Converting your loft is money well spent if you'd like to increase your living space but are reluctant to move (or incur all the costs of selling and buying a new property!).
Our lofts tend to be dusty dark spaces that serve no purpose other than storing our Christmas decorations. It makes sense to look into the options to utilise your top storey properly, perhaps building a home office, an additional bedroom or a quiet play space for the kids.
If you're unsure whether a loft conversion is worth the expense, here we run through a few of the variables to think about before you come to a decision.
Will a Loft Conversion Add Value to My Home?
Property values are a big deal, particularly if you're considering remortgaging to finance the cost of your loft conversion.
The good news is that converting an attic can add up to a whopping 20% to your home's value, paying back dividends on your initial investment.
Loft conversions can also make it much easier to sell if the time comes because:
- Opting for a loft conversion, rather than an extension, preserves your valuable garden and outdoor spaces, but with the same expansion in livable rooms.
- Insulation and glazing work on a modern attic conversion can improve your home's energy efficiency rating - all the more important with energy prices soaring.
- Most loft conversions won't need planning permission, provided they are within a certain size. That makes it simpler for a buyer to move in and enjoy the extra space compared to nearby homes, without concerns about planning approval documentation.
Therefore, if you're wondering if a loft conversion is worth it from a financial perspective, the work will make your property larger, easier to sell, and cheaper to run!
What Are the Important Factors to Consider When Planning a Loft Conversion?
Loft conversion costs vary considerably, depending on the type of conversion you'd like, the staircase design you choose, glazing options (such as a dormer or Velux window) and the size of your home.
One factor is headspace. As well as ensuring your room is suitable for standard height family members to use, you should provide at least 2.2 metres of clearance to adhere to building regulations and fire safety rules.
In period homes, you might need to reinforce or replace your joists to ensure they are structurally sound and can support the load of the new floor.
The best way to pick loft conversion materials and designs that fit within your budget and comply with the regulations is to work with an architect or an experienced contractor who will be able to advise and offer suggestions.
What Type of Loft Conversion Should I Pick?
There are many ways to convert an attic, and the layout or style of your home might be a deciding factor.
- Simple loft conversions: adding skylight windows, a staircase and flooring are easy ways to upgrade an attic room as long as it has enough space and capacity.
- Dormer window conversions: installing dormer windows jutting outwards from your roof is perfect for smaller homes or properties with a sloping roof where you'd like to maximise the space in the converted attic.
- Hip-to-gable loft conversions: add a vertical gable wall at one or both ends of your home (depending on whether you have a semi-detached or detached house), considerably increasing the space available.
- Mansard attic conversions: this type of conversion project involves adding an extension across the length of your house, with an almost vertical angle.
You can also opt for a roof lift, whereby your new attic floor is engineered off-site and then craned into place once the old roof has been removed.
This process is quick since the bulk of the work is performed off-site and is ideal for homes with attics rooms that are too narrow or shallow to accommodate an extra bedroom comfortably.
Is it Cheaper to Convert My Attic or Move Home?
When you've outgrown your home, deciding whether to sell up and move on or invest in your property to make it fit your needs is a tough decision.
There isn't a universal answer since it depends on whether you love where you live, how much budget you have available to upsize to a larger property and the types of loft conversion suitable for your home.
If you're torn between the two, we'd recommend entering your details into LoftPrices.co.uk to receive up to four obligation-free quotes from local contractors.
From there, you can review the pricing, discuss your aspirations, and work out whether you can transform your home into the dream property you want.
