft space. The need for an extra bedroom is one of the biggest reasons homeowners consider remodeling their home and the loft can be the perfect location. To avoid the cramped and dark feeling that some small bedrooms have, consider adding a dormer window or two to add light to the room and provide wonderful bedtime sky views. The Loft Playroom Does your child’s bedroom look like a nuclear bomb hit it? Do you trip over a doll or toy car – or painfully step on a Lego – every time you enter the room? A loft playroom gives the kids all the room they need to play and keeps the clutter in the rest of the house to a minimum. A London loft conversion specialist will be able to help you ensure that the area is safe for them to play in by advising you about ways to ensure that little ones cannot access any potentially dangerous nooks and crannies. The Loft Library Many people have box after box of books stored in their loft because they simply have nowhere to put them on display. Why not let your literature breathe by adding a loft library? The architecture of the average loft lends itself beautifully to built-in shelving and the quiet of the space makes it the perfect place to add a studious retreat. The Loft Guest Suite The loft offers you the opportunity to create a guest suite that will have long lost friends and relatives lining up for an invitation to spend the night. Loft bathrooms are not too difficult to create and can actually be more attractive than the ones downstairs if there is a lot of natural light in the space. Whatever you decide will be the best use for your loft space this is the one home remodeling project that you cannot afford to go it alone on, as there are so many structural and access concerns to be addressed. Hiring a good London loft conversion company will, however, ensure that your attic remodeling project will be an attractive addition to your home that can be enjoyed for years to come. Re-shared Content. Original Source: https://www.abclofts.co.uk/what-you-should-know-about-bungalow-loft-conversion/

Is Your Loft Too Small to Convert?

Did you know that loft conversions are one of the most popular renovations undertaken by UK homeowners? If you didn’t it still shouldn’t surprise you as a loft conversion is an excellent way to add livable space to your existing home without the hassle of ‘building out’ And it’s certainly far less bothersome than trying to move to a larger home in the same area if your family seems to be ‘running out of space’.

There are those people however who, although they certainly fancy the idea of a loft conversion for their home, never do get around to calling a loft conversion specialist because they believe that their loft is simply too small to convert. However, often they are quite wrong.

Think your loft space is just too small for conversion. Let’s take a look at the basics. By the time we are finished here, you may have changed your mind

Small Loft Conversion and Building Regulations

The building regulations for small loft conversion state that lofts need to be at least 2.4m at the highest point before they are converted. Not sure if your loft meets that requirement? Head up to your loft and measure f(carefully) from the top of the ceiling boards all the way up to the peak of the roof.

You should, however, be aware that the conversion process will probably reduce head height even further and that the regulations do state that there needs to be a minimum of two metres headroom remaining after the project is completed in order for the conversion to be compliant.

Two metres can be hard to envisage, but here’s a comparison. Retired NBA basketball legend Shaquille O Neal – aka Shaq – is 2.1 metres tall. So your loft height will have to equal one Shaq. Not as high as you thought right?

Trusses are Not the Big Problem You Think They Are

Trusses are those large beams that often criss-cross the attic space in order to support the weight of the roof. Many homeowners whose attics contain large W-shaped trusses believe that these mean that their lofts are unsuitable for conversion but this really isn’t the case. Trusses can be removed relatively easily, with steel or wooden beam replacements running the length of your roof to bear the load. This not only meets building regulations but will add even more space to your potential small loft conversion than before.

Work with a Loft Conversion Specialist to Get Creative with Your Plans

A small loft conversion does not have to look cramped or weird, especially as there are lots of ‘tricks’ employed in the design trade to help such spaces look and feel bigger than you might have ever imagined possible.

For example, in small spaces, maximising the amount of natural light becomes very important, as making the environment feel bright and airy is an important part of good loft conversion design. Because of their upward facing angle, sloping loft ceilings are a perfect place to add skylights. These let in far more light than a regular window at all times of day and can look rather stunning from a design point of view as well.

Not sure that you’ll have enough room to add any more up in your loft conversion than maybe a bed and a chair? Think again. There are all kinds of clever storage solutions that can be picked up inexpensively that can be used to add functionality to a small loft space without making it feel cluttered.

And speaking of furniture, don’t be afraid of big furniture Just because the room is small doesn’t mean that you have to pick out equally tiny pieces of furniture. Sometimes, it can be a much better use of space to go for one or two large pieces of furniture instead. So feel free to be bold and stick that giant sofa or king-sized bed up there (as long as they’ll fit up your loft’s stairs that is).

The post Is Your Loft Too Small to Convert? appeared first on ABC Lofts : The Loft Conversion Specialist | ABC Lofts | West London.

source https://www.abclofts.co.uk/is-your-loft-too-small-to-convert/

Tips for Selecting the Perfect Loft Conversion Company

If you are considering a loft conversion to add value and function while keeping a potential future sale in mind you are really going to need to seek out and hire a good loft conversion company. But exactly how do you go about doing that?

You do a Google search for a loft conversion company in London d lo and behold dozens of results pop up, all in reasonably close proximity to your home. Now what? How do you even begin to start to make the right choice? Let’s take it step by step:

The Website

Most people’s first point of contact these days with almost any company is their website. Do not be fooled though. While a nice looking website can be a good sign you should not be blinded by a very fancy one. Being able to build a nice website (or to pay to have one built) does not mean that you can build a great loft!

There are some things that you should be looking for though. Clear contact information should be prominently displayed and not just a contact form either, a real telephone number and a real address should be easy to find. If a loft conversion company does not list such things that should be a red flag.

The Human Touch

Letting strangers spend days, weeks, or even months come and go in your home is a big leap of faith. If a loft conversion company is not willing to arrange a face to face meeting then even more alarm bells should start going off in your head. You are also entitled to ask questions about why the company is in business. It may sound a little silly at first, but if a contractor is not passionate about what they do – and about great customer service – then they are simply not going to do the best job possible.

Any good craftsman is proud of their work and that is especially true of any loft conversion specialist. Most great ones will want to flood you with examples of their great work, sometimes until you beg them to stop. That is not a bad thing though, it means they are proud of what they do and will carry that passion onto your project.

The Legal Stuff

Another huge headache for a homeowner is an improperly insured contractor. Hiring a contractor who is not properly insured can be more of a problem than you might think. Contractors of any kind – but especially loft conversion companies, as these are very specialized – need to carry the insurance that not only covers them but you and your home as well. Ask to see proofs of a loft conversion company’s licenses and insurance coverage before any work begins.

A Listening Ear

You may not have the technical know-how to pull of your desired loft conversion project but you do know what you want and that usually is not exactly the same thing as your neighbor, and the people down the street have.

Some companies, usually the larger ones actually, will offer you set options for standard remodels. You can have A,B,C (or maybe even D) floorplan with X,Y,Z additional options. Any deviations are considered ‘custom’ and will cost you double the price.

That is not the way a loft conversion should work. Look for a loft conversion company who will listen to your vision and then tell you how they can execute it, explaining any challenges they foresee in getting you exactly what you want.

An All Seeing Eye

Most people are remodeling their loft for form and function and so how a loft space looks when all is said and done is very important as well. Ask the loft conversion company you are considering what their interior design experience consists of as well. Good contractors will either have a qualified individual on staff or they will have a solid working relationship with a reliable and trusted associate who can help ensure that all of the design bases are covered as well as the technical ones.

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source https://www.abclofts.co.uk/tips-for-selecting-the-perfect-loft-conversion-company/