You realised your loft doesn’t get used for anything other than storage – and you recently got rid of most of the junk in there. What’s left can go in the garage, leaving you with a nice space atop your home.
It’s only natural to consider a loft conversion at this point, giving your house an extra bedroom or living space. You’re understandably excited by this prospect – but don’t forget to carry out these four crucial checks before starting any work:
Check The Insulation
You can’t convert a loft if it doesn’t have the right level of insulation. When nobody uses the room, it doesn’t matter if it gets too hot or cold. If someone is using it as a bedroom or a study, you need it to retain the ideal temperature. Hopefully, the insulation is good already – if not, you’ll need some new ceiling batts installed that retain heat in the winter and reflect it in the summer. This makes the loft a more livable place!
See If It’s Possible To Install Safe Stairs
How will you get into the loft? Climbing up a metal ladder is fine if the room doesn’t get used that often. When you’re going to and from it every day, there must be a better system. Check the space under your loft to see if you can install safer stairs that are designed for regular use. You’ll be surprised how creative things can get here and many companies specialise in space-saving loft stairs. You ideally want stairs that stay fixed in place rather than ones you have to fold or pull down, especially if the room will be a kid’s bedroom.
Check The Ceiling Height
Inside the loft, you should check the height of the ceiling. It varies from home to home and some lofts simply aren’t designed to be converted. The height is too short, meaning it’s impossible to stand up inside and there’s a risk you’ll keep bumping your head on the rafters. This check stops you from spending money only to realise the loft conversion is impractical – though it can also tell you that you’ll need a loft extension if you’re desperate for the conversion to happen.
Look For Any Issues With The Roof
There can’t be any issues with the roof as you begin a loft conversion. This means checking for signs of wear and tear, as well as obvious problems – like leaks or cracks in the roofing tiles. You’ll likely be unpleasantly surprised by the issues with your roof as most of us forget to check and end up with many problems. If you spot any, be sure to leave the repairs to the professionals as they can be tricky and dangerous.
Carrying out all of these checks helps you figure out if a loft conversion is feasible for your home. If it isn’t, you have to weigh up whether it’s worth spending more money to make it feasible. Some of you won’t bother and you’ve at least saved a ton of money and effort!