The Benefits of a Garage Conversion

Building an extension is a popular choice for many homeowners who need more living space but don’t want to move. But what options do you have if the design and position of your house leaves little or no room for an extension? If you have a garage, converting it into an extra room – or two – could be the perfect answer.

Do you actually need your garage, or is it only used to store junk because it’s more convenient to park cars on the drive? If that’s the case, just imagine what all that wasted space could provide:

· an extra bedroom with luxury en-suite
· a home office
· a children’s playroom
· a larger kitchen
· an artist’s studio or hobbies room
· a teenager’s bedsitter
· a TV or games room

Converting an existing garage means you can expand your living area without sacrificing precious garden space. It doesn’t involve having to make any compromises about blocking natural light or the views from existing rooms. Neighbours can’t complain that your plans will have any adverse effect on their property.

Financially, converting your garage makes sense whichever way you look at it. Depending on the construction of the garage and what its new role will be, a conversion will usually involve less work than building a new extension so the job can be completed quicker and more cheaply. If the extra space it creates allows you to stay in your home you won’t have all the expenses – or upheaval – of moving. And if you should decide to sell it in the future you will find that a well-designed conversion has added to the market value of your property.

Integral, attached or detached garages can all be converted, subject to local planning rules. The good news is that, in most cases, planning permission is not required although you should always check – just in case.

The most successful conversions are those that are not immediately obvious either from the outside or inside. Brickwork should blend seamlessly with the main part of the house; doors and windows must match. Inside, visitors should get the impression that they are simply walking into another purpose built room – not ‘the old garage’.

For best results, consult a reputable company that specialises in garage conversions. Choose one that offers a free survey and design service, takes the time to discuss all the possibilities, and provides you with a free, no obligation detailed quotation. Once you find out how much your garage can add to your home and daily life your only regret will be that you didn’t convert it sooner!

Marc Loppas owns Bespoke Lofts Ltd; an Essex based, family run company with over 20 years experience offering all types of expert quality loft conversions, house extensions and garage conversions. For more information call 0800 783 9456 or visit: http://www.bespokelofts.co.uk/

Extend your Bungalow with a Bungalow Loft Conversion

If you love living in your bungalow but changed circumstances mean you really need a larger home, moving is not your only option. How much space is there in your roof? Enough to provide one extra room – or more?

What would you like? Children’s bedrooms and a quiet study area? A welcoming guest suite? A spacious home office? A luxurious master bedroom that will enable you to turn your ground floor bedroom into a dining room or playroom? It’s your bungalow, so the choice is yours!

A loft conversion is often the most practical and cost effective way of increasing the living space in a bungalow, especially in the older types that have steeply pitched roofs providing plenty of headroom. In most cases, planning permission is not required as long as the plans conform to certain conditions. For example, the conversion must not include any structure that is higher than the highest part of the original roof. But as some Local Authorities have different planning rules you should always check this before any work begins.

Careful planning is essential for any successful conversion project, and you should be aware that there are some important differences between converting the loft of a bungalow and that of a two-storey house.

Structural strength
The foundations of a bungalow are not always the same as those of a house and it might not have been built with the load bearing inner walls necessary to safely support the extra weight of a loft conversion. You will need to have a structural survey carried out and take expert advice on how to remedy the problem if any weakness is found.

Position of staircase
In a conventional house, the extra flight of stairs needed to access the loft can usually be fitted into the existing stairwell. In a bungalow, unless you have a large entrance hall, the staircase will have to rise from one of the ground floor rooms, making that room a little smaller. Depending on the layout of your bungalow, there could be several suitable places for the stairs so it’s advisable to look carefully at all the possibilities before making the final decision. If you are using a specialist loft conversion company their designers might well come up with some clever space saving ideas.

Fire regulations
Fire safety must be considered in any home, but a bungalow loft conversion is not subject to the same strict fire regulations that apply to house loft conversions. There is no need to install expensive fire doors for example.

If you’re not sure if your bungalow loft is suitable for conversion, or exactly how much extra floor space it might give you, ask the advice of a specialist loft conversion company that is happy to give you a free consultation and a detailed, no obligation quotation. Once you’ve investigated all the options, weighed up the pros and cons, and done your sums, the benefits will be obvious. If you loved your bungalow before, just imagine how you’ll feel about your new, bigger one!

Marc Loppas owns Bespoke Lofts Ltd; an Essex based, family run company with over 20 years experience offering all types of expert quality loft conversions, house extensions and garage conversions. For more information call 0800 783 9456 or visit: http://www.bespokelofts.co.uk/

The Benefits of Adding an Extension to Your Home

To move or not to move? That is the question many homeowners face when changed circumstances mean they need more living space. A new baby, children growing into teenagers, a relative to care for, or the desire to work from home, can all make a previously comfortable house cramped and inconvenient.

Moving to a larger property is not always the best solution, especially in today’s uncertain housing market. The financial costs involved might not be worth the extra one or two rooms gained, and that’s without taking all the hassle and stress of moving into account.

Building an extension on to your house is definitely one option you should explore. A well-designed extension attached to the rear or side of the existing building could provide the space you and your family need along with these additional benefits:

Stay in your own home
If you’ve invested time and money in making your house into a home you love, why give it up and start again from scratch somewhere else? Moving house means you’d also have to get used to living in a different area, with new neighbours and perhaps a longer journey to work and schools. If you’re happy where you are, wouldn’t you rather stay there and extend your home instead?

Extra space that’s tailor made for you
When you decide to extend your house you can choose all the features you want at the design stage, providing they conform to any planning or building regulations in force.

If you want to turn a small kitchen into a spacious kitchen-diner, create a home office, an extra bedroom with en-suite, or even a self-contained granny flat, all the necessary plumbing and electrical work can be incorporated into the plans. You won’t have any of the problems that can arise when you try to change the use of an existing room.

Less disruption to your daily life
While your extension is being constructed there will, of course, be the usual noise associated with building work. You might also be unable to use part of your house for a short time, although a reputable home extension company will do what it can to minimize any nuisance. But compare this to the disruption moving house can cause. All those weekends and evenings spent house-hunting and trying to sell your own home. Putting personal plans on hold because you don’t know when you might be moving. Coping with the disappointment if you are unable to buy the house you wanted because someone else in the chain has pulled out.

Increased house value
With more space and facilities you’ll have fewer reasons to move, but if you do decide to sell your house in the future you’ll find that an attractive, well-constructed extension has increased your home’s market value.

If you think an extension might be a worthwhile investment for your home, find out more by asking a specialist home extension company for a free consultation and no obligation quote.

Why North London Loft Conversions are Becoming More Popular

North London is really a collection of towns and villages each with its own distinct character and attractions. They include trendy Islington, quieter Finchley, and upmarket Highgate. It’s a great place to live, but finding your dream home in the location you want and at a price you can afford is not always easy.

One solution is settle for a house that has the potential to be improved. This could explain why loft conversions are so popular in north London. Using the existing space in the roof of a house is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways of adding more rooms and facilities.

Owners of north London houses are as varied as their homes. What suits one person might not appeal to another. But, if you belong to one of the following groups, a well-designed loft conversion could be just what you and your home need:

First time buyers
Finding your first house in north London is the biggest and most difficult step on the property ladder. Price is likely to be the main consideration and many first time buyers will be restricted to the lower end of the market. When house-hunting, always check if the loft is suitable for conversion even if you won’t be able to make use of it straight away.

When you are in a better financial position, explore the possibilities of converting the loft. The roof space above a two-bedroom terraced house will usually accommodate a third bedroom with en-suite. You might be so impressed with your ‘new’ house that you’ll want to stay but, if you decide to move on, the added value will make it easier to buy your next north London home.

Parents with a growing family
It’s amazing how much space a baby needs. Somewhere to sleep, somewhere to play, somewhere to store all the paraphernalia … and it won’t be long before he or she is running around and welcoming a baby brother or sister. A north London loft conversion expands your available living space without all the hassle and expense of moving. It’s certainly something to consider if you and your children are happily settled in the catchment area of a good school.

Homeworker
Homeworking has lots of advantages, but one of the most common problems is arranging a separate workspace. You can set up a computer in the corner of your bedroom or living room but how do you cope with noise and interruptions from the family? And where can you store materials and confidential papers?

Imagine having your own spacious north London office or studio where you can get on with your work in peace. A loft conversion can be surprisingly light and airy, a joy to work in, and no rent to pay!

Member of a two or three generation household
The cost of rented accommodation, coupled with the unemployment rate, has seen a rising number of 20 and 30 somethings choosing to live with their parents in north London. Some have been unable to find a job after leaving university; others have flown the nest but need to return after being made redundant.

At the other end of the age scale, you might want to invite an elderly relative to live with you but are unable to offer suitable accommodation.

A north London loft conversion enables families to live together while still giving individuals privacy and independence. You can create a self-contained studio flat for a younger member of the family. Or perhaps you’ll want a comfortable sitting room for yourself if you turn a ground floor room into a bedroom for your own mother or father.

If you live in north London, or are thinking of moving there, it’s always worth considering the feasibility of a loft conversion. Take advice from a specialist loft conversion company that knows the area well, is familiar with current local planning regulations, and is happy to give you a free consultation and no obligation quote.