Comments on: Loft conversions

By: julie

julie — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:22:17 +0000

how do we know if a loft is convertable, as mine home is only 12 years old and I have been told the struts in the loft make the conversion impossible, that was by a well meaning friend not a professional. also would putting in a staircase take away a bedroom below.

thank you george

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:13:58 +0000

Hi Alfie, I would suggest contacting a local structural engineer. They will probably need to visit your property and look at the materials which make up the structure of the loft and be able to provide some guidance on the maximum load. They will also probably be able to advise you on how best to maximise the load bearing capabilities of the loft space, for example spreading the load across multiple joists. If you are able to tell them of what you are expecting to keep in the loft, this may also help them. (Please note, I’m not an architect or engineer, just someone with a keen interest in these areas. This is just what I would do – so I hope it’s helpful.)

By: Monika

Monika — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:09:04 +0000

George, Do juliett balconies require planning permission? (Our “very clever” city planning department seem to think they do)

By: steve

steve — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 23:49:27 +0000

hi george

i’ve just bought a chalet bungalow with a rubbish loft conversion with not a lot of head room. i’m planning on ripping off the whole roof and replacing it with either a mansard roof or raise the brick work then put new roof on but i doubt i’ll get planning to add a storey.
the problem is the rear garden is about 8 foot higher than the ground floor.
do you think a upside down would work in a chalet bungalow?? with doors out to decked area linking the kitchen diner to the garden.

love the sledge hammer bits of the home show
thanks

By: Alfie

Alfie — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:44:39 +0000

Great site always watch your TV program. Can you tell me if you are just using the loft for storage how you work out the maximum load it will take as I can’t find this anywhere else and I don’t want the ceiling to fall down. I’m 70 by the way.