Getting
a loft conversion is one thing, but making the process of obtaining it run
smoothly? Well that’s quite another. Yet it’s what we should all aspire to.
It’s easier than you might think, too. Using a professional loft conversion
company is the best way to achieve your perfect loft conversion, and you can
also follow these five simple steps to make sure you get it right.
Step 1: Check your Loft’s Viability
Checking
if your loft is suitable for conversion should always be your first port of
call. It’s a very rare case that a loft isn’t ripe for conversion, but as a
general rule, the ceiling height should be 2.3 metres or more for suitable head
height.
If
you don’t have this head height available to you, there are still ways that a
loft conversion company can create the required space, often by lowering the
floor of the loft if there rooms below can take having their ceilings lowered.
Step 2: How will you use your new Room?
Think
about why you want to create a loft conversion and what you want to get out of
it. This is a crucial part of the planning process, and you may wish to gather
together loft conversion pictures to create a
mood board.
If
it’s a guest bedroom, do you need an en suite bathroom to create a completely
independent space? Is it a study, a games room or a home cinema? All of these spaces
often require extra power sources. Or perhaps you’re aiming to get two rooms
out of the space?
You’ll
need to know how you want to use the space before you can engage an architect
or loft conversion company.
Step 3: Contract a Loft Conversion Company
This
is really the first step towards making your vision a reality. A good loft
conversion company will either be able to provide an architect or point you in
the right direction of a reputable one, and you’ll then start to see your
dreams come alive.
Experienced
loft conversion companies can work together with you and the architect to then
bring the plans to life. They’ll minimise disruption while they carry out the
work and will take care of any paperwork required, including helping you to
submit plans if planning permission is required and liaising with the building
regulations department.
Step 4: Inform your Neighbours
Whether
you need a party wall agreement or not, it’s always polite and a good idea to
inform your neighbours that work will be taking place. This way, they won’t be
confronted with scaffolding all of a sudden and won’t be put out by any noise
and disruption that may occur.
You
may well need a party wall agreement if you are a semi-detached or terrace
house. Your loft conversion company will be able to advise if this is the case,
and will often help you to submit the details to your local authority and your
neighbours.
Step 5: Sit Back, Relax and Enjoy!
Ok,
so it’s not quite as easy as this, but once all of the nitty-gritty has been done,
you can work on the fun bits! Make sure you’ve got a decent budget in place to
do the interior decorating and styling, just in case your tastes exceed your
purse strings, and then enjoy making the room part of your home.
If
you want the loft conversion company to run smoothly, speak to Bespoke Lofts. Thanks
to our long term experience and expertise, from planning through to completion,
everything will tick over like clockwork. Contact us today for a free no
obligation quote.