Waste of space? Ideas for attic conversions: An Introduction
When was the last time you actually used your attic or loft for anything?
The immediate clichéd image of a dust ridden, dank space comes creeping to mind; boxes piled high, cobwebs linking the rafters together, Granny’s old blankets, the kids’ old toys, dusty stacks of books and all kinds of junk hidden away promised to never again see the light of day!
So many attic spaces have just been designated junk central where all the unwanted items of a house end up nesting for all time. Isn’t that just a waste of space?
Modern Attics has been in the loft conversions business for a while now and we’ve learnt that there’s no such thing as a useless loft or attic. These are valuable parts of any home that just need a little bit of tender love and care… and conversion! Turning your loft into another room makes full use of potentially wasted space and it can enhance the overall value of a property.
Okay, there is way too much to cover in just one blog here, so we’re breaking it up into a series. All we want to do is give you some ideas about what you can do with your loft, regardless of its quality or size. Trust us; anything is possible when it comes to loft conversions!
Before planning to convert anything you need to make some immediate assessments to discover your attic’s suitability for a straight-forward loft conversion. If you’re not sure you can always Contact Us for some tips and advice or get a free site survey carried out.
Ask yourself the following questions:
Can you stand up in the loft?
Not every loft and attic is of an adequate size to take the raw materials and redesign it into a new room for the home. The only way to be sure is to go up there and see if you can stand upright and stretch your arms out either side of you without bumping the ceiling or walls.
Is there a water tank up there?
It’s common for a lot of the larger sections of plumming in a house to be kept out of the way in the attic, including the hot water tank. This is something you’ll have to consider when planning the layout of your new loft conversion as it can limit the ways in which you can use the space. If you’re thinking of putting an extra bathroom into your attic conversion, you also need to realise that it’s best to put the facilities directly above the bathrooms below to avoid the need for extensive pipework.
Will you need planning permission?
As some attic conversions will require structural work such as new roof beams, strengthened floors and the relocation of existing roof beams, you may need planning permission from the local council for the development to go ahead. While this is not always necessarily the case, it’s important to check before you push on with any build, as you don’t want to be forced to tear your loft conversion down as soon as it’s complete.
With these important questions asked, it’s time to press on to choosing what exactly you want to do with your attic. We have a lot more ideas and tips for you to help you with your decision, but you’ll have to stay tuned for our next blog article to discover them.