Loft Conversions Dacorum

• Loft Conversions - Design & Build
• Dormer Bungalow Conversions
• Master Bedroom with Ensuite in Loft Space
• Home Office in Loft
• Extra Bedrooms and Storage in Loft
• Loft Plans and Planning Applications
• Over Garage Extensions Built

Dacorum Roof Space Rooms

Use your home to provide the best possible living space by building 2 or 3 extra bedrooms within your existing loft space

Roofer Dacorum »

Planning Applications Dacorum

How much extra living space do you want?
Rather than purely convert your loft area it's worth considering how much extra space you want or need and decide if a loft conversion, extension or both may be required
What type of living space do you want?
Think of how you want to use any extra living space: Master Bedroom with ensuite, Children's Bedrooms, Storage, Office Space, Dining Room or Large Kitchen
Local History Dacorum
Take a look at neighbouring houses in your street and locale; use a notebook to record what kind of alterations have been allowed then make a rough plan of the type of loft conversion you want

Dacorum Planning Department

Contact Your Local Planning Department
Talk to your local planning department and ask if they will meet with you to discuss their current policies regarding extensions and alterations to your property
Help From Your Planning Office
They handle many planning applications and know which applications are approved and which are rejected; Use their knowledge to short-list the type of property developments that are likely to be approved and use this as your strating point when considering a loft conversion or extension to your home

Avoiding conflicts with Neighbours

How Do Your Neighbours Feel?
Talk to your neighbours about your plans and ask them if they have any objections before you begin consulting about building plans
Do your neighbours approve?
If your neighbours have no problems with your idea or you can agree on the areas likely to raise objections then you're less likely to have a neighbour complain when the planning department contacts them once you submit your planning application

Loft Conversions: Building Plans Dacorum

Initial Home Improvement Plans Dacorum
Once you have a clear idea about the type of loft extension or conversion it's time to make initial sketches and plans of the room sizes and types you want - Base your initial plans on existing rooms so you can have a better idea of how the space can work
Dormer Windows in Loft Conversions Dacorum
If you can incorporate dormer windows into your loft alteration then you can increase the available floor space within any loft rooms
Available Loft Space
Standing room is important so you need to get a reasonably accurate idea of the available loft space where you can stand upright

Dacorum Loft Plans & Architectural Drawings

Talking Through The Building Process
Ask someone to visit your home and go through your ideas so you feel comfortable with the planning permission and home alteration process for Dacorum and can get advice on what is involved including a cost estimate for your building work or loft conversion
Loft-Attic Plans Dacorum
Time to call in the experts - You are now ready to get help from Loft conversion and extension experts

Dacorum Loft Floors

Will I need to modify the loft floor-ceiling joists?
The old Ceiling joists will have to become floor joists within the loft and will need strenghtening to handle the extra weight loading

Loft Floor Joists
The new joists are independant of the ceiling below and take the loft flooring boards or traditional floorboards as required
Loft Sound Proofing and Fire Protection
If the loft is to be used as an additional living space then the floor will need to incorporate sound proofing materials and fire protection
Strengthening your loft floor
Most modern lofts were only designed to support ceilings and occasional loft access and would not take the weight of a loft floor with storage or furniture hence without warping and damaging the ceiling below
Wooden or Steel Support Beams
In order to ensure the loft is sturdy enough to handle storage and living requirements; the floor should be strengthened with additional wooden or steel beams to spread the additional load of a loft room

Roof Trusses Dacorum: Trussed Rafters

Dwarf Walls and Loft Room Layout
As the attic-loft area is converted; the walls to create the new room layout will be constructed in the roof space: rafters and ridge beams will be upgraded and altered as required to maintain a solid integral roof and then the old roof trusses will be removed
Opening out the loft space
If there is sufficient loft height to create a serviceable room; then building regulations allow for trussed rafters to be replaced with an alternative roof support system that opens out the loft area

Loft Access Dacorum

Loft Hatches for Occasional Access
If you want the loft hatch openend up and a retractable folding ladder-staircase then planning permission should not be needed
Loft Openings with Permanent Staircase Dacorum
Compact Spiral staircases and other permanent staircases will need building regulation compliance to ensure the structure remains safe and complies with fire regulations

Dacorum Dormers & Skylights

Dormer Loft Windows
Altering the outline of your roof by building a dormer window opening or similar roof alteration to increase the usable loft living space will require planning consent from the local authority and compliance with any additional local bye-laws and caveats
Flush Fitting Loft Windows
Velux windows and similar flush fitting windows for roofs may be allowed without planning permission as they do not materially alter the roof outline

Dormer Construction Dacorum

Removing Roof Sections
The area of the roof to take the new dormer is removed and a dormer frame is constructed in-situ then strengthened with a skin of plywood, insulated and protected before completing the roof and flashing as designed and agreed
New Fascias and Guttering
The exterior fascia boards are installed along with soffits and guttering to create a unified and weather proof roof structure

Dacorum Internal Loft Conversion

Loft Room Development
Depending upon the design the layout will allow for bedrooms, office space, an ensuite shower or bathroom, walk-in wardrobes so that the timber stud work is ready for the next stage
Interior Stud Walls
The room layout is re-created according to the building plans with the construction of the interior stud walls

Dacorum Construction: First Fix Trades

First Fix Loft Electrical Installation
Wiring for lights, switches and sockets will be made ready and additional heavy duty cable installed for a shower unit, whirpool bath etc
First Fix Loft Plumbing Installation
Toilet, Bath, Shower and Sink locations will be marked on the plans and the appropriate waste pipes and water pipes will be installed; central heating radiators will also require installation of appropriate pipework to connect into the heating system

Dacorum Double Glazing: Lofts

uPVC Dormer Windows
Once the interior loft structure is in place; new double glazing units can be installed into the ready-made opening
uPVC Flush Fit (Velux) Windows
Depending on the room layout; openings can be created in the roof to install double-glazed window units

Dacorum Thermal LOft Insulation

Insulating the pitched roof
Insulation can be fitted between the rafters or within the stud walls of the conversion to ensure the the loft space complies with modern insulation requirements

Dacorum Plasterboarding Lofts

Wall boards
With insulation, 1st fix plumbing and electricals in place the rooms can be plasterboarded and the individual loft areas made ready for plastering and joinery
Showers and Bathrooms
If the room is going to be finished as a wet room then the appropriate boards can be applied to create a waterproof shell

Wood-Joinery: Lofts Dacorum

Door Casing
Depending on the desired finish, softwood door casings will be fitted to create the door openings and walkways
Door Architraves
The architrave of choice will be fitted to complete the door openings - There are a vast range of architrave sets while usually a simple to maintain softwood architrave is fitted
Skirting Boards
There are a huge variety of skirting boards available from narrow modern designs to the large fancy Victorian designs: Hardwood,softwood and mdf type skirting complete the popular choices

Loft Plastering Dacorum

Skimming and Finishing
As with most building construction, the finishing trades start the transformation from building shell to home; plastering the walls and ceilings completes the first first fix stage

Dacorum Second Fix Trades

2nd Fix Electrics Dacorum
Installing light fittings, switches and electrical sockets, connecting the shower and installing ring-mains into the main distribution board and fuse box (circuit breakers)
2nd Fix Joinery Dacorum
Hanging doors and cutting out for door furniture, installing fitted wardrobes, cupboards and any bespoke shelving or storage space
2nd Fix Plumbing Dacorum
Installation of bath, shower, toilet cistern and taps and plumbing into the cold water and hot water systems; installation of central heating radiators

Loft Staircase Fitting Dacorum

Circular Staircase
The staircase sweeps in a broad circular arc between floor levels and is one of the more complicted staircase to build
Straight Staircase
If space permits ;this is the easiest and often cheapest solution going from lower floor to loft in a single run
Spiral Staircases
There's something quite exciting about a spiral staircase rotating its way into the loft space
Most spiral staircases are custom made in wood, steel, or mixed materials and come ready made to fit the specified loft opening
Spiral diameter, step height and rotation direction are all worked out in advance
L Stairs
Similar to the return staircase; the direction changes through 90 degrees with a landing
Return Stairs
The run from lower floor to loft is split into two with a landing allowing the run to rotate 180 degrees

Handrails & Spindles Dacorum

Handrails Dacorum
Modern handrails for staircases and landings are available in a variety of profiles and maaterials with Hardwood, oak and pine being the most commonly used
Stair Spindles Dacorum
An open effect can be achieved with glass panels instead of individual wooden, wrought iron or metal spindles or wooden panels
There's such a variety of spindle shape choice that 2 loft converions rarely use the same choice except for wall mounted hand rails

Top Floor Apartment: Loft Conversion

Flat Conversions Dacorum
Depending upon the agreements covering the property and/or lease regarding loft space; it is perfectly feasible to convert the top floor flat into a twin level dwelling by adding a loft conversion

Loft Conversions Dacorum Fire Doors

Bungalow to 2-Storey home in Dacorum: Fire Doors
Generally when converting a single storey bungalow to a 2-storey property normal interior doors will be acceptable
2-Storey to 3-Storey Dwelling House in Dacorum
Converting a home in the Dacorum area to a 3-storey property with a loft conversion will require fire resistant doors
Fire Resistant Doors Dacorum
When needing to replace existing interior doors with fire doors due to a loft conversion; the ground floor and first floor rooms off the main landing will need upgrading and a higher rated door used into the attic conversion itself