Not every homeowner can find the money to move house at present, with property selling prices rocketing and expenses spiraling. It isn't only the house prices which affect this, but in addition the actual cost of moving, which has gotten really expensive in recent years. If your family is getting too big for your home but you can't afford to move there are more solutions.

You could possibly put an extension onto your house to make additional living space but this can be extremely costly and may depend upon whether you can get planning permission. You could maybe convert your garage, if you've got a garage and aren't at present parking your car in it. Maybe the best solution is to put in a loft conversion, which can add lots of value to your home and shouldn't need planning permission.

Over the last few years, for the reasons given previously, loft conversions have become more popular than ever. It is recommended, before you take the plunge, that you check whether or not your property is in fact suited to a loft conversion. Not all homes are suitable, particularly recently constructed houses which have roofs made with trusses. Older houses which were built before the nineteen seventies are typically well suited for loft conversions since they were created using solid rafters and there was usually a lot of head space.

You will want to contact a builder to check on the scenario with your particular loft space and make sure it is in fact suitable. When your builder gives you the go-ahead for a loft conversion you can get him to give you an estimate. Get some additional quotations from other conversion specialists, so that you have a good selection of tradespeople. Try to use your instinct instead of purely considering the price when selecting who is best to undertake your loft conversion.

Loft conversions very rarely need planning permission, therefore it is improbable that your conversion will. To establish if planning permission is required, contact your local authority planning office. Any chosen loft remodeling company will no doubt have tackled this process time and time again over the years, and so ask their help and advice at the start.

Don't believe that a loft conversion is going to be cheap, as it's a fairly expensive undertaking. Some people put in for a loan for a project like this, or re-mortgage their property. As a broad guideline you might anticipate that a loft conversion will cost you roughly the same as a fair sized brickwork extension though the likelihood is that you'll gain more space with an attic conversion without raising the footprint of your property.

Dormer LOft Conversions

That sort of conversion you get will likely be based upon the design and layout of your actual home. Conversions are available in a variety of types such as: hip-to-gable conversions, velux conversions, roof lift conversions, loft pods, roof light loft conversions, dormer conversions and mansard loft conversions. Your loft conversion specialist or builder will tell you what one is actually most appropriate for your house.

One of the most popular forms of loft conversion right now is the dormer style, a kind that delivers the best affordability, yet delivers the most extra space. This is a popular option with property owners since its both effective and eye-catching while offering everything that is likely to be needed. With this style it is even feasible to add a balcony, which means that you are creating added exterior space as well. You'll find there are several sorts of dormers including Velux dormers, flat roofed dormers, gabled dormers and shed dormers. Consult a specialist to understand which one will be best suited for your specific property.

Velux Windows

Undoubtedly one of the most famous brands of roof windows, Velux, have been around now for more than sixty yrs and you can depend on them to provide you with loft windows that are both fine quality and efficient. These windows are made to fit in line with the angle of the roof and thereby don't alter the shape of the roof structure, nor do they usually call for permission plus they are comparatively cheap to fit. Velux windows produce a decent amount of daylight and in fact may need blinds fitted during the warm months. If your loft has a fair amount of head room, a Velux windows may be ideal for your project, in particular if you have limited funds.

How Long Could it Take to Do?

The timescale for completing a conversion on your loft is dependent upon various aspects including the design of conversion, the availability of required materials, the dependability of the building contractors, the weather conditions and the level of planning which is done. As an approximate guideline it ought to take approximately four to five weeks to carry out a rear dormer conversion on a terraced property and about five to six weeks to do a hip to gable dormer on a semi-detached dwelling.

You will find that there are plenty of purposes to which the loft conversion can be put, after it is complete. Some use it as a utility room, an extra bedroom or two or a new family bathroom. Nevertheless there's lots of uses to which a decent loft conversion can be put, limited only by your inventiveness!