A loft conversion is one of the most popular home expansion projects in the UK for extra space. It’s a great solution for properties in urban areas or where house extensions do not make sense.

Loft conversion costs start at around £25,000 up to around £75,000 depending on the type and size of the conversion.

Most loft conversions fall under Permitted Development, but you might need planning permission in some buildings or areas. Please do not hesitate to contact our team if you need the guidance to the process or explanations of different options available and their costs.

If you are just looking around for ideas for your upcoming loft conversion project, check out our gallery of recently completed projects.

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Loft Conversion Building Process Steps

Preparing the site

Scaffolding will be erected to the front and/or rear of your house. This enables us to work safely, store materials and remove debris and packaging without taking these through your house. A skip will need to be located to the front of your property. This will usually be either in your driveway or on the road. We will discuss the location with you, and arrange any permits required to do this with your local authority.

Constructing a dormer

If your loft conversion includes a dormer extension, this will be constructed into the appropriate pitch of your roof, and clad so as to match sympathetically with the existing appearance of your house. It will be roofed with either: three layers of bonded, high quality roofing felt; or no-maintenance fibre-felt which has a lifespan of up to 20 years and carries a 10 year maker’s guarantee. Maintenance-free facia boards, gutters and down-pipes will be fitted, ensuring that the outside of the dormer requires no upkeep or decoration. Double glazed timber or uPVC windows are usually fitted to the face of the dormer, as per the plan prepared by our architects. In some situations it is possible to replace these with French Doors and a balcony. If this applies to your conversion, the doors will be constructed in a similar fashion.

Installing Velux windows

Where windows are to be fitted in line with the pitch of your roof, our architects will specify appropriate models from the Velux range. Velux windows are double glazed, aiding thermal and sound insulation, and allow air to circulate even with the window closed. Velux window units are maintenance free on the outside of the frame, and have a durable varnish over the natural wood on the inside. The windows flip so that the outside of the glass can be cleaned easily. Additional Velux fittings, such as child safety locks and blackout blinds, are available at additional cost if you would like these.

The stairs to your new loft conversion

Your converted loft space will be connected to your existing living space by a staircase custom constructed for your home. Your staircase will be timber built, unless you request other materials to be used. Subject to the way your house is built, or any specific requests you have made, the staircase will usually be positioned directly above your existing staircase. It will be installed by one of our specialist stair carpenters, who will ensure that it is fitted perfectly, and complies with all current building and safety regulations.

Constructing walls, and ceilings and fitting insulation

All exterior walls and ceilings will be lined with 120mm thick, foil-backed insulation panels. All walls and ceilings are then plasterboarded and given a plaster skim coat, ready for decoration. The insulation panels retain room heat in winter, while reflecting the sun in summer to keep the loft cool. They also enable creation of the 50mm air gap required by building regulations to ensure the timbers of your roof are properly ventilated. Installing the floors Your loft will be constructed with its floor suspended from steel beams anchored into the external walls of the house. This means the timber ceiling joists below will not have to carry any additional load, and will not be subject to vibrations, which could crack the ceiling plaster of the rooms below. Timber joists will be fitted between the steel beams and tongue and grooved, high density flooring boards installed over these. Your suspended floor will largely discourage sound from being transferred from your loft to the rest of your house, and will provide 30 minute fire resistance in line with BS 476.

Plumbing and heating installation

If your conversion includes a bath or shower room, or bedrooms with hand basins, all work required to install these will be carried out by our professionally qualified plumbers. Our Gas Safe registered heating engineers will extend your central heating installation into the new loft, and we will install high-output convector radiators in each new room. Gas Safe (which replaced CORGI in 2009) is the official register of engineers authorised to work safely and legally on your boiler and other gas appliances.

Electrical installation

All new electrical installation, as well as any modifications required to your existing installation, will be carried out by our NICEIC registered electricians, in line with the Institute of Electrical Engineers Wiring Regulations BS 7671. NICEIC is the leading UK regulatory body for electricians, and has been assessing their competence for over fifty years. Unless otherwise specified by our architects, two-way lighting will be installed above the new stairs, switched from both top and bottom. Central ceiling lights, or recessed down-lighters, will be installed in each room of the loft conversion. If your loft conversion includes a bath or shower room, electrical wiring will be installed as required for the safe supply of electric showers, shaver points or other specified fittings. Wall sockets will be fitted in each new room, as per our architects’ specifications.

Construction of shower rooms/bathrooms

Build Lofts will make all adaptations to the plumbing of your house, including relocating cold water storage tanks or hot water cylinders which were located in your loft prior to conversion. We will then run all pipework required to service any shower room, bathroom or hand basin in your new loft. Sanitary ware including WC’s, shower trays, basins, and bidets as well as taps, screens and shower fitments can be supplied and fitted to your specification at an additional charge. If you have advised us that you wish to source any of these items yourself, rather than have us supply them, we will be pleased to discuss specification with you before you place your orders, and will then fit the items you have purchased for you.

Skirtings, Architraves and Door Handles

Your loft conversion will be finished using quality skirting boards, door architraves and door furniture (handles, locks etc) to your specification. We will discuss your preferences with you. Extra storage areas Our project manager will help make the most of awkward spaces such as eaves, which are not included in the floor-plan of your new loft rooms, by converting these into concealed storage areas. The floors of these areas will be boarded, and switched lights and access doors fitted.

See Our Completed Loft Conversions