Home Renovation

Advantages & Disadvantages of Converting A Loft

loft design
Written by Shiyamala

A loft conversion is becoming increasingly popular among homeowners today. Not only does it offer an excellent solution for ‘no space problem’ but also at a very affordable price. It may be the most practical way of increasing your space.

But as it turns out, it may not work out for every house. In this guide, we will discuss some pros and cons of a loft conversion to help you determine if it will benefit your needs and the requirements of your family.

Advantages of Converting A Loft

i) Converting your loft will make use of space that has never been used at all or merely used for storage purposes. You can turn this space into almost anything: a bathroom, an office, a sleeping room to mention but a few. It offers an excellent solution to individuals who need more living space.

ii) Home extensions are hard to do as a layman, which means you will need to contract a specialist company. This can be pricey since the structures are not in place. And also there will be much work which will require much force hence more expenses. But, a loft conversion will see you pay less money per square meter as you are just converting a structure that you actually have.

iii) Loft conversions are especially useful to houses with limited outside space and in specific flats which have no garden outside as you’ll not lose the outdoor space.

iv) Home extensions will likely force a homeowner with a narrow property to enclose existing windows or create long corridors. However, that can be avoided when converting the loft.

v) Loft conversions don’t depend on the weather unless there’s major work done to the roof. So even during winter, you can still convert your loft.

vi) You don’t need planning permissions when converting your loft. And it’s easier to understand legislation.

vii) A conversion adds value to your home. Whether you are investing to sell or stay, converting the loft will add significant value to your home, approximately 10-20%.

Disadvantages of Converting A Loft

i) Conversions aren’t suitable for all properties. You cannot have a loft conversion until the safety and structure of the building are met. In such cases, you’ll need to do some alterations before converting the loft which will make the whole process expensive.

ii) Strict building regulations. One can only carry out a loft conversion if specific requirements are met. The Building and Regulations Act outlines the minimum requirements for a loft conversion including minimum ceiling height and thickness of insulation among others. These regulations help to ensure that the loft is stable and designed safely.

iii) You’ll sacrifice the storage space. Many people use their attic for storage. But after a loft conversion, individuals end up having less space for storage since all their unused things were stored in the loft. So unless you are planning to convert the loft into a bigger storage room, you need to think about where your items will be stored.

iv) The property type can change. When converting a bungalow, for instance, it’ll become a house due to split levels. But when most people want to purchase the bungalow, they wish to have all the accommodation on the floor.

v) If the conversion is not appropriately designed, it can affect the overall appeal of the building.

Final Thoughts

A loft conversion is a simple way of maximizing the true potential of your property. But before you make a rash decision and decide to convert your loft, it’s important that you speak to an architect for advice. Keep in mind that a loft conversion might not be suitable for your home and there are also some factors that you have to consider before you make a conversion.

Leave a Comment