While loft conversions are ideal for many houses, the specifics of some properties make a loft extension unfeasible. Having been working as a loft conversion company for over 30 years, Econoloft can quickly tell if your space is suitable for a conversion. While the best way to tell is with a home visit and assessment, there are some factors to consider which will help you work out if you can convert your loft. Our loft conversion specialists explain some of the key requirements and make sure every customer in South East London and across the UK gets the best solutions for their property and needs.
The main reasons why properties are unsuitable for attic conversions are:
-
The ceiling height is too low, and it is not possible to raise the roof.
-
The homeowner does not own the freehold to the loft space – this is a common issue in London.
-
The property is in a conservation area or is a listed building. However, our loft conversion company is adept at finding effective solutions that will achieve planning permission.
Remember, the Econoloft team includes experienced loft conversion planning experts who meticulously plan every aspect of your conversion, ensuring compliance with regulations. Our services include advice, designs and planning guidance for our own turnkey projects, and we also help clients looking for ideas for a future build.
You can also come to us when you need trusted steel suppliers for any type of project across the UK.
Ceiling Height
The ceiling height for loft conversions must be at least 2.2m from the floor joist to the highest point. This is a requirement of building regulations and ensures you have enough useable space to make the conversion viable. With a height of 2.2m, your loft extension will still offer enough headroom even after we install insulation and flooring.
If your loft in South East London does not have enough height, it may be possible for our loft conversion specialists to increase the height by altering the roof. However, you are unlikely to get planning permission for this if you live in a conservation area.
Stairs
When building attic conversions in South East London for use as extra living space, we must install a fixed staircase rather than a ladder or retractable stairs. This is important for access as well as being a requirement of building regulations. The new staircase must offer at least 1.9m of headroom with a maximum pitch of 42 degrees.
If you don’t have the space for a suitable staircase, you cannot legally construct a loft extension for habitable use. However, you can convert your loft into a more practical storage space because this will not require a fixed staircase.
Planning Permission
Some properties in South East London and the UK will require planning permission for loft conversions. While this doesn’t mean they are unsuitable for attic conversions, it does mean there are certain conditions projects must meet. These will vary depending on local rules.
Formed as a loft conversion company in 1986, Econoloft provides expert loft conversion planning advice and solutions to determine if you are likely to get permission and to maximise your chances. This includes full planning and design services from our in-house architectural technicians and draftsmen who are loft conversion specialists.
Don’t forget, we are not just attic conversion experts. We also operate as steel suppliers. We stock a range of products, including universal beams, columns and joists, supplying clients across the country. Our team also manufactures steels to order, with the option of taking measurements yourself or having our specialists do this for you.
.webp?width=100&height=100&name=Map%20Icon%20copy(2).webp)