We are looking at this house and may buy it if we could get a loft conversion done. There is enough height in the roof, but given how the roof comes down to the 1st floor at the front - to the left of the front door, I can't work out whether we could get a full hip to gable wall built at both sides.

We would need this to get somewhere to put the loft stairs.




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What do you think?

Cheers

Stu

We had a loft conversion done a few years ago that has been really good... BUT have you looked carefully at all the fire regs - we had to get an escape corridor put across the edge of one of our downstairs rooms at the whim of the building official before our's could be signed off. It's worth checking very carefully.
Dave

Ooohh, so many issues.

The front is both single storey and two storey.
The single storey bit would be better off converted to two storey by continuing the front elevation up to two storey level.

But.

The structure directly above the door at the single storey part would not lend itself well to such alteration without bring stripped out and redone.

Also

Because the eaves detail at the single storey bit starts so low, width at the second joist level is seriously restricted.

Take the roof off, make it all two storey, put a new roof on with attic trusses, there you go.
A usefully large attic area.

Nice and complicated.

Anythings possible within the constraints of the roof structure and more importantly building control.

Is there any other conversions in the street? Is there a massive king post and other structural beams in the way?

best bet is to get a local conversion specialist to have a look. The vendor should be happy with this if they want to sell the house.
The local knowledge is important, things seem to vary council to council (this may have changed with recent planning law changes??) Be aware the house looks quite extended already, so planning would be needed I think. Neighbours may be unhappy if you lose the hips (they lose a lot of light)

Loads of professional architects have lost work on the decline of new building - have a look online and I bet you could get a free 'it can be done' and then a proper 'it would look like this' for notta lotta wonga...

Edit: P.s. Most conversions get approved under permitted devlopment unless it's more than a 20% increase in the original house volume - and watch for wierd local planning bylaws and constraints - you'll need someone who's worked with the local Building Control Inspectors before...

[Edited on 3/3/2011 by NeilP]

There are a lot of safety regulations concerning loft conversions and a lot of hoops to jump through. That looks complicated and expensive. Can we see it from on top via google earth?

It is very much a buyer's market at the moment - With millions of houses out there - why buy one which is likely to be too small for your needs in the first place?

Thanks guys - I'm fairly sure that under permitted development we could get the loft done up to 50m2, but not sure how the front elevation could be reworked to facilitate a hip to gable on both sides.

I've spoken to a local builder who does lofts. He was helpful and reckons it can be done but couldn't explain how the roof issues would be resolved, and I think I've used up my credit of free advice from him.

Maybe I need to speak to another builder.

There are other conversion on the street but none on houses with similar roof structures.

The postcode is WD33bp for a satellite view on Google maps

Cheers

Stu

Sounds like it might be easier, cheaper and a lot less hassle to get an extension out the back

Errr, dont see what the issue is. How does that extension of the roof line down to the front door effect what you do with the loft? Just convert the hip to a gable...


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Same on other side.

If planning department let you.

I won't need planning for that - permitted development allows a full dormer and hip to gable on both sides. It's the building up of the front wall that I'm not sure about.

The local planning dept have promised to call me back on Monday so we'll see.

Thanks for the help.

Stu

Just up the road from me.

Loads of loft conversions have been done recently in croxley, so shouldn't be a planning problem, the major hurdle will be the cost from the builder as decent loft conversions don''t come cheap, but the extra room will add value.

Been thinking about getting my loft converted but the main problem is finding somewhere to run the stairs where there is enough headroom without messing with the roof, but as you will need to add roof windows / dormer window then there's an element of roof reworking to be done anyway.

If the roof is not lined under the tiles (mine isn't) then all the tiles need to come off anyway!

Ash.

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Just up the road from me.

Loads of loft conversions have been done recently in croxley, so shouldn't be a planning problem, the major hurdle will be the cost from the builder as decent loft conversions don''t come cheap, but the extra room will add value.

Been thinking about getting my loft converted but the main problem is finding somewhere to run the stairs where there is enough headroom without messing with the roof, but as you will need to add roof windows / dormer window then there's an element of roof reworking to be done anyway.

If the roof is not lined under the tiles (mine isn't) then all the tiles need to come off anyway!

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Stu u2u