Tips For Your Loft Conversion Architect

Velux loft
Large loft room with a two Velux windows.

Loft conversion projects can be quite hectic to handle. However, it gets better if you are working with a qualified and reliable team. With the rapid growth of the housing market, you need due diligence when choosing the right contractor to work with. You certainly don’t want to end up hiring a cowboy builder for your project. 

From the structural engineer, architect, interior designers, to the team of builders, everyone plays a significant role in ensuring the attic extension is successfully completed. We shall have a look at the importance of having an architect present for a loft extension project.

Why should I hire a loft conversion architect

An architect is essential for any construction project because they create technical plans so as to establish a possible design for the space. As a homeowner, you certainly don’t want to gamble with the design of your dream loft. According to this eLoft Conversions blog post, an architect is responsible for coming up with the architectural drawings which are essential when it comes to acquiring planning approval.

A minor discrepancy on the loft design plans and your planning permission may be denied. Thus, you should choose to work with a diligent and highly skilled professional. Highlighted below are some of the reasons why you need a professional and reliable architect with the expertise and experience required to work on your attic extension project. 

  • An architect makes the acquisition of any planning approval( if necessary), easier because they provide detailed plans of the design. This would not be the case if you choose to work with a cowboy builder.
  • They also ensure that the construction project is in accordance with the building regulations requirements.
  • Architects also give you better insight on how your future space will look.
  • An architect will also inform you on a more accurate budget estimate for the whole loft project and the timescale for completion.
  • With an architect, you get quality designs, thus significantly improving the value of your property.
  • They’ll also leave you up to date with the latest trends and materials hence ensuring you don’t settle for an outdated design or use low quality building materials that may end up compromising the overall outcome of your home.
  • Aside from getting professional advice throughout your project, a good architect can also put you in touch with other experts you may need for your project. 
bedroom
Computer and bed in a loft room

Problems associated with working without an architect

With the booming construction industry, it wouldn’t be surprising if you encountered a few rookies in your quest to find the right person to work with. With cowboy builders, the deal is too good to be true most of the time. That is why you need to be diligent and thorough when making your decision. So, what are some of the problems you’re likely to encounter for not working with a qualified and experienced architect?

  • Failure to get planning approval. If the architectural drawings aren’t properly detailed, you might be denied planning permission for your project.
  • If the construction is not done according to the permitted development rights, you might be penalized.
  • If the design is poor, you might end up reducing the value of your house.
  • Working with structural engineers and contractors who might need to have their own drawings may cost you more.

Whatever construction project you may be having, it’s advisable to get an architect on board. Considering the fact that having an attic extension involves making alterations to the existing structure, you’ll need to hire an architect that is qualified and experienced in creating approved structures. It wouldn’t be advisable to compromise on the quality of the design, after all, it should reflect your taste, style, preferences and the mood of your home.

Three Reasons To Consider Loft Extensions

loftIf you already have a loft where people are living, you might realize that this area is very small. You might not be comfortable with allowing your kids or family member to live in such a small room and you will want to extend the room out. This can be tricky because of the location of this particular area of the home and may require a very specific type of contractor. Once you have found one of these businesses, you should be able to have them complete the job in a minimal amount of time. Here are three reasons that you should consider getting a loft extension done, and then how to find the best company for this type of project.

What Are Loft Extensions?

A loft, also referred to as an attic, is an area above the house which is typically where there is room enough to move around. With a typical house, there is often just enough for a crawlspace area but larger houses will have so much more. You will be able to actually put bedrooms, and you can also add a bathroom if you need to. Even though the roof will slope, there is still plenty of room in the center of this area of the home where people can live comfortably. The way that you extend your loft is to actually take portions of the roof itself and extend the outward. You will have to have supporting structures changed so that the house itself does not collapse because it uses the trusses and beams in this portion of the house in order to remain stable.

Three Reasons To Do This

There are three specific reasons that you should consider doing this. First of all, you are trying to expand on the amount of room that you have in your house and you have essentially never used the loft area. You may realize that it’s not really large enough for people to have everything that they need in terms of space, and you will want to upgrade. Second, you might be selling your home in the next few months, and before you listed, you can have this loft extension done to improve its value. Not only that, the larger the area is upstairs, the more appealing it will be to a wide range of people that would like to make use of this upper portion of the home because of the extra square footage. Finally, you may want to do this because it will improve the overall appearance of your house. You may have a simple roof but by adding extensions upstairs, it can really add to the curb appeal. This would be most beneficial if you are trying to sell your home, and therefore would be a good investment to make.

After you have received all of the estimates from the people that are offering their services to do loft extensions, you will certainly find one that will help you with the project you have in mind. Always try to find someone that comes with good reviews, reviews that you will be able to find on the web and utilize one of these companies. You need to make sure that they are able to divide you with the help that you need at a price that you can afford. You should see examples of what they have done four other people on their website, and based upon what you see, and the prices that they charge, you should have no problem at all finding a contractor that will be willing to work with you on your schedule.