Loft conversions – the biggest mistakes

With house prices going through the roof (if you will excuse the pun!) many people nowadays are looking to extend their houses either outwards or upwards. If there is not enough land to the side or back then the only option for most of us is the loft conversion.

This seems like a great idea, making use of some pretty much wasted space, but that is where the problems start.

This is definitely NOT a DIY job so getting a reputable builder in is your first consideration but, even then, things do not always go to plan.

Let’s look first at some of the things that most people will probably need up there.

Assuming that the aim is to create a new room rather than just making your loft a bit more useable, there are a number of basic jobs that have to be done:

Installation of a solid staircase to give access from the floor below

Installation of a good, solid floor on top of the ceiling joists

Some lining material to cover the roof lagging

Improvements to the lighting and new electric points

Heating – possibly radiators running off the existing central heating system

A window, either the dormer type or a skylight

So, what could go wrong? The answer, unfortunately, is lots! A quality building project should leave you with everything near enough perfect but there are some tradesmen who will cut corners to save money.

Probably the worst thing that could happen is the weather getting in because the new window has not been fitted properly.

. A dormer window needs to be tiled properly and then sealed to the existing roof line maybe with lead flashing. Any shoddy workmanship here will allow the wind and rain to get in. A slate or tiled finish is best here both for appearance and efficiency, but some builders will use wood or plastic cladding.

This is wrong for two reasons. A wooden finish will deteriorate quickly and will be difficult to maintain because of where it is.

White plastic/uPVC will last longer but will look ugly in time because you cannot safely clean it if it is on the roof of a two- or three-storey building.

The heating and electrics will, of course, require expert fitting and safety is paramount. There might already be a considerable amount of wiring lying between the floor joists for upstairs lighting and power sources and it is important that this is made safe along with ensuring that new circuits coming off old ones do not overload the system.

It goes without saying that overloaded electrics can cause fuses to blow but, even worse, could result in a fire if the whole lot overheats.

Looking at the plumbing projects, badly fitted radiators and pipe work could leak and cause damage, not only to your new loft extension, but could also penetrate the floors below. Some people might even install a shower room in the new extension and there is lots of potential here for things to go wrong.

A badly sealed shower tray and insufficient water pressure could cause damaging leaks below and an unsatisfactory water flow when you turn on the shower.

A good quality pump must therefore be in place to make sure the water gets up to the new level at the right pressure, for both shower/wash basin and the heating radiators.

As in any other room, mistakes can be made with the cosmetic look of the loft extension. The roof will probably be lined with plaster board and this has to be fitted properly or you might get gaps appearing in it, especially if the pieces shrink. The new floor, whether you use laminate surfaces, floor boards or large chipboard sections must be securely fitted to the existing joists. If not you will get creaks and wobbles when you walk on the new surface.

Done correctly, your loft conversion company could offer the new space of your dreams – done badly, it could be a complete nightmare!

Read more about our company, loft creations ltd here:

http://www.loftcreations.co.uk/