A loft conversion entails adding a room to a property for extra living space. Loft conversions can also include adding a bathroom, a kitchen and a bedroom in the loft space.
A loft conversion may add value to a property, and some owners choose to convert their homes in order to expand the amount of rent they can charge if they live in an area that is popular with students. Many homeowners prefer to have their loft converted into a study. With more people studying later in life than ever before, achieving a personal workspace from9 to 5 is an attractive prospect.
Does the Cost Outweigh the Benefit?
A loft conversion can be very expensive, however. A room added to the roof of the property may need more insulation and it might require planning permission from the local council depending on its design and location. If you do not want to pay for conversion yourself, there are companies that offer this service for a fee, but they may also charge you extra if any work needs doing, such as removing chimneys or adding insulation.
Loft Conversion Australia
A loft conversion in Australia may maximize the value and use of your space. Australia is known as an ideal country to invest and there are many reasons to invest in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and other capital cities. One reason is to go green, investing in green products such as solar panels in Australia can save you money on energy bills. With a loft conversion, you can also increase the amount bedrooms or living rooms without taking up any extra land space.
Loft Conversion Ideas
Loft conversions can be designed for many different uses, an attic conversion may become a custom-built home office, studio apartment, even a high-tech man cave complete with soundproofing and AstroTurf flooring. A bedroom would probably feature polished wooden floorboards and ensuite bathroom facilities (with a separate WC). Depending on your budget and floor space, you can choose to have carpets and furnishings.
Loft Conversions
A loft conversion is not limited to houses. The first step is to make plans for the loft conversion, this would include measurements of all rooms, staircases and the attic itself. It’s also worth noting any chimneys you might have that would need to be removed or built around. When taking out a wall between existing rooms it may be necessary to put an architrave across the doorways so they remain structurally sound.
A loft or attic conversion typically comes with a few drawbacks, but there are always exceptions that can cause problems if you’re planning on selling the property in future. For example, if your house has dormer windows then you could check whether these may disappear when incorporated into a loft room layout, dormer loft conversions are generally considered attractive features of many homes.
Roof Space Conversion Cost
Loft and attic conversion can be as cheap as a small DIY conversion for $20,000 to as expensive as a $2million dollar custom-built New York-style penthouse. Depending on your needs, you could be looking at up to $3,000 per square metre. A roof conversion with additional roof windows for more natural light could cost around $1,000 per square metre. Before you do any conversion, check with your local council to see if planning permission is required and
Loft and attic conversion provide a very practical way of adding extra space and natural light to a home without having to move house or tear down walls that would disturb the structural integrity of your building. This means you don’t have to spend years planning and renovating, simply convert your loft and start enjoying the benefits immediately.
What to Expect from a Loft Conversion Company?
A Loft Conversion Company can transform part or all of your attic into new rooms, perfect for an extra living area, or for rental income.
You might want to make the whole area an open-plan bedroom/living/dining room, or divide it up and create a separate en suite. How about a home cinema? Or a games room to challenge your friends and family? You could also turn this extra space into a spare bedroom and rent it out as an income property. With enough bedrooms, you could even subdivide your loft conversion into two separate apartments.
Converting roof space to rooms
Attic conversion with an existing roof may provide a valuable income, without the building works.
A loft conversion can increase your property value by as much as 20% and, if you’re renting out this newly converted space, it may immediately bolster your bank balance. With rents being so high these days that’s serious extra income from just one room.
With a Loft Conversion Company to take care of everything for you, you’ll have peace of mind knowing the job is in safe hands. The experts know exactly what work needs doing and how to do it safely and efficiently. They’ll also deal with any necessary planning permission or compliance issues before starting work on site.
Loft Extension
Loft extensions, typically a single storey addition to the rear of your home to convert your loft into a new living space. An extension may add significant value to your property and the space created is very versatile.
From basic one-bedroom spaces with en suites, fitted wardrobes and all the other facilities you could need, through to two, three or even four bedrooms linked by separate bathrooms and other modern amenities, there’s no limit to what can be achieved.
Loft Conversion Building Code
Loft conversions may also require planning permission and building regulations approval so don’t hesitate in contacting an expert. A dormer loft conversion is a very popular choice of loft conversion and the perfect way to get extra space from your home without having to move.
When you get in touch with a Loft Conversion Company, they’ll come and see your property, measure it up and work out exactly what’s possible. They can also give you advice on planning permission if required. Once you’ve decided to go ahead, they’ll offer you a quote and let you know how long the project may take.
While your loft is being converted into extra bedrooms or existing space, there may be scaffolding up outside your property for safety reasons. They may then come and put the finishing touches on your new rooms as soon as possible so you can move in.
There’s no doubt that loft conversion, dormer loft conversion or roof space extension may add value to your home and can be used as an income property. Once completed, you’ll have extra room for the kids to play in (and guests too if needed).
Loft conversions are perfect for older homes that don’t have any or much-unused space and, as you don’t need to move house, it’s the perfect way to increase your property value without stress or inconvenience.
Roof Conversions
Loft conversions are often undertaken when a property is being renovated. This way, the value of your home can be increased without having to undergo major building work and expense.
A Cost-effective Solution for Older Homes
For older homes that don’t have much-unused space but do have a good size existing loft space or an existing attic space, a conversion into a couple of bedrooms with en suite facilities or even an open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner is the perfect solution for creating more room in your home. It also provides much needed rental income from one extra room without the hassle of marketing and dealing with prospective tenants yourself.
Attic Conversion
The most common types of conversion undertaken are attic conversions. An attic conversion is essentially removing the existing roof and turning it into a new floor for extra habitable space. Attic conversions can be used as an extra bedroom with en suite facilities, open-plan living space or simply as an additional storage room for all those unneeded items that you just can’t bear to part with.
For homes that only have one bedroom, especially if it’s on the ground floor, an attic conversion also creates a really good sized second bedroom with plenty of storage and even en suite facilities, perfect for older children or guests.
Low loft areas can also accommodate extra bedrooms and dormer lofts provide even more space by adding another story above your existing ceiling meaning you could convert your two storey home into a three-storey one, with a simple attic conversion.
Don’t hesitate in getting in touch with a company that specialises in attic conversions, they may come and see your property, measure it up and work out exactly what’s possible. They can also give you advice on planning permission if required for the entire attic conversion. Once you’ve decided to go ahead, they’ll offer you a quote and let you know how long the attic space conversion may take.
Structural Considerations
There are several considerations when considering an attic conversion.
First and foremost, if your home has a thatched roof or is listed then it’s unwise to do any major building work on your property without the proper planning permission. You might think that carrying out an attic conversion doesn’t require planning permission but this isn’t true and any major changes to your property could be approved by the local authority before they start.
An important consideration is whether there’s enough headroom in your existing loft space for either the installation of beams or joists supporting floorboards for a new upper level or in the case of an open-plan living area, enough height above your ceiling height. If not, you’ll have insufficient room in which to stand which means you won’t be able to use the new upper level. Some laws have a minimum head height in the building code.
Your existing roof structure may also not be strong enough to support a new conversion meaning some structural work on your home may be required. Also, check that there’s no risk of falling through the ceiling below in the room below if using an open-plan layout.
Before carrying out any building work, it’s important to ensure that all fire escapes are still accessible and unblocked. If there isn’t, then it might mean having to install extra staircases or even consider moving rooms around so that they’re near the exit point, but this would require planning permission too unless it falls under permitted development rights or is compulsory purchased by the local authority.
Average Loft Conversion Cost in Australia
The cost of a loft conversion varies greatly depending on what is required. Don’t forget that your local council may also need to approve the work and this may incur additional costs.
One of the most common types of loft conversions is building dormer windows in order to provide additional natural light for the upper level. If you’re converting an existing room into a bedroom, then you’ll need new windows or perhaps even French doors if making it an open-plan living area. A bedroom with en suite facilities can easily cost $30,000+. Depending on what you need, you could easily be looking at $3,000 per square metre of conversion.
If you already have another bathroom on your property but think that another one would be better somewhere else, such as upstairs then replacing your stairs might be required which could not only involve removing the old ones but also installing a bigger, wider set to allow for disabled access or perhaps even building a half-turn staircase if you can’t afford a full one.
Consider All the Costs
Also consider that the larger the loft space is, then not only may your new room have more floor space but also its height may be greater which means you might need plenty of insulation and perhaps an extra window placed high on the wall below the roofline. If it’s required, this could add as much as $20,000+ onto your overall costs as well as requiring planning permission from the council.
Another factor to take into consideration is how much time it’ll take to complete your project. If you’re converting part of an existing first-floor bedroom into a bathroom then it could only take around 3 to 4 weeks. However, if you’re removing walls and structural beams to create an open-plan layout then the work could take much longer depending on the difficulty of what’s involved.
Summary
The best place to get an idea of what you could expect to pay for your project is from a local tradesman. If it’s a big job, then they’ll likely have previous examples and also be experienced in realising the look that you’re going for.