Comments on: Loft conversions

By: vancouver social media

vancouver social media — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:21:07 +0000

My partner and I just need to say that I really have found your website exceptionally good! You have much knowledge and information and facts right here which has helped me finish our university paper!

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 12:00:24 +0000

Hi George,
We have really bad condensation in our loft. It’s so bad that water is seeping through onto the ceilings in the bedrooms below. It seems to be much worse in winter. We have tried a number of methods with the help of local builders but it seems we need more specific advice.
I hope you can help.
Thanks George.

By: Heather Shepherd

Heather Shepherd — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:38:04 +0000

Regarding point 6 – the previous owners of our house put the staircase right in the middle of the smallest room, so it’s no use to anybody (just turns the smallest room into a two-level room). I’m thinking of moving the staircase into another room, partitioning it off with a stud wall so it can function as a separate room. Do I need to get an architect for this, bearing in mind I don’t know 100% the best way forward? And where do I choose one from? Is RIBA a good place to start?

By: Mermaid07

Mermaid07 — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 10:40:14 +0000

Has anyone changed their loft/ conversion to a reverse level home – having the lounge etc up in the loft area – if so would love to hear from you.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 13:09:04 +0000

Hi George
I LOVE the Home show – you manage to do such amazing and different things to peoples houses! A group of friends and i were chatting and think you should come and do a Jersey special and do all of our houses for us! Anyway, the reason i write… we are about to embark on a loft conversion. Currently we have a 2.5 (small nursery) bed house. Our double bedroom has an en suite with shower and we have a house bathroom and downstairs loo too.

We are looking to chop and change the house upstairs a bit as we will loose space in our bathroom to put in the new stairs, we are going to make our current en suite into the house bathroom (there is space).

In the loft we will have a double bedroom and en suite. So we cant decide whether to loose our old house bathroom all together and make it a study or to keep it as a smaller shower ensuite to our spare room… any thoughts greatly appreciated! I dont want to have a loo overkill in a little house but cant decide if its just silly to loose the chance of having an ensuite for guests. We could have a small study space in our loft landing.

I am also expecting our second baby in September so the conversion has a pretty tight timeline so all ideas would be welcome so we can get the show well and truly on the road! (initial plans are with Planning currently)

Hope to hear from you.
Sarah

By: Kez

Kez — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:55:46 +0000

George, we own a chalet bungalow and have pp to increase the downstairs as well as the size of the upstairs, including head height and dormers. This will give us room upstairs for a master bedroom and 2 smaller childrens rooms. Our problem is how best to fit in a family bathroom and an ensuite. We’ve consulted builders and the guy who did our building plans but seem to have reached a dead end. Is this the type of problem that you can advise on? We’d be interested in paying for this advice! Many thanks.

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