The Dos and Don’ts When Planning a Loft Extension

Loft extension is a great idea when you need extra space in your house without using the area designated for the yard, garden, driveway, or even when such space is not available. The best thing is that you can do this project without moving out of your house. With a successful loft extension, you will get more space for a study room or office, extra bedroom, gym area, or even a family bonding area.

However, doing loft conversion requires adequate planning, seeking relevant permissions, and professional implementation to ensure the safety of the occupants. In this article, we will go through the dos and don’ts when planning a loft extension to show you how critical this project is.

The Do’s of a Loft Extension

Do ensure that you have a suitable loft

Not all houses qualify for a loft extension. For instance, modern flat-roofed houses may not qualify for loft extension. The house should have a roof with a pitch. The pitch will determine the type of conversion such as dormer, hip-to-gable, or mansard loft extensions.

Do decide on what you want

Do you want a study room, bedroom, gym area, or storage area? It is crucial to know how you want to use your loft once it is converted. This will help the architect to come up with a suitable plan for you.

Do hire a professional architect

A loft extension planning starts with an idea that must be implemented by a professional architect. If you are in the UK, Humphreysandsons will help you make plans and apply for permissions for your loft extension. For those in any other part of the world, you should know the best architectural company to walk you through this journey.

Do apply for loft extension planning permission

Another important step to take is to apply for permissions through your planning architect. They make the process easy for you and ensure compliance before commencing the conversion project.

The Don’ts of a Loft Extension

Don’t use an unqualified architect

As mentioned, an architect plays a vital role in a loft extension project. They help in planning, permission application, and implementation. Therefore, you should not hire an unqualified architect because this will mess up your project. It is even a risk to the users.

Don’t do loft extensions without permission

Most loft conversions require necessary permissions from the authorities. No matter how simple it looks, you need to understand your area’s building regulations and apply for planning permissions as needed. We already said that a qualified architect will help you all through the process. You should never attempt to convert the loft without permission.

Don’t use take a shortcut during the construction

Lastly, you should follow the right construction procedures when doing a loft extension. After the architect has made drawings and plans and approvals have been made, the constructor should follow all due procedures. Not even a single one should be missed now that this is a sensitive project.

Final Words

There are so many things that you need to do when planning a loft extension, and equally as many that you should not do during the process. Now that you are aware of the most common ones, it is time to do that loft conversion you have always wanted to.