Not everybody can afford to move house nowadays, with property prices rocketing and expenses spiraling. The cost of moving needs to be added onto the price of the new home as well as all of the extras when you are working out the total expenditure involved. If you find that your property is no longer big enough to comfortably accommodate your growing family, physically moving home isn't the only real resolution.
If your property is suitable, you could maybe build a brick extension to gain that much needed extra living space. You will unquestionably need planning permission for this and this can be costly. If you have a sturdy garage that you aren't using presently, you might give some thought to doing a garage conversion. Maybe the most effective option is to put in a loft conversion, which can add a lot of value to your property and is not likely to need any sort of planning permission.
Loft conversions have gotten extremely popular in the 21st century, largely for some of the reasons given previously. You should ensure that your home is actually suited to a loft conversion prior to making a final decision. Numerous modern day houses that have got roofs made with trusses aren't really suitable. Some older homes which were constructed before the seventies are often well suited for loft conversions since they were created using solid timbers and there tended to be lots of head space.
To make certain your particular loft is acceptable, you will want to get in touch with a builder to look it over. If things are good to press on with the conversion, you could ask for an estimate from the builder. Obtain a few more quotations from different builders, so that you've got a good pick of tradesmen. Use your instinct rather than simply thinking about the price tag when selecting who is best to undertake your loft conversion.
There is a high likelihood that you won't even need planning permission for converting your loft, since the majority of conversions don't require it. Your local planning department is where you need to go to find out if you need planning permission.
Though for homeowners, getting their loft converted might be a good option, it still requires a significant financial commitment. Unless you currently have the cash you can always get a loan, which hopefully will not be too difficult because the likelihood is that your loft conversion will substantially add to the market value of your home. As a guideline you may expect that a loft conversion will cost about as much as a good size brick built extension although the chances are that you will generate more room with a conversion with out increasing the footprint of your property.
Which kind of loft conversion you get will most likely depend on the style and design of your particular home. Loft conversions are available in a variety of kinds for example: loft pods, roof light conversions, hip-to-gable loft conversions, roof lift loft conversions, mansard conversions, velux conversions and dormer conversions. Talk with your builder or loft conversion specialist to fathom out which sort is best for you home as well as which would be the most economical to fit your budget.
Dormers
Among the most popular forms of conversion in recent times is the dormer style, a design that provides affordability, and still yields the maximum possible space. This style is a favorite choice for householders as its both pleasing and effective and offers everything that could possibly be needed. With a dormer conversion it might even be possible to add in a balcony, meaning that you are creating supplemental exterior space too. There are distinct types of dormer conversions namely shed dormers, Velux dormers, hip to gable dormers and flat roof dormers. Talk to a specialist to learn which will be the most appropriate for your specific dwelling.
Velux Conversions
Without a doubt one of the most famous names in roof windows, Velux, have now been around for over sixty years and they can be depended on to provide a loft window which is both reliable and fine quality. These windows are made to fit flush with the slope of your roof and thereby do not change the shape of the structure, they don't typically need permission and they're pretty inexpensive to install. Velux windows let in a good quantity of daylight and in reality might even need blinds fitted the summertime. If your attic has a fair bit of head space, a Velux window conversion may be the perfect option for your project, especially if you've got limited capital.
Just How Long Does it Take?
The time scale for a conversion on your loft is dependent upon a number of variables which include the availability of materials, the prevailing climatic conditions, the trustworthiness of the building contractors, the type of conversion and the level of planning that is done. As an approximate guideline a rear dormer conversion undertaken on a terraced property should take approximately four to five weeks, a hip to gable dormer conversion on a semi-detached property should really take around 5 to 6 weeks.
Once your loft conversion is finished, there are numerous uses you will be able to put it to. You might turn it into a home study, a new downstairs bathroom or an extra bedroom or two. Nonetheless there are numerous purposes to which a good loft conversion can be put, constrained only by your imagination!