Having made the decision to transform a previously unused part of your home with a loft conversion, you’ll need to be ready for the day the builders arrive. Before they do, ensure that you’ve talked through all the details of exactly what you want from the space.
Do you want an extra bedroom, a rental opportunity, a storage solution, an extra wardrobe for all those clothes and shoes or a space for home working or even an art or music studio? Having clear and correct plans beforehand means that when they arrive on the first day of work everyone knows what they are doing and what the outcome of the work will be. Always a great addition, one fantastic benefit is the increase in house price of a loft conversion. Perth residents have enjoyed up to a 40% increase in their property value after theirs is completed. Cornerstone Lofts have been performing loft conversions for years and will provide you with great customer service to make sure everything goes smoothly.
To be well prepared, here are a few tips to help everything go smoothly:
Hire a skip
You’ll need to have the whole of the loft emptied before any work can start. It isn’t the job of the builders to remove it all for you so it’s time to have a clear out. Be brutal – if it’s been in the loft for months or even years then there’s every possibility you don’t need it so take the chance to throw all your rubbish in a skip. Most people will fill a skip at least once so it will probably need to be hired for a few days. It’s also a useful item to have whilst the work is being carried out so the builders can throw debris into it and keep everything as tidy as possible.
Scaffolding
Talk to your builders about the needs for scaffolding and who will be providing it. Usually you’ll need to have scaffolding at the back and front of the property and there may even be a need for a temporary roof. If you have land borders near to neighbours and need to place scaffolding onto adjoining property, talk to them beforehand. You’ll need their permission so show them the plans and clear everything well in advance of the conversion starting.
Timetable
The work on a loft conversion roughly works in the same order each time. The first stage is the steel joists and then the interior framework for the walls on the exterior of the property. After this has taken place, the windows will be created with holes being cut. The dormer will be constructed and then the inside walls will be made. This will be followed by insulation and plaster-boarding work. After this has all been finished, it’s time for the staircase to be broken through the ceiling and then more plastering to establish a clean finish. The last jobs to take place are the fitting of shelves and any built-in cupboards and then the interior decoration.
How long does a loft conversion take?
Every job is different but the average time is six weeks. Talk to the team who are working on your conversion as complex jobs can take longer.
To be well prepared, here are a few tips to help everything go smoothly:
Hire a skip
You’ll need to have the whole of the loft emptied before any work can start. It isn’t the job of the builders to remove it all for you so it’s time to have a clear out. Be brutal – if it’s been in the loft for months or even years then there’s every possibility you don’t need it so take the chance to throw all your rubbish in a skip. Most people will fill a skip at least once so it will probably need to be hired for a few days. It’s also a useful item to have whilst the work is being carried out so the builders can throw debris into it and keep everything as tidy as possible.
Scaffolding
Talk to your builders about the needs for scaffolding and who will be providing it. Usually you’ll need to have scaffolding at the back and front of the property and there may even be a need for a temporary roof. If you have land borders near to neighbours and need to place scaffolding onto adjoining property, talk to them beforehand. You’ll need their permission so show them the plans and clear everything well in advance of the conversion starting.
Timetable
The work on a loft conversion roughly works in the same order each time. The first stage is the steel joists and then the interior framework for the walls on the exterior of the property. After this has taken place, the windows will be created with holes being cut. The dormer will be constructed and then the inside walls will be made. This will be followed by insulation and plaster-boarding work. After this has all been finished, it’s time for the staircase to be broken through the ceiling and then more plastering to establish a clean finish. The last jobs to take place are the fitting of shelves and any built-in cupboards and then the interior decoration.
How long does a loft conversion take?
Every job is different but the average time is six weeks. Talk to the team who are working on your conversion as complex jobs can take longer.