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Design Guide to Roof Conversions
Services
An
area must be set aside for the placing of the existing water tanks. Depending
on their location they may require to be moved to a corner of the roof
to allow greater floor utilization. If the loft headroom is high, then
they may be placed above the new ceiling level.
Additional
lighting and power points will be required. Normally these can be easily
added to your existing circuits without disrupting the rest of the home.
Many central heating systems can be easily extended into the loft and
failing that, small electric wall heaters are usually all that are needed.
A warm blanket
All
new loft conversions will require insulation; the amount of insulation
is determined by the Building Regulations. Depending on their size the
existing rafters may need to be battened out to accommodate the insulation.
Insulation will also be needed above any new ceiling, behind any walls
to roof voids and above existing ceilings exposed to the roof void (see
below). The idea is to wrap the new living area in an insulation blanket
to maintain a warm room during the winter and to stop the sun turning
the new room into a sauna in the summer months.
Additional requirements
A
number of additional improvements may be required to your dwelling to
meet the Building Regulations if they have not already been incorporated.
A self-contained smoke alarm system connected to the mains electricity
with battery backup will be required. The existing staircase will need
to be upgraded to provide a fire-protected staircase leading to a final
exit. Doors in existing two story dwellings will need to be fitted with
self-closures and if they are being replaced during a larger refurbishment
scheme will need to be provide 1/2 hour fire protection. Also consider
that the ceiling below the new attic room may require re-plastering to
stop cracks appearing at a later date.
Home improvements can cost a lot of money so how can you borrow? We examine a few of the options.
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