A unused loft space is unused living space. Many times this space becomes nothing more than a storage space for the clutter in our lives. But with a little ingenuity and elbow grease, you can make your unused loft space into a functional space that suits your family’s lifestyle.

Loft conversions are a great way to extend your home. There’s no better way to create a cost-effective and quality storage space or living area.

If you’re struggling to find enough space to store all your stuff, then you need to start thinking creatively… and your attic is a great place to start!

Do you wish that your home had another room? One where you could use it to store your belongings, or even be put to use as another bedroom, bathroom, office,or home cinema? Is the idea of moving house not really an option, and are you reluctant to encroach upon your backyard with a flower trampling extension?

If you’ve answered yes, then the good news is that there’s an extremely affordable option out there – you just need to utilise your roof space!

This normally comes as a shock – did you know that you can get up to a 30-40% increase on available space by performing a loft conversion for your home. Loft conversions can be used to construct extremely versatile storage spaces, and they can also be used to create beautiful living areas. Given the benefits, it makes one wonder why more houses don’t come with them built in as standard.

Once you’ve made the decision to increase the size of your home then it’s time to get down to business. The first thing you should do is decide upon the type of attic ladder that you want to use. There’s a big range available, which means they suit all types of roofing arrangements, and even mezzanine structures. It’s also possible to manufacture structural stairs and spiral staircases that are customised to your requirements.

You’ve also got to decide on the type of loft conversion that you’re going to perform. In essence, it comes down to two choices: storage space or living area.

If you decide to go down the path of a storage space, then you need to think about installing flooring, ventilation, and insulation. This will ensure that you’re loft space is insulated, dust-proof, and versatile. If you’ve got some heavy storage requirements than structural flooring can be installed, but it’s important to remember that the design must be created by a qualified structural engineer. However, if your needs are pretty simple, then you’re just looking at a couple of days for installation. A fully installed loft conversion including ladder, access hatch, flooring, dust-proof insulation, and whirlybird ventilation can be constructed by professional tradesmen at a surprisingly low cost. It’s a great solution to all your storage problems. You’ll be maximising the use of your roof space and never again will you have old documents, sporting goods, or Christmas decorations cluttering up your house and getting in your hair. Out of sight – out of mind!

To get the most out of your attic space it’s definitely advisable to convert your loft into a quality living area. Anything is possible – bedroom, home theatre, office, sewing room, children’s retreat – it really comes down to what you value most. You’ll also want to look at installing some roof windows as part of the package. They provide that much cherished natural lighting, and you may even find you get access to some great views. A fully fledged loft conversion can be performed for a fraction of the cost of a normal extension, so it’s a terrific option. Also, as an added bonus – not only will you get to enjoy the benefits while you’re living there, but it will also drive big increases in the value of your home. Just remember, there’s no limits to what you can do, it all comes down to imagination.

Many homeowners are opting to utilise existing attic space to accommodate expanding families or maximising value potential in their property.

However, extensions and additions can be expensive and time consuming to construct and can compromise the visual aesthetic of the house making the option of expanding ’upwards’ a more attractive option. Loft conversions allow you to utilise potential space. Instead of building an increased footprint for the house which will inevitably consume outside living space, loft conversions can be a very profitable and worthwhile home addition, creating usable living spaces.

Consider This…

Ask yourself what do you want to create? A new master bedroom with en suite bathroom? People are increasingly working from home, a new dedicated home office? An A/V entertainment area maybe?

And what compromises will a loft conversion necessitate? It is quite likely that head height needed in the loft conversion will dictate the usable space and it may not always be easy to increase head height as invariably this will require the alteration of the roof line externally and thus the obtaining of planning permission.

There may be vital structural members within the new usable space and these may compromise the integrity and function of that space, though may in some instances add character and interest.

The floor too, originally only intended to retain the ceiling underneath will probably require strengthening too. These areas weren’t originally meant to be living spaces, so consider what work needs to be done in order to facilitate your plans.

Planning Permission

Whenever you add extra living space to your home, you will probably require planning permission. For this you will need to submit a planning application. Details of how to do this can be obtained from your local area planning offices. Perhaps your builder will be used to working on projects requiring planning permissions and so may be able to advise you on the process. Architects will be used to submitting planning applications for loft conversions as well as other home extensions and additions.

Once everything is in progress however, loft conversions are a very cost effective way to add liveable area and value to your home.

Bear in mind all issues you need to consider in constructing your loft conversion before you engage a builder or home contractor. Seek good advice and obtain the necessary permissions and you will create a worthwhile addition to your home. If your loft conversion project is done by an unqualified builder and without a written contract then you may experience problems. If your builder does not hold current public and employers liability insurances then you may well find yourself uninsured, out of pocket and liable for damage to adjacent properties.

Lofts Are Very Popular!

Not only the young and trendy consider these spaces the coolest places on earth, but even older married couples love loft living and the interior designs of these open spaces. Lofts have become symbols of a hip, contemporary, urban lifestyle.