Safety as well as Substance paramount in Loft Conversions

There are a lot of things to consider when planning a loft conversion, but safety should always be at the top of your list. It’s not worth gaining all the benefits of extending your home into the loft if that extra living space could endanger the people using it.

Not everyone has the expertise to identify potential hazards, or find solutions for them, which is why homeowners are legally required to ensure loft conversions comply with building regulations.

Although many loft conversions don’t require planning permission, you must inform the Building Control Service at your Local Authority of your plans. The work will then be inspected at each stage and, if it is satisfactory, the relevant certification will be issued.

The safety topics covered by the building regulations include:

Structural safety

It’s important to consider what physical effect a loft conversion will have on the house as a whole. For example, what additional stresses will be put on the existing load bearing walls and foundations? In most loft conversions, new timber floor joists and / or steel beams will be needed to support the extra weight. Where new openings are made in the roof to accommodate windows or dormers new rafters might have to be added, or the existing ones strengthened, so the structure of the roof is not weakened.

Fire safety

Fire prevention measures, and a protected escape route from the loft conversion, are essential for your safety. The escape route from the loft to a ground floor door must have passive fire protection of at least thirty minutes. This usually involves fitting fire doors, and perhaps fire-resistant partitions, if they are not already installed. The regulations also state that you must have mains powered, interlinked smoke alarms within the stairway – one on each floor.

Electricity and gas safety

Every year in the UK around 43 people are killed and 2900 are seriously injured by electric shock accidents and fires caused by faulty electrical wiring. This is why the building regulations insist that all electrical work in a loft conversion must be carried out by a properly qualified electrician. Similarly, anyone working on gas supplies or appliances must be on the Gas Safe Register.

No matter who does the actual work of converting a loft, the property owner is ultimately responsible for any breaches of the building regulations so choose a contractor with care. If someone offering to convert your loft tells you that you don’t have to worry about the ‘red tape’, you should be very worried – about them!

Look for a reputable company that gives free, no obligation consultations and ask about the safety aspects of loft conversions. A professional loft conversion company will be familiar with all the current building regulations and happy to discuss any specific safety concerns you might have. For added peace of mind, ask about the qualifications and experience of their staff, and if they will undertake to inform and liaise with the Building Control Service on your behalf.

Benefits of a Loft Conversion for your East London Home

The housing slump has badly affected a lot of homeowners in East London: some have fallen into negative equity and many others are faced with difficult decisions.

When your biggest investment has suddenly dropped in value the best advice is usually to stay where you are. But what if you want, or need, to move? Everyone’s circumstances are different of course, but you’ll have to balance the financial loss you might make from selling your home, plus all the costs involved in moving, against any benefits to be gained. If your plans include moving to a larger house or a more expensive area of East London you might have no choice but to postpone them.

Trying to predict exactly what will happen to East London property prices over the next few years is difficult, but there are things you can do to improve your present situation. Converting your loft is one of them.

It’s well worth considering a loft conversion for your East London home if:

• you need more living space but can’t afford to move
• you want a cost-effective way to increase the value of your home
• you want to make your home stand out from similar properties to ensure a quick sale when you put it on the market

Extending upwards into the existing roof space is the easiest way to add an extra room – or two – to an East London house. A loft conversion can transform previously wasted space into a stunning en suite master bedroom. Or perhaps you’d rather have a spacious home office, a bedroom and study for a teenager, or a children’s playroom.

However you decide to use it, a well-designed east London loft conversion will instantly add value to your home and, unlike some other home improvement projects you’ll almost certainly recoup the costs – even in today’s uncertain market. Converting a loft usually involves less work than building a ground floor extension, making it the quickest and cheapest method of expanding your living space. As an added benefit, you won’t have to sacrifice any of your valuable garden area.

Planning permission is not always needed for loft conversions in East London if they conform to the rules of permitted development. If permission is required, neighbours are less likely to object to plans for converting a loft than might be the case if you wanted to make a more obvious alteration to your home.

If you live in East London and think a loft conversion could help you through these difficult times consult a specialist east London loft conversion company that knows the area well. Choose one offering a free, no obligation advice and quotation service to find out how a professional loft conversion could enhance your home. You might not need to move to find your dream home!