London Loft Conversion Blog

Posts Tagged ‘loft conversions’

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Creating Additional Income Streams With An Attic Conversion In London

Thursday, May 20th, 2010

Many property owners in the UK’s capital city have been extending their current homes through loft conversions in recent years.

The investment step taken by house owners who choose to capitalise their current property investment has become a resonating pattern across the city due to the major benefits.

An attic conversion in London brings choice to homeowners on the nature of the space they require, and whilst many choose to convert their unused space to accommodate an extra bedroom, there are those that choose other options.

If a property is large, many choose an attic conversion in London to convert into a self-contained living space. A self-contained space provides maximum impact to the price of a property, and also provides a rental opportunity in the immediate short term.

The rental market has increased in recent years as homeowners have striven to accrue extra income, due to shortfalls in their monthly income from rising costs of living and wide-scale job losses in the UK and London.

In the immediate term, many London property owners have found that they can convert their unused space with an attic conversion in London, and attract a paying tenant to increase their income in the short term.

At Landmark Lofts we have been providing loft and attic conversions in London for thousands of property owners for over a decade. We have a fabulous reputation for efficiency and cost effective attic conversions, and are one of the most prominent names in this field across London.

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Posted in Attic Conversion London, Loft Conversion London | Comments Off

Fitting a toilet in your roof space

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Loft conversions in London have become amazingly versatile. They are often self-contained living quarters with a kitchen and bathroom, complete with a toilet. An en suite loft conversion in London is a great selling point, but it must be done properly. We at Landmark Lofts have many years of experience fitting toilets in attic conversions in London.

Loft conversions, in London or elsewhere, have strict building regulations when it comes to toilets, and this must be taken into account when planning the layout of the loft area. The loft must have an adequate water supply so that the cistern can fill and flush effectively. There are numerous modern cisterns designed to overcome this problem, so it should not hamper your loft extension. London has a lot of bathroom stores featuring numerous different kinds of toilets.

Your new loft will need to satisfy building regulations as regards to sanitation. Your loft engineer will normally suggest the new toilet is sited on top of the existing system. If you are lucky, you may be able to connect the drainage from your loft toilet direct to the one downstairs. If not, you are allowed a space of up to 2m between the flush and the waste pipe.

A macerator lavatory is a modern way of getting around the problem. These rely on an electric pump system and can be put anywhere, and aren’t that expensive to install.

We at Landmark Lofts routinely fit toilets and plumbing systems into our loft conversions in London, and will be pleased to discuss your unique project with you.

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Posted in Planning Permission | Comments Off

Things to consider before deciding on a loft conversion in London

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

These are some of the things to be taken into consideration before drawing up plans:

•    Is the roof a traditional design with rafters, or does the property have a trussed, prefabricated roof? The latter causes a few more problems as the trusses obscure the central roof area, so they need to be cut away to open up a living space.
•    Is there sufficient head height? Again, if the roof falls below the minimum required height this can be remedied, but it will affect the amount of work that needs to be done. It can sometimes be easier to replace the entire roof rather than trying to design a room around the space there is available.
•    Are the floor joists strong enough to support a floor? Loft conversions in London properties often require the installation of new joists, as lofts are not designed to be used as permanent living quarters. Joists are usually a standard 4” X 2”, whereas they need to be 6” or 8” by 2” to support a floor.
•    Can a permanent stairway be installed? A loft conversion in London must have a permanent staircase with sufficient clearance, and without dog-legs or awkward angles which will make furniture impossible to install.
•    Can suitable windows be installed? Velux or dormers are the norm, although we at Landmark Lofts also install Mansard loft conversions.

Here at Landmark Lofts, we are specialists in building loft conversions in London properties of all shapes, ages and sizes. To find out how we can help you, feel free to book a consultation.

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Using your roof space to create an attic conversion in London

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Many people are carrying out loft conversions in London properties as an alternative to moving home. A well executed loft conversion will add value to a property as well as increase the living area.  However, there are many considerations to be taken into account.

Most loft conversions in London are done in properties that had good head room to start with, so start by checking if your roof void (space) has sufficient height for a loft conversion. London properties require a minimum of 2.4m under the roof ridge. While a lower clearance is possible, this may mean substantial alterations such as raising the roof height, which can be expensive.

We at Landmark Lofts are used to building loft conversions in London properties of all types. We start by looking at the rafters. There are two basic types of roof construction: rafters, which are built on site in the traditional way and mainly seen on older properties, and trusses, which are pre-fabricated in a workshop and then delivered to the building site.

Of the two, rafters allow more room for a loft conversion, as they leave the centre space clear. Standard roof trusses obstruct the space and require a lot of strengthening as they will need to be cut away to create a living space.

We at Landmark Lofts build innovative, cost-effective loft conversions for London properties of all ages and sizes. If you want a conversion but feel your trussed roof isn’t suitable, we can most likely make a loft conversion possible.

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Posted in Loft Conversions London | Comments Off

Loft conversions in London properties with two or more storeys

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Normally, loft conversions in London involve adding a room to the roof space – in effect, creating a second floor. However, what if your home already has a second floor? Many Queen Anne, Georgian and modern builds are built like this, and while we at Landmark Lofts build these conversions, they do involve some extra thought.

When it comes to attic conversions, London boroughs have specialised planning and building rules relating to extending into the roof space. For example, loft conversions in conservation areas – especially if they are Queen Anne or Regency built – are frowned upon. This depends on the size of the conversion, however. Non-listed older buildings with tastefully constructed half dormers are often the norm in some districts.

However, even if planning laws don’t thwart you, building regulations might – especially when it comes to fire safety. In order to be legal either the stairs must enter the main stair well of the second storey, or there must be a safe external method of escape from the loft. We at Landmark Lofts have extensive experience in installing interior stairways, which are far more aesthetic than fire escapes.

In addition, the floor of the loft conversion must have a fire barrier of at least ½ hour, which means fire doors must be fitted. All other doors in the property must have self closers, or be fire doors.

If you are thinking of having a loft conversion in a London property of two floors or more, why not give us at Landmark Lofts a call?

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Posted in Planning Permission | Comments Off

Stairways into lofts

Friday, December 11th, 2009

When we at Landmark Lofts discuss our customers’ requirements, the most important aspect to discuss in any loft conversion is the staircase. The design is factored into the overall intention of what the room is to be used for. If it’s a playroom, you will want to ensure there are banisters to prevent accidents, and an anchorage point for a stair gate.

A loft conversion in a London suburb is a home office owner’s dream – as long as there is minimum noise. Loft conversions in London properties are often rented out to students and other tenants, in which case the stairway will need a lockable door, and be separate from the rest of the house.

The most pleasing and accessible loft stairway is one that is a natural progression of the existing staircase. Before work starts, the landing carpet will need to be stripped back. We at Landmark Lofts will minimise disruption in this area and use dustsheets to protect furnishings that you want to retain. However, a new loft conversion is a London property owner’s excuse to have a full set of new carpets, if they want. Not only is it cheaper to buy in bulk -  it looks better, too, if the loft and existing stairs match.

When we at Landmark Lofts do loft conversions in London, each stairway is custom built. We ensure that individual aspects, such as child safety, privacy etc, are taken into consideration and that there are no awkward mishaps which could impede traffic or make it difficult to install furniture.

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Posted in Loft Conversions London | Comments Off

Fitting loft stairways

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

When you have a loft conversion in London, the staircase is the first aspect that will be completed. At Landmark Lofts, our architects will discuss the staircase design thoroughly with you before drawing up plans. It’s important to realise that the first design need not be the final design; in fact, it’s better to be flexible when drawing up the staircase plans as this allows scope for the overall conversion.

The staircases of loft conversions in London are generally built on site, as this allows a custom built fit that takes into account awkward corners and tight spots. It is best to have a list of requirements, such as a handrail, step height, the design of the under-stair space, banisters etc, ready when you book your consultation.

Lighting is an important consideration for loft conversions – do you want it to co-ordinate with the rest of the loft, or go for a designer stairway look? Light switches will need to be placed at the top and bottom of the stairs, although you may not need this if your stairway extends from an open plan living area. A Velux window placed above the stairs gives affordable daylight for little extra cost.

Certain specialist applications need a different approach. In houses with a playroom loft conversion, London parents often install a separating banister to keep children off the stairs and make an anchorage point for a stair gate.

Every attic conversion in London is different, and not all designs are possible in all houses. However, we at Landmark Lofts will accommodate to your needs wherever possible.

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Posted in Loft Conversions London | Comments Off

Loft conversions in London – the lost space gem

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Houses in London are associated with being full of character and potential for an extra room to be created. Loft conversions in London are becoming more common as people are realising that they can easily create a new floor of living space through this simple conversion.

The problem is that most people don’t know that sometimes it might not be as easy at it seems. When intending on a loft conversion in your London home you will have to first consider whether or not it will be a liveable space, such as a bedroom, or just an extra storeroom.

The reason for this classification is that when you do sell your home you are not allowed to legally call a loft conversion a bedroom unless it meets current fire regulations and has a proper staircase leading to it. This means that you should not put in any steep stairs that will make it difficult to get to the loft.

Working with understanding

We understand what planning laws require when your loft conversion is at stake. Your home is your prized gem and we want you to continue enjoying it. With us, you are guaranteed a great service that exceeds any promise that our competitors can make.

As specialists in the filed of loft conversions in the London area, we understand that keeping your home’s timeless character and history is as essential as creating that space you desire. Project management is seen as the backbone of any loft conversion or building venture, and you are sure to get an unrivalled project management service with a chartered building surveyor guaranteed to oversee every project here at Landmark lofts.

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Posted in Loft Design, Project Management | Comments Off

Beware of cash-deal builders

Monday, September 7th, 2009

cash

The VAT increase will undoubtedly tempt some homeowners to look for cheaper loft conversions in ‘one-man-band’ builders who will do a deal for cash. Cash either means that a builder does so little work that he is under the VAT threshold or he is unlawfully not declaring tax.

As with most things, you really do get what you pay for in the London loft conversion industry. Cash-deal builders are often non-specialists without professional project management, and no backup or redress if the worst does happen.

Cheaper cash deals may seem an attractive option at first but they can often prove to be more expensive in the long run if things go wrong during or after the build and the company goes out of business or disappears. Invest your money wisely with a specialist loft conversion company like Landmark Lofts and you’ll have the security of project management by a chartered building surveyor and a 10-year insurance backed guarantee (provided by HomePro Insurance and underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance) as standard.

An insurance backed guarantee (IBG) means that, even if the loft conversion company goes out of business, your guarantee will still be upheld by the insurers. In many countries on the continent an IBG is mandatory for all builders and we believe that the government should introduce similar measures here so that homeowners are not left without redress if their builder goes out of business.

Homeowners should always check whether any company quoting for their loft conversion offers an IBG as standard. An IBG should not be confused with having employer’s liability or public liability insurance: many builders claim to be ‘fully insured’ but this is not the same as offering an IBG. Only the most reputable London loft conversion companies, such as Landmark Lofts, are able to obtain IBGs from their insurers.

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Posted in Financial | Comments Off

Beat the VAT rise by converting your loft now

Monday, September 7th, 2009

alistair-darling

The government’s fiscal stimulus measures will be coming to an end over the next few months. Not only will the stamp duty threshold be lowered but VAT will be increasing from15% to 17.5% on 31 December 2009. Whilst this may not have much impact on your weekly shopping bill, it will mean that the cost of London loft conversions will increase significantly in the new year.

As highlighted in the Sunday Times’ Money supplement yesterday, the additional VAT to pay on a £50,000 loft conversion in London would be £1,250 come 1 January 2010. Homeowners should act now to take advantage of the lower VAT rate and secure the best value loft conversion before the Chancellor forces prices up.

With the cost of timber increasing (approximately 15% over the past three months), and the next few months being a great time to get plans underway for your London loft conversion to start in the spring, now is the ideal opportunity to ensure that you secure a stylish loft conversion at the best price.

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Posted in Financial | Comments Off

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