Where Designers Would Spend and Save on a Loft Conversion
With some smart planning, you can streamline the cost of your loft project without compromising on the design or finish
It pays dividends to plan carefully when expanding into the loft, whether you’re creating an extra bedroom, bathroom or living space. Thinking about what you need from the space and how you’ll finish the room will stop you making stressful – and costly – last-minute decisions mid-build.
So, before you get into the weeds of your loft project, heed these valuable tips from three loft specialists as they share their thoughts on where you should be spending your money and where you could be streamlining your budget.
Professional advice from: Joel Thomas of Shore Lofts; Jack Davey of LoftCraft London; Aneliese Deane of LLAC Construction.
More in this series: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen I Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Bedroom l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Living Room l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Garden
So, before you get into the weeds of your loft project, heed these valuable tips from three loft specialists as they share their thoughts on where you should be spending your money and where you could be streamlining your budget.
Professional advice from: Joel Thomas of Shore Lofts; Jack Davey of LoftCraft London; Aneliese Deane of LLAC Construction.
More in this series: Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Kitchen I Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Bedroom l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Living Room l Where Designers Would Spend and Save in a Garden
Save on: Finishes
“Extravagant details are fine provided these don’t eat into the budget and impact your selection of a reputable and reliable contractor,” Jack Davey says. “It’s unwise to splash out huge amounts on luxury fittings and finishes if it doesn’t leave sufficient budget to get a skilled and experienced person to install them. The results will likely be disappointing.”
Joel has a different take on how to save on finishes. “Go for a simple, inexpensive bathroom suite in your loft and then spend a little bit more on tiles to take it from ordinary to extraordinary,” he says. “A good-looking bathroom increases the overall value of your home, so it’s an easy way to add value and boost your enjoyment of the loft when it’s finished.”
More: How Much Does a Loft Conversion Cost?
“Extravagant details are fine provided these don’t eat into the budget and impact your selection of a reputable and reliable contractor,” Jack Davey says. “It’s unwise to splash out huge amounts on luxury fittings and finishes if it doesn’t leave sufficient budget to get a skilled and experienced person to install them. The results will likely be disappointing.”
Joel has a different take on how to save on finishes. “Go for a simple, inexpensive bathroom suite in your loft and then spend a little bit more on tiles to take it from ordinary to extraordinary,” he says. “A good-looking bathroom increases the overall value of your home, so it’s an easy way to add value and boost your enjoyment of the loft when it’s finished.”
More: How Much Does a Loft Conversion Cost?
Spend on: Heating, cooling and insulation
Achieving the optimum room temperature in a loft conversion, whether that’s warm or cool, is crucial for the comfort of its occupants, so it’s important to spend time and money getting this aspect right.
“A loft’s temperature is often our clients’ biggest fear when they start a project, worrying it will be too hot in summer and freezing in winter,” Aneliese says. “However, we reassure them that the government’s stringent regulations on insulation mean the space will be so well sealed-up, it will probably be the most energy-efficient part of the house,”
While a heavily insulated loft means you won’t need to shell out for many radiators or underfloor heating – Aneliese suggests one radiator for the room and a heated towel radiator in a bathroom will suffice – you will need to consider good ventilation and cooling strategies from either roof windows, balcony doors, ceiling fans or air conditioning.
“If your budget and planning allows for an AC unit, then this can be an option, but we often advise our clients to consider French doors onto a Juliet balcony instead,” Aneliese says. “Not only do they allow the free flow of air, they create a wonderful feature and are more environmentally friendly than an AC unit.”
Achieving the optimum room temperature in a loft conversion, whether that’s warm or cool, is crucial for the comfort of its occupants, so it’s important to spend time and money getting this aspect right.
“A loft’s temperature is often our clients’ biggest fear when they start a project, worrying it will be too hot in summer and freezing in winter,” Aneliese says. “However, we reassure them that the government’s stringent regulations on insulation mean the space will be so well sealed-up, it will probably be the most energy-efficient part of the house,”
While a heavily insulated loft means you won’t need to shell out for many radiators or underfloor heating – Aneliese suggests one radiator for the room and a heated towel radiator in a bathroom will suffice – you will need to consider good ventilation and cooling strategies from either roof windows, balcony doors, ceiling fans or air conditioning.
“If your budget and planning allows for an AC unit, then this can be an option, but we often advise our clients to consider French doors onto a Juliet balcony instead,” Aneliese says. “Not only do they allow the free flow of air, they create a wonderful feature and are more environmentally friendly than an AC unit.”
Save on: Windows
“Roof windows [can] have numerous add-ons and options available, such as insect screens, integrated shades, and auto-closing when it rains,” Joel says.
All of these can be useful features and can be nice to have on a larger-budget project. However, if these extras aren’t a deal-breaker, he recommends sticking to a simpler model to save cash.
Planning to revamp a loft – or more? It’s easy to find and hire loft specialists through Houzz.
“Roof windows [can] have numerous add-ons and options available, such as insect screens, integrated shades, and auto-closing when it rains,” Joel says.
All of these can be useful features and can be nice to have on a larger-budget project. However, if these extras aren’t a deal-breaker, he recommends sticking to a simpler model to save cash.
Planning to revamp a loft – or more? It’s easy to find and hire loft specialists through Houzz.
Spend on: Structural drawings
Architectural drawings and structural calculations are what contractors build from and use to pass necessary planning requirements, so having accurate drawings from the outset will save costly changes or mistakes.
“Spend good money on your architectural drawings and avoid anyone offering to do this on the cheap,” Jack says. “Alternatively, appoint a specialist loft conversion firm that handles this in-house. The sweetness of cheap drawings will soon turn bitter when the project grinds to a halt or incurs additional costs due to errors on the drawings.”
Good plans needn’t cost a fortune. “While structural drawings are important, you shouldn’t have to spend thousands on obtaining them,” Aneliese says. “Our company charges around £1,700 for in-house loft plans. We also encourage our clients to make changes once they can access the new space and see it in real life. It’s then that they often add French doors or bigger windows. It’s an organic process.”
If you struggle to understand structural drawings because of all the roof geometry, you may find having a 3D model with walkthroughs or visuals will show you what the space will look like.
If your renovation professional uses Houzz software, the 3D Floor Planner tool will make this so much easier. The feature includes Dollhouse view and an augmented reality Walkthrough mode, which will enable you to get a really clear idea of how the finished space will look.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Architectural drawings and structural calculations are what contractors build from and use to pass necessary planning requirements, so having accurate drawings from the outset will save costly changes or mistakes.
“Spend good money on your architectural drawings and avoid anyone offering to do this on the cheap,” Jack says. “Alternatively, appoint a specialist loft conversion firm that handles this in-house. The sweetness of cheap drawings will soon turn bitter when the project grinds to a halt or incurs additional costs due to errors on the drawings.”
Good plans needn’t cost a fortune. “While structural drawings are important, you shouldn’t have to spend thousands on obtaining them,” Aneliese says. “Our company charges around £1,700 for in-house loft plans. We also encourage our clients to make changes once they can access the new space and see it in real life. It’s then that they often add French doors or bigger windows. It’s an organic process.”
If you struggle to understand structural drawings because of all the roof geometry, you may find having a 3D model with walkthroughs or visuals will show you what the space will look like.
If your renovation professional uses Houzz software, the 3D Floor Planner tool will make this so much easier. The feature includes Dollhouse view and an augmented reality Walkthrough mode, which will enable you to get a really clear idea of how the finished space will look.
Discover why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software.
Save on: Storage
Lofts often have complex angles, so when it comes to fitting storage, it’s best to go for bespoke cabinets to make the most of the space. However, if your budget is tight, keep the style as simple as possible – painted flat or basic Shaker doors, for example, as seen here. You could also buy off-the-shelf internal fittings, such as pull-out baskets.
“During a loft build, we remove rafters and add support walls, which in turn creates very useful eaves storage,” Aneliese says. “Also, our carpenters can work their magic on the space, creating exactly what you want, [which] can then be sprayed to your colour choice. Getting your loft company to build the exact storage for your needs is definitely the most cost-effective solution.”
In this example, built-in cupboards make the most of the eaves, while freestanding chests of drawers add to the clothes storage. Rails fitted above are a clever way to incorporate hanging space – and something your pro should be able to create or commission for you.
Lofts often have complex angles, so when it comes to fitting storage, it’s best to go for bespoke cabinets to make the most of the space. However, if your budget is tight, keep the style as simple as possible – painted flat or basic Shaker doors, for example, as seen here. You could also buy off-the-shelf internal fittings, such as pull-out baskets.
“During a loft build, we remove rafters and add support walls, which in turn creates very useful eaves storage,” Aneliese says. “Also, our carpenters can work their magic on the space, creating exactly what you want, [which] can then be sprayed to your colour choice. Getting your loft company to build the exact storage for your needs is definitely the most cost-effective solution.”
In this example, built-in cupboards make the most of the eaves, while freestanding chests of drawers add to the clothes storage. Rails fitted above are a clever way to incorporate hanging space – and something your pro should be able to create or commission for you.
Spend on: Good scaffolding
With the UK’s unpredictable climate, the experts suggest you should spend money on protecting your house during a loft project with a proper aluminium roof, which can set you back around £4k or more.
“If you’re having a mansard or hip-to-gable loft conversion, this involves the entire roof being removed, so we always recommend erecting scaffolding with a ‘tin hat’,” Aneliese says. “However, if you’re only having a dormer extension, it’s possible to open and close this type of roof pretty quickly, so a tin roof wouldn’t necessarily be needed.”
Tell us…
What have you spent and saved on in your loft conversion? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
With the UK’s unpredictable climate, the experts suggest you should spend money on protecting your house during a loft project with a proper aluminium roof, which can set you back around £4k or more.
“If you’re having a mansard or hip-to-gable loft conversion, this involves the entire roof being removed, so we always recommend erecting scaffolding with a ‘tin hat’,” Aneliese says. “However, if you’re only having a dormer extension, it’s possible to open and close this type of roof pretty quickly, so a tin roof wouldn’t necessarily be needed.”
Tell us…
What have you spent and saved on in your loft conversion? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments.
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Expanding upwards into your roof requires experts with specific knowledge of structural engineering, Building Regulations, and how to get the best from the potential space.
As Joel Thomas puts it, don’t go for the cheapest loft quote. “Too many companies skimp on materials in order to offer a more competitive price. You really don’t want that,” he says. “Check references, ask to see a recent project, and be willing to pay a little extra for a well-finished job and peace of mind that the warranty will be honoured.”
A good loft designer will plan your space properly, taking into consideration your needs and the potential of the space available. However, don’t be tempted to squeeze in two rooms, Aneliese Deane warns. “Creating two rooms is unlikely to affect the budget, but it can impact how you can use the space and what furniture you can fit it. Understanding the layout from the outset will avoid costly changes through the build.”