London Loft Conversion Blog

Posts Tagged ‘london loft conversions’

Save money – paint the loft green

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

Many people have loft conversions in London as an affordable alternative to moving home or building a downstairs extension.

Start by ensuring the new loft space is sufficiently lagged, and the internal walls insulated. Loft conversions in London properties can often be cold, as less warm air can rise from the rest of the house and the walls are thinner. The better insulated your loft is, the lower your heating bills will be. Conversely, in some properties a new loft conversion can divert heat from the rest of the house towards the roof if it’s not properly lagged.

Check that your new fittings are as energy efficient as possible. If you are fitting a kitchen or shower, use low energy rated appliances, and maybe think about installing solar panels.

The more natural daylight you have coming in, the less electricity you will use during the daytime. Velux roof windows installed as well as dormer will mean you capture all the available daylight there is as the sun moves across the sky, and blinds will help control the amount of light coming in. Remember, too, that natural light means natural, free heating. To further save money, double glazed windows can trap in any warmth and stop it escaping.

There are many other things you can do to go green when having a loft conversion in London. We at Landmark Lofts  are the premier installer of eco-friendly, energy-saving loft conversions.

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.

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.

Staircase considerations for loft conversions in London

Friday, December 18th, 2009

People are often perplexed when it comes to working out how it’s possible to put a stairway into a loft conversion, but London houses are often full of little nooks and crannies on the first floor, especially Victorian and Edwardian houses where linen closets were the norm. This makes it easy to build a stairway to the loft when considering loft conversion in London homes.

Stairways are usually the first thing to be completed in loft conversions. Companies situated in London such as Landmark Lofts will discuss this aspect thoroughly with you, as often there is more than one solution. If you are planning on selling your house after your conversion, it is important to remember that the value may not count the conversion as a room if the staircase isn’t permanent. For this reason, it is often better to lose some space or sacrifice a box room down below, to create a larger, permanent space up above.

Some companies provide loft conversions in London as part of a much larger project. In this case, the stairway to the loft can be a natural progression from a newly built replacement staircase to the first floor. Houses which are sympathetically altered in this way can increase substantially in value at sale, especially if the conversions were done as part of a renovation project. Attic conversions in London can be exciting for both the owner and the builders!

At Landmark Lofts, we know that staircase design and placement is venturing into unknown territory for many home owners, so our architects and planners will produce ideas that will result in a practical and aesthetic stairway.

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.

Can you have a loft conversion in London?

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Depending on the property, loft conversions in London are often only feasible on a large budget as certain regulations have to be met. It’s important that if you are planning on an attic conversion in a London property with a view to selling it that you don’t end up out of pocket. However, if you are converting a house into flats or using it as an alternative to moving home, then quite often the cost will recoup itself.

We at Landmark Lofts provide high quality loft conversions across London. Our innovative approach and affordable costs mean even the most unlikely conversions can be undertaken without the owner going wildly over budget.

So, is your own property suitable for conversion? Considerations include:
•    Can you stand up in the loft?
•    Is there plenty of room between the purlins (joists supporting the rafters)?
•    Is there an obvious place for a stairway to run from?
•    Are there other loft conversions in the London street where you live?

If you can stand upright and take a step or two either side in your loft (even if you have to stoop slightly), you can most likely get away with a small conversion. However, to make the conversion feasible you may need to have the roof lifted, which can be expensive – but we at Landmark Lofts can advise you about such matters when we consider your loft individually.

We at Landmark Lofts have experience of some of the most difficult loft conversions in London. Undoubtedly, we can be useful to you.

Attic conversions in London are about creating space

Monday, September 7th, 2009

Creating some extra living space can be very useful when you want to boost the resale value of your home or simply increase the space in your current home.

Families always need a great deal of space so that they can grow or they just end up on top of each other creating uncomfortable living. Many of our clients are now working from home and an attic conversions in their London home means that they are able to create a large and airy workspace.

If the option of selling or buying is not yet on your cards then you could still consider a loft conversion. The money you invest with this could mean money saved in the future in terms of moving fees and legal fees when purchasing a new home.

No need to move

When you can’t stay in your current home, then you can work with us to obtain the best attic conversion price in London. We will be able to work from your existing designs or, alternatively, create one for you if you so choose.

Loft conversions are about making the space work as best as possible so that you can enjoy creating the room that will make a difference in your life. Attic conversions in most London houses mean that the family don’t have to move from their comfortable home in order to gain space.

So, in order to avoid any disappointments when it comes to your attic conversion, why not call the professionals who not only talk-the-talk but walk-the-walk of customer satisfaction?