Loft Conversions

Loft conversions and extensions are a way of giving you greater living space and increasing the value of your property. Also, you have a great say in the way your property is designed to suite your needs and life style.

At Gregory and son we understand how such projects need to be handled and can offer you either a full start to finish service ensuring careful planning and good quality building works throughout, or help you liase with architectural services or other contractors.

Our property and build services range from loft, flats and house conversions to building extensions, our team will help you prepare an individual scheme proposal after thoroughly exploring the potential of your property.

As a company we offer a personal professional service and a quality of workmanship second to none because at Gregory and son we employ our own qualified electricians, bricklayers, painters, plasterers and plumbers ensuring continuity of work from start to finish.

Things to consider

Loft conversions have become a very popular way of extending domestic properties. Experience, however, shows that this seemingly simple concept can cause major problems in complying with the Building Regulations.

Before embarking on any building work, including loft conversions, it is advisable to obtain professional advice from an Architect, Surveyor and/or Structural Engineer. North Tyneside Building Control have staff on hand to discuss the proposals prior to making a Building Regulation application.

Below is a brief guide to areas of construction which will require particular attention when planning the actual conversion works.

The roof
The construction of the existing roof will be a major factor in deciding what is achievable in changing the loft area into a ‘liveable space’.

These alterations will inevitably mean adapting the structure to form either dormer windows or roof lights. It will generally be necessary to provide an engineer’s design to show how the additional loadings on the roof or supporting structure will be maintained.

A further consideration is the placing of insulating materials within the roof slope and the precautions necessary to prevent damage from condensation in the void area.

The floors
The existing ceiling joists are unlikely to be able to support the additional loads from a new floor for domestic use.

The new floor elements must have adequate support and should be sized and spaced according to the spans involved.

This new element of construction within the dwelling will need to be afforded an adequate level of fire resistance to ensure its stability in case of fire.

The Walls
The new floor must be supported by load bearing walls adequate to carry the new loads and must have a suitable foundation. A full structural appraisal by an appropriately qualified professional is therefore recommended.

Fire resistance of the walls, both new and existing, is again of major importance and expert advice will again be needed.

Depending on the layout, the new doors will have to be fire doors or in some cases existing doors ‘fitted with’ self-closing devices.

Generally any existing glazing contained in the walls of the stairway enclosure must be replaced by fire resistant glass.

In the case of the walls to a dormer window it will be necessary to ensure they are suitably weatherproofed and insulated. If the dormer is close to an adjoining property it will be necessary to provide additional fire protection to this element from both inside and outside.

The Stairs
The preferred access to the new room should be via a traditional straight flight of stairs with landing top and bottom. Spiral staircases, fixed ladders and alternating tread stairs are considered in special circumstances, however only where there is insufficient space to accommodate a standard stair.

Suitable guarding and handrails must be provided to the stairs and adequate headroom maintained, usually measured at two metres vertically above the flight.

Escape in case of fire
The principal route of escape is provided by the staircase, which must discharge to a suitable final exit, normally a front or rear door.

The new room(s) should, where the new and existing staircases are not fully enclosed with fire doors to all rooms, have an openable window or roof light provided for escape and rescue purposes.

This window should be readily accessible, large enough to escape through and close enough to eaves level to aid rescue from an external source.

Additional fire precautions apply if the loft conversion exceeds 50m squared in floor area or the new second storey contains more than two habitable rooms.

Building inspector

During any construction project you can expect a visit from the local Building Inspector or Building Control Department. We have included some information here on this process so you can know what to expect.

When contacting the department for an inspection it is useful if you give the following information:

1. The inspection required
2. Preferred time of visit
3. Application number
4. Site Address
5. Builders Name

This will help the inspector provide you with the next best service. It is important that you request all of the relevant inspections for your works so that a certificate can be issued on completion.

You, or your builder must notify the council not less than 48 hours before commencing work and at the following stages:

1. At the excavation of the foundations.
2. After concreting the foundations.
3. At damp proof course level.
4. When hardcore is laid over the site.
5. Before covering any drains.
6. After drainage is complete.
7. Before occupation, which will generally include a test of the plumbing.
8. On completion of the work.