Loft Conversion and Insulation is a Perfect Christmas Gift
What to Invest and What to Expect of Loft Conversion
Many of us dream of moving into a larger home but end up depending on other things that are usually not under our control – such as finding the right sized property, negotiating the right price, undertaking necessary repair work and that is just a beginning. Well, this is why it does not come as a surprise that loft conversions are among the most popular project in the UK, simply because you can get that extra space you need but without having to deal with all these additional issues. Of course, this also includes a budget, but there are much more things that you can decide upon and thus turn your draught, dark and unused loft into anything you want – from a children playroom, luxurious bedroom, stylish living room for your guests or an office. Now, we would only like to emphasize that there are some things that should be an indispensable part of the project, if you want to do everything right. With the holiday season upon us, we believe that loft conversion and insulation are a perfect Christmas gift.
Where to Start?
Now, if you have set your mind to a loft conversion and insulation project, you will need some pointers on where to start<. You are well aware that the entire process will depend on the type of your loft, its size, accessibility, local building regulations, your plans and probably most important, your budget. This is why we advise you to firstly make a plan, that is, check whether your loft can be converted into a living space. Basically, if you are living in an older home, it is more likely that the loft will be eligible for conversion, just like homes built somewhere after the 60s are more likely to have deep pitched roof making them somewhat more difficult to convert.
Once you have determined that the conversion project can be implemented, you need to make a value-for-money analysis, which means that you need to assess whether it is cost-efficient to commence the conversion project or you would just be better off with moving into a larger property. The moving costs vary depending on many factors but the surveys can show that you can spend even up to £30.000 on legal fees, commissions, removals etc. On the other hand, converting your loft into a living space can add to your home’s value even up to 20% and with only some basic conversions. This means that the conversion can basically pay itself off, in case you ever decide to sale your property.
How Much Will Loft Insulation Cost?
Another important question that needs answered refers to the overall loft conversion and insulation price. As upper mentioned, this will depend on many things, but we can give you a rough calculation. For example, according to the available data, loft conversions can cost around £50.000 in London, while the costs in other areas in the UK go from £20.000 to £35.000. Please note that these costs can be decreased in case you decide to do some of the work yourself, which can be successfully applied to adding insulation. You should know that there are certain insulation materials that are not too costly and are quite easy to install. This goes for fibre insulation products (such as glass or rock) wool where you can even find specialized products that are designed for loft insulation such as Knauf loft roll, which has all the characteristics you need from an insulation material. Sheet insulation is another option and can be ideal for conversion projects since it will not take any of the space and will still allow some heat exchange between the loft and the rest of your home.
Then, the overall price will also depend on what you want to turn your loft into. For example, if you're just planning to insulate at floor level as a DIY project, 270mm of rockwool insulation for the loft area of 80m2, without boarding over the floor with T&G chipboard, will cost around £470 (including VAT and shipping).
If you want to turn your loft into a usable storage space, including insulating your loft at ceiling and floor level, this can cost you up to £1.500, small loft conversion insulation project can cost around £10.000-15.000 while large projects (with insulation, stairs, electrical fixings, roof lights and joists) can cost up to £35.000. If you are considering installing some extras such as a bathroom or additional insulation to the walls and ceiling, this can add to your costs up to £8.000.
What Are the Options?
Your options in converting your loft will depend on many things, why we believe that you should consult an architect prior to commencing the project. The hired architect should make detailed plans in reference to your options by estimating all the elements, including the type of roof which will be influential to the plan, the headroom and its height, the staircase possibilities, plumbing, insulation positioning and much more.
On the other hand, a building constructor you hire should provide you with all the information on applicable UK and local regulations, since everything should be done by the book. This is why you should imperatively consult regulations and acquire all necessary permits prior to commencing your project. This goes not only for loft conversion but also insulation, since UK Building regulations impose the minimal value of insulation that must be added to a residential loft. Although this may sound boring and time consuming, it will, believe it or not, save you both money and time on the long run.
Insulation Shop offers a wide range of loft insulation products. Send your quote enquiries to info@insulationshop.co or order directly from our insulation online shop.