UK Home Improvement Blog

Adding a loft conversion to your home can open up some much needed space or repurpose what was initially a dark and dusty storage space. But what use is that space if it becomes tropical in summer and arctic in winter? Insulating your loft should be your number one priority if you would like a useable space with a consistent temperature so that you can use it all year round.

Many home owners are under the impression that because heat rises, the loft will naturally be a cosy and warm room. Whilst this might be the case, unless the loft is well insulated that heat will continue to rise and escape into the atmosphere. In the average home, without installation a quarter of heat is lost through the roof, which means you will need to keep your heating on to maintain an even temperature or face a chilly loft space! To keep your energy bills down and the heat in, we’ve compiled some great ideas to keep your loft cosy.

DIY or trust the professionals?

If your loft conversion is brand new and carried out by a professional company, you shouldn’t have any problems with damp or condensation on windows, making the installation of insulation fairly straight forward and easy, with some forms being completely DIY friendly if you’re someone who likes to take a hands-on approach. If you have access to the floor space in any capacity, exposed joists can be insulated with mineral wool which traps the heat as it rises. However, if your loft conversion resembles a completely finished room, you will need to seek professional help.

Professional loft insulators can provide insulation boards which are then covered by plaster board and re-plastered so your room will be as good as new – with the added bonus of it being insulated and warm this time! However, you may never have to worry about additionally insulating your loft if your loft conversion has been professionally carried out, and you explain to your contractors what you intend to use your loft space for.

Insulation without construction

In terms of small adjustments you can make yourself without taking up the DIY hammer, there are lots of options available to you. Reduces draughts, helps to keep the heat in and is often overlooked due to its simplicity, the humble draught excluder can be bought from a multitude of outlets, from supermarkets to home furnishing department stores, so you are sure to find one that suits both your tastes and your budget. And whilst you’re blocking drafts from under doors, you will want to ensure that your windows don’t let heat escape either.

Due to the nature of loft conversions, the windows tend to be of the sky light variety and so are not suitable for use with curtains. However, a thick blind designed with insulation in mind can be a great alternative. Many companies specialise in ready-made blinds in a wide choice of colours and fabrics, so you won’t have to compromise on style to capture heat.

About the author

If you’re exploring the idea of extending your home with a loft conversion, our expert team will be happy to answer any questions you may have obligation-free. As a professional loft conversion company with over 13 years’ experience, we have a wealth of experience when it comes to the planning, design and creation of your dream loft conversion.               JL-Properties.co.uk

 

Image Credits: iStockPhotos

Tags: Loft Conversions by UK Home Improvement Team
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With house prices experiencing their fasted rise in rate since 2010, which has been fuelled by the governments £80 billion attempt to kick start the economy. As a result of this, a lot of families are now finding themselves holed up in properties which are far too small for their needs. Even with the recent implementation of bedroom tax, families are becoming too big for their houses, with many families having to put up to four children in one bedroom. A possible solution to this is to consider adding a loft conversion

There are three different types of loft conversions to choose from. There is the Mansard, in which the roof space can be moved to the back, and often to the front, with the exterior featuring brick sides, and vertical windows. There is the Velux, which embraces the existing space in the loft, whilst adding a roof light which fits the slant of the roof to provide sunlight. Another option is the Dormer, which is where headroom is manufactured by building outside of the property. The type of extension a property can have is obviously dependant on the build of the property, and so anyone considering investing in a loft conversion would obviously need to consult their local authorities.

When considering a loft conversion, home owners must ask themselves the following key questions:

Is it affordable?

Whilst investing in a loft conversion is far cheaper than purchasing a new house, anyone considering a loft conversion must be certain that they have the funds available to pay for it, whether it be through savings, or by taking out a loan.

Is it big enough?

Those interested in a loft conversion need to be sure that their loft is actually big enough to build an extension, and that it is big enough fit the required room space required. There’s no point in building a loft conversion if it’s not big enough to actually use.

Do I have planning permission?

Before an extension of any kind is built, local authorities will need to grant planning permission. Failure to do so can result in authorities making the loft converter restore the loft to its original features, causing cost and hassle.

Is my property structurally competent?

Ensuring a property is able to withstand the pressures of extra building work is something which a building surveyor is able to do. With this in mind, it is of clear importance that one is brought in so as to assure that when a loft conversion is put into place, the property doesn’t collapse.

Can I make it meet regulations?

For a loft conversion to be considered as living space, it is essential that there is a staircase to the room, there are windows, and that it meets the fire regulations standards. Without these standards being met, the room will only be considered an additional storage space, adding little to no value to a property.
Written by Nick Le Chat, writing on behalf of Blackstone Construction & Design, the loft conversion specialists.

Tags: Loft Conversions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Whether you are starting a family or just need some extra space, there are lots of different ways in which you can acquire more space for your home. Making the decision to extend your home with an extra bedroom, living area or kitchen can be a tricky one to make but with the proper professional help, it can be the ideal solution. This is why you need to ensure that you have considered everything, from acquiring planning permission to setting your budget, before you make your final decision on the type of home extension that you want.

We will discuss a variety of options that you can choose from for gaining extra space for your property, looking at the benefits of each one.

Conservatory

One of the most aesthetically pleasing ways to extend your home, a conservatory brings so many different opportunities when it comes to how it can be used. As well as acting as an extra living room or dining area, the additional sunlight is the ideal place to grow your favourite plants and herbs effectively without digging and maintaining your garden. They are an ideal environment to be in on a warm summer’s day and allow you space to enjoy some of your favourite leisure activities, such as reading, exercising and socialising in general.

Converting Your Loft

The majority of homeowners seem to forget that there is the perfect opportunity for more space in the attic and even an additional bedroom depending on the size. 

With the proper loft insulation and design from professionals, attic conversions can give your home the additional floor it needs to accommodate for your storage needs. A stylish bedroom or a secret living room, a loft conversion brings a unique answer to extending your home.

Garage Conversion

If you are lucky enough to have a garage then (like the loft) there might be more uses for this area than just a place to keep your car and storage space. Some of the most conventional garage conversions include an extra office, a gym and even a home cinema. Whatever your requirements are, a garage can be turned from a cold space to a properly insulated habitable room that is cost-effective and requires minimal hassle.

Moving Home

It’s a simple solution but one of best ways to extend your home is by upgrading to a new property. If an extension doesn’t seem worth it then maybe it’s a better idea to have a fresh start and move to a bigger property. It may seem like more hassle, but if the extra space is that important then you can benefit from a larger garden or upgrading to a home with more rooms.

The current property market means that there are plenty of bargains to be had on available homes and provides you with an option to relocate to a completely new area that suits your requirements.

So as you can see there are plenty of options when it comes to getting that extra space and all of them will increase the value of your property. We encourage homeowners to consider every single possibility and then make a well informed decision based on your situation.

This post was brought to you by LMB Loft Conversions in London.

Tags: Loft Conversions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Cowboy builders are the bane of the construction industry. Although they only make up a tiny percent of those working in the building trade, they are still out there, and it pays to know how to spot and avoid them.

We have all heard the horror stories about cowboy builders who wreak emotional and financial misery by targeting unsuspecting homeowners by failing to deliver on their promises. This list of tips is designed to help you filter out the dishonest tradesmen and to find yourself a great reputation builder to undertake any building work including kitchen fitting or loft conversions on your property.

Here are some easy to remember steps to identify a cowboy builder:

• Quality builders do not knock on people’s doors and say they are working in the area and have a lorry load of tarmac left over or they have noticed that there is a animal nesting in your chimney stack or any other construction work relevant to your household. Just remember to thank them politely and ask them for a business card and contact details so you could perhaps call them at a later date.
• Good tradesmen are always busy so If a builder says he can start tomorrow the chances are he has no other work to do. This sounds a bell that he/she is most likely not good enough for the job.
• A cowboy will probably only have a mobile phone number. No land line means he is not traceable. Good builders may work from home but they will not be frightened to give you their number and address.
• Always insist on a written receipt on a piece of headed paper. Cowboy builders may suggest that giving them cash will reduce the bill. It will, but it also means there is no proof that they ever did the job.
• Cowboy builders do have an infuriating habit of trying to confuse you with unnecessary jargon. Make sure your builder explains everything to you in clear terms that you fully understand.

Here are some steps you can take to find a builder with a good reputation:

• Ask people you trust for recommendations; family, friends, colleagues who have had building work done in their house. Key questions to ask about their builder: Was their timekeeping good? How was quality of work good? Were they polite? Was their language or behaviour in any way intimidating? Was any guarantee given on the work? These questions should help you identify a more trustworthy builder.
• Searching Google for e.g. builders in Worcester will bring up results of tradesmen in the area. Look out for reviews left by other customers, as well as any photographs of their work.
• Stay away from random online directories as anyone can apply for a free listing posting unverified information. If you feel that this is a last resource, again make sure to look for companies with a landline telephone number, a website and hopefully even a registered VAT number.

Tags: Builders / Building Work, House Extensions, Loft Conversions by UK Home Improvement Team
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Attic Loft Conversion completed

Loft spaces and garages are two of the most highly used areas of any home. Unfortunately what they are used for is typical as a dumping ground for all the clutter you collect over the years.

Rarely are these spaces, especially loft and attic spaces, organised or being used to their potential. This is where loft conversions come into play!

Loft conversions (or attic conversions) can be used for several purposes, and can depend on the type and size of the loft space you have. Typical uses for a loft conversion include an extra bedroom, office space, play room or simply storage space.

“Storage space you say! But that’s what I’m using it for already.” Well sure that’s true, but there is a difference between a typical loft space and one that has fully boarded flooring, is well lit and has a sturdy loft ladder to get you in and out of it.

Turning your attic into a well structured storage space isn’t all that difficult, in its most basic form it would involve buying good solid attic boards, laying them correctly across the beams and affixing them firmly.

You can also get and install a range of ladders and loft hatches for them without too much hassle, they are readily available from most DIY shops.

Once you come to adding in lighting it can get trickier depending on your skills as an electrician, and typically we’d suggest letting a professional electrician do any lighting requirements. Alternately you could get a decent lamp such as an LED or halogen lamp that works on batteries, negating the need for wiring a light in; though it’s really best to get it done properly and not have to worry about it again.

So without too much hassle you have a storage area that you can now manage and arrange as require, sorting through old junk will be easier, as will storing any new belongings. You’d be amazed what a difference just these simple steps can achieve.

Now assuming you want to make the most of your loft space (and assuming as mentioned before it is of a decent size and a few other factors) then you might want something more like the aforementioned office or bedroom spaces instead.

Now you can do this yourself, but a loft conversion of this scale isn’t a simple task. Though essentially it is similar to before, there are a lot of other things you will need to do.

To start you’ll need more beams laying than a typical attic would have, to give more support, then you’re probably going to want floorboards rather than attic boards as attic boards aren’t really meant for continuous use.

You are also going to need more beams in the roof to strengthen that, and you’ll need beams removing if any are in the way as some lofts will have cross beams. The problem here is if those cross beams are to give support to the roof, can they be removed and replaced with beams in the roof sides?

Then you are going to have to overboard the sides of the roof (the walls of the rooms) and possibly plaster over them, or you might want to go for bricks here (a much trickier job).

Of course you need to ensure the electrics are wired in first and then there is the question of a window or two? Then what about stairs instead of a loft ladder?

As you can see without even touching on furnishings it’s a big job and one that I would recommend a professional loft conversion company undertakes for you. You’ll be paying a good deal of money for it, but it’ll look great, they will advise on the best way to go with any conversion and have all the tools and tradesmen to get it all done.

If you are still going to go ahead and do it yourself, then definitely seek professional advice before you even start. However if you are just want a much more organised storage space, then you should be fine doing it yourself.

Tags: Loft Conversions by UK Home Improvement Team
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