Is My House Suitable For A Loft Conversion?

With more and more homeowners looking for an effective way to improve their homes and increase its value. Conversions are becoming popular as it is an effective way to get more out of the living space that you already have. But some properties are not suitable for loft conversions for many reasons, which we explore in this article. 

Floor Area

The internal walls of your loft should span 7.5 metres from front to back and 5.5 metres from side to side to create a perfect space. Smaller loft conversions, on the other hand, are doable.

Ceiling Height 

Your ceiling height from the floor joist to the tallest point must be 2.2 metres for a loft conversion to be a realistic option and pass building regulations. This means that after the roof has been insulated and the floor has been put up, there is still enough ceiling height (about 1.9-2.0m). 

There is an option to increase ceiling heights if they are not the needed height but if you live in a conservation area it might not be possible as it would not pass planning permission. 

Staircase

Staircases are an important feature of a loft conversion, not only for access but also for compliance with building codes. The stairwell must have at least 1.9m of headroom and a maximum pitch of 42 degrees. There is no minimum width requirement. 

Planning Permission 

Permitted development rights are in place to make things easier for you, and they allow you to expand within the following guidelines:

• For detached and semi-detached dwellings, a volume allowance of 50 cubic metres of additional roof space is allowed
• A window in any wall or roof slope producing a side elevation of the dwelling house is prohibited in the development
• The roof pitch of the principal part of the dwelling must be the same as the roof pitch of the existing house
• A dormer wall that is set back from the existing wall face by at least 20cm
• If the window is less than 1.7m from the floor level, it will not open
• There are frosted/obscured side windows

We hope considering these aspects help you plan your loft conversion. If you would like any further information on loft conversions get in touch for a free quote.