Do you have unused loft space? Is your family outgrowing your home? Or do you want to add value to your property? If any of these sound like you, a premium, high-quality and structurally sound loft conversion could be the answer. We are AS Construction & Structural Engineering – the home of intelligent, efficient, and innovative structural engineering services. With our experience, we can design and construct a loft conversion that will elevate your home and infinitely improve your lifestyle. Our skilled team of structural engineers work alongside developers, architects, interior designers, contractors, and other construction professionals to create and deliver results that will exceed your expectations every time.
Not sure if a loft conversion is right for your home? In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about loft conversions including what they are and the many benefits they provide. If you’re ready to start your loft conversion journey, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.
What is a loft conversion?
Is your current loft unused or being utilised as a dumping ground for boxes upon boxes of storage? If so, then why not transform it into a functional room? Our loft conversions are primarily used to add extra rooms, such as bedrooms, offices, playrooms, additional living areas and more. Our extensive experience in producing structural engineering designs ensures that you will receive the most economical, efficient, and innovative design solutions for your extension including planning, design, construction and more.
What does a loft conversion include?
Here at AS Construction & Structural Engineering, our team is passionate about sustainable and efficient engineering. Our extensive experience in producing structural engineering designs ensures that you will receive the most economical, efficient and innovative design solutions.
We provide an end-to-end service for our loft conversions including:
- General planning.
- Design and access statements.
- Planning policy research and advice.
- Preparation of Building Regulations applications.
- Detailed drawings to a measured scale.
- Groundworks and foundations.
- Flush floor and ceiling finishes.
- Uninterrupted running walls.
- Minimal steel structures for support.
- And much, much more!
We provide a complete service that will take you from quotation to completion with premium quality results. Get in touch with us today for more information about our loft conversions.
The Benefits of Loft Conversions For Your Home
Maximising your home’s unused space is about adding square footage and transforming your living experience. At AS Construction & Structural Engineering, we’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of loft conversions. Here, we’ll explore the many benefits awaiting homeowners who choose to convert their lofts, turning what was once an empty space into diverse, multi-functional rooms that enhance daily living.
- Clever Use of Space
If you’re looking to create more space in your home or are outgrowing your property and don’t want to move, converting your loft is a fantastic way of giving purpose to unused space in your attic. We can transform your loft into a multi-purpose space that can be used for extra bedrooms, offices, lounge areas and more.
- Cost-Effective
Loft conversions are known to be cost-effective and budget-friendly, more so than moving home or even adding an extension. The average cost of converting a loft in the UK starts from around £50,000. This means that you can expand your home at a fraction of the cost of moving.
- Increase Your Home’s Value
As with home extensions and any home improvement, loft conversions add value to your home. A quality loft conversion can add up to 20% to the value of your home. Depending on how your extra space is designed and used, you can see significant cost benefits. This makes loft conversions a smart investment to make for maximum long-term financial benefits
- Tailored To You
With our help, you can achieve a bespoke loft conversion that will expand the space within your property and infinitely improve your lifestyle. So whatever your tastes and style and however you need your loft conversion to function for you, your family, and your home, we can tailor it all to your needs.
- Sustainable Solutions
We are always looking for ways to minimise our carbon footprint when executing the day-to-day tasks of running a business. What’s more, we endeavour to help our clients reduce their carbon footprint by providing innovative engineering solutions, including our loft conversions.
Check out our Gallery too where you will find a selection of photos for our completed and ongoing loft conversion projects, which showcase our designs being brought to life!
How To Know If Your Loft Is Suitable For A Loft Conversion
So you’ve decided to take the step and convert your loft into a stylish, multi-functional room, but you’re left wondering ‘Can my loft be converted?’. Here’s how to know if your loft is suitable for a loft conversion…
- Available Head Height
Ensuring that you have enough adequate head height is key for a successful loft conversion. Head height must be measured from the top of the floor joists in the loft, to the underside of the ridge beam. Building regulations permit a minimum headroom of 2.2m, however, 2.4m is ideal once the flooring has been laid and the ceiling finished.
- Roof Pitch
The pitch and steepness of your roof pitch will dictate the amount of head height available and how easy your loft conversion will be. Generally, angles above 30 degrees are more successful and the steeper the roof pitch, the more available head height there will be. Speak to us today if you’re not sure about your roof pitch.
- Roof Structure
Your roof’s structure will have a bearing on the construction methods used for conversion. A cut roof is constructed using rafters, joists and purlins, leaving most of the triangular space below free. A trussed roof is constructed using W-shaped trusses that run through the cross-section of the loft – blocking some of the space that you will need for your conversion.
- Roof Condition
The condition of your roof is critical to deciding whether your loft is suitable for a loft conversion or not. Our specialist structural engineers can thoroughly assess and examine the condition of your roof to ensure that it is structurally sound and can withstand the load of the conversion.
- Water Tanks & Chimney Stacks
If you have a water tank in your loft, this will need to be relocated. We also recommend removing the water tank and replacing it with a new combi-boiler or similar. Chimney stacks, while not essential to be removed, can be taken down to make more space in your new loft conversion.
- Staircase Placement
Staircases can often be overlooked when planning loft conversions, but having one is essential for access. Building regulations require a minimum of 1.9m of headroom at the centre of the flight, and 1.8m at the edges. You will also need to allow space for the staircase on the floor below.
- Planning Permission
In many cases, loft conversions fall under permitted development, but it’s crucial to check local regulations. If you’re not sure if you need planning permission for your loft conversion, don’t hesitate to speak to AS Construction & Structural Engineering today. We can provide trusted advice and are happy to help.
In addition to the above, several other factors may influence your loft conversion such as the cost, schedule and the company that you choose for the conversion. We are the home of intelligent, efficient, and innovative structural engineering services, contact us today for more information.
Things to Consider For Your Loft Conversion…
When planning your loft conversion, there are several things to consider…
- Structural Integrity
When planning a loft conversion, you must ensure that the existing structure can support the additional weight of a loft conversion. We can provide advice during the process.
- Building Regulations
We recommend familiarising yourself with local building regulations and obtaining any necessary permits before work begins.
- Design & Layout
Our expert team can provide recommendations for optimal design and layout to maximise space and function.
- Insulation & Ventilation
You will need to thoroughly consider the insulation and ventilation for your loft conversion to maximise comfort and energy efficiency.
- Staircase Design & Placement
Access to your new loft conversion is vital and considering the design and placement of the staircase is a significant factor to think about.
- Lighting
We can provide trusted advice and recommendations regarding the lighting for your loft conversion.
- Plumbing, Electricals & Wiring
To ensure that your loft conversion meets your needs, you will need to consider plumbing and electrical requirements.
For specialist advice, we recommend getting in touch with our expert structural engineers. We’re happy to help and provide trusted advice and recommendations every step of the way!
What are you waiting for?
So, what are you waiting for? With our help, you could achieve a loft conversion that will elevate your home and infinitely improve your lifestyle. Make use of wasted space in your home and expand your living areas. Establish a space that is designed by you and that works for you, 365 days a year with multi-functional elements that meet your needs. Add value to your property, whether you’re selling soon or in the future. If you’ve decided that a loft conversion for your home is right for you, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for more information!
Loft Conversion FAQs
Q: How long does a loft conversion take?
The length of time a loft conversion takes will vary depending on several factors. Get in touch with us for more information.
Q: How much does a loft conversion cost?
The cost of a loft conversion will vary based on factors such as size, complexity, and location. We can provide you with a tailored quote, contact us today.
Q: Can I use my loft as a bedroom?
Yes, as long as a loft conversion meets building regulations and safety standards, it can be used as a bedroom.
Q: Do I need an architect for a loft conversion?
While an architect isn’t mandatory for a loft conversion, having one can ensure a well-designed and compliant conversion. Fortunately, we at AS Construction & Structural Engineering can help.
Q: What is the lifespan of a loft conversion?
With proper maintenance, a loft conversion can last as long as the rest of the house.
How does it work?
Understand Your Requirements
From your initial correspondence with us via email and/or phone, we take the time to discuss and understand your loft conversion. We will also find out if there are any site or design limitations we should be aware of.
Quotation
We submit a formal Fee Proposal based on the information received or discussed with you over email/phone, or if you have simply requested a quote via our quote form. We ensure our Fee Proposal clearly outlines the expected scope of work so that you are well informed and can easily decide on whether you wish to proceed with our services.
Carry Out a Site Visit
Once you have accepted our Fee Proposal and formally instructed us on your project, we will arrange a suitable time to visit the site and carry out an initial visual inspection. The site visit allows us to discuss in person, your requirements in further detail as well as familiarise ourselves with the existing structure and the immediate surroundings. It also helps you to put a face to a name.
Design & Survey Documents
Once an initial site visit is completed, for our structural design services we produce three structural design documents, all of which are required to be submitted to Building Control for you to gain approval for your proposed works. The structural design documents are as follows:
- Structural Calculation
- Structural Drawings
- Structural Specification Notes
