could I do a loft extension??? architects on here?!
twamleyk
last year
Hi folks,
I’ve spoken to a couple or architects and builders and getting conflicting info. I live in one of the middle terrace houses below. The ceiling of the top floor starts where the top of the window is. The rest is attic, though on the other side of the house there is a half floor..
Could we create another floor on top of our top floor? I feel like there is room without going beyond the upper limit of the houses?
Obs I’d need to party wall consent etc.
If the answer is yes, we will need to save and will forgo buying a second property in the meanwhile.
Thanks!!
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Loft extension dilemmas - advice needed please!
Comments (7)Hi Heidi, Having just done such a project (and learnt a little from it...): Ceiling heights: minimum thickness of a floor is around 200mm/8" but some of that can be "reclaimed" below e.g. by leaving the joists exposed. Above is trickier because insulation requirements for the roof mean you can't really do that much there; the distance between the outer surface of the roof ridge and the inner ceiling will end up at least 250mm. Do your figures. Regarding the steelwork, there are lots of technical options to build this and "all of them may be right" as in (not) needing a ridge steel beam. Have you got an SE (structural engineer) spec for it? You can talk directly to steelworks fabricators about this. Builders tend to buy RSJs from specialist companies whose business it is to "sell steel made to size / spec" - steelworks fabricators. Some builders like to "cut&weld on site" because it saves them time but workshop welding and steel preparation tends to have more consistent quality and is preferred by structural engineers and/or insurance & building control (the latter often because of the fire risk for welding work on small sites). So this may be a case for more questions to the builder ("who's your steel fabricator and would you mind me talking to them?"), or a 2nd opinion by showing the plans to a fabricator and asking them for how they think this could/should best be built. The technical term is to request a "method statement" - how will the steelwork be made to conform to design, comply with structural spec & building regs and/or constraints of property deeds, and how will it be installed (to satisfy site insurance and Health& Safety regs, and/or other provisions e.g. from party wall awards/consents) ?" On the fire suppression system: building regs part B (fire safety, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/485420/BR_PDF_AD_B1_2013.pdf ) extensively talk about "means of escape" which usually are protected / made "safe" by the additional fire resistance hallway walls and fire-rated doors to the hallway/stairwell provide. Where you have open-plan, the guidance says (quote): "Alternatively, it may be possible to provide sprinkler protection to the open-plan area, [ ... long sequence of auxiliary requirements/explanations ... ]" And the devil is in the detail. Not the least because "sprinkler" isn't the same as "mist sprinkler" (let's not go there now, rabbit hole...). It's definitely worth pre-clearing the design / fire suppression method with building control, because once you start, having to "alter" later to put extra partitions in not only blows costs out but also kills the design. From my own experience - do not let the builder "just start" because ... they may hold _you_ to ransom if their (hidden) cost-saving provisions are felled by external agents/influences. With no roof on the building and neighbours breathing down your neck for potential damage or perceived risk, or building control refusing signoff unless major changes, you're in a pretty bad negotiation position. Building regs will pre-clear designs for you, possibly for a small fee. Good luck !...See MoreLoft bedroom staircase ! I need help here !!!
Comments (7)Hi Marinela, There are lots of ways of doing this but the obvious issue is that it has to safe for the boys. I have enclosed a few ideas, hope this helps. None of these could be classed as the perfect solution but you can take ideas from each and miix & match. You need to consider the stair construction, the examples shown are in timber but a carpet would be softer and safer for the kids. If you do go for wood I would add some raised metal strips onto the tread to add grip. Here are a few balustrade ideas: I had to add this one in, its fun !!! The colours could be added with a rubber flooring material, lots of grip and will soften the edges. As the kids get older you can carpet over for a more contemporary look. Regards Martin www.angel-martin.com www.3dinteriorillustration.co.uk...See MoreLoft conversion & Kitchen extension Newbie!
Comments (10)Hi @Emma CW If it's any use as a very rough comparison, you can see our project here: https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/5865541/utility-kitchen-design-feedback As we've come closer to obtaining quotes (planning with our council took 6 months due to Covid delays), it seems we're likely to be looking at £125k (or about £2500 per square metre), excluding kitchen. Our U-shaped kitchen, which fills a space roughly 4.5 X 3.5m is looking like an additional £20-35k fitted (range based on direct-from-manufacture web retailer, to bespoke local supplier), with mid-spec appliances and sourcing our own quartz worktops. No idea how one might get a high spec kitchen for £5k as suggested by Base 2 (- appliances alone could easily cost this). Do note that we require demolition of two existing structures and we have limited side access to our property (i.e. little room for machinery to excavate foundations). Of course, interior furnishings, landscaping and contingency costs will all be in addition to the above estimate. When we went into this project, after reading years worth of home building/renovation magazines, we thought we'd be able to realise our plans for under £100k. Unless we were going to actually do the work ourselves, it quickly became apparent this wasn't realistic when ringing around for quotes on some of the big ticket items (e.g. glazing, kitchen, groundworks), so my main advice would be to speak to your architect/designer about probable costs based on comparable projects they've worked and ask a couple of local builders to give you a rough guide from your plans....See MoreWondering if anyone can help with Loft/Extension layout please?
Comments (20)I literally just took a screen shot on my iPhone and edited it, whilst having my brunch. Others do great mock-ups but I’m no except just use Houzz as a great source of ideas. If you search “apps” on the discussion search bar you should find some recommendations. We did a loft conversion about 3yrs back in or small cottage so we had to make use of every spare space possible. Good luck with your project. It looks v exciting. Hopefully you will get some great ideas that you can work incorporate in your design....See More
twamleyk
last yearIt is the riverside we wanted to extend. There is over 3 metres between the ceiling in that top room and the upper most part of the ceiling of the loft. The ceiling in this top bedroom taht you can see in the photo would presumably need to be flattened (ie raise the roof around the dormer window, making this a 'normal' window' with a flat roof) and then taht ceiling would be the upper floor of the house, for the new bedroom. Something like this, but more extensive?? I.e. it looks like they had a sloping roof, which they made flat and built another floor on top of it.
twamleyk
last year
tim_baker921