We are a top-notch team of architects London clients rely on to consistently deliver functional and unique buildings. Our experience includes residential and commercial properties. We can help you with individual areas, or you can ask us to oversee the whole project. So, whatever you need, trust us to create it.

If you are looking to modify your home, one way you can do it is with a loft conversion. Before you start the work though, you have to know what it involves. In this post, we will be going over some of the most important points you will have to consider. We suggest you read on for some useful tips and advice.

Weight considerations

Firstly, you have to ensure that your home can handle the weight of one of these conversions. It is obvious that a loft conversion is going to add a new load to your property. Even if it will only be a modest increase, you must check that the building can handle it. To do this, you will have to expose the building’s foundations and inspect them. You should also check the capacity of load bearing walls and the ceilings.

If you need some underpinning for the house, it may double your budget. Plus, any need for steelwork to reinforce walls and ceiling can be costly. As a result, this is a critical consideration when planning a conversion.

Fire safety

You also need to upgrade fire safety for the loft. This is more important in some properties than others. For example, conversions on bungalows often don’t have much influence on your home’s fire safety. This is beyond ensuring that your new windows are big enough to escape through.

With a home where two storeys turn into three though, serious implications will be present. Your new floor shall require at least 30 minutes worth of fire protection. For you, this may mean re-plastering the ceilings underneath it, as well as separating the loft room with a fire door. What’s more, you will require one escape-sized window per room too. There are certain skylights out there specifically with that in mind.

Helpful services for loft conversions from top architects in London

At Coffey Architects, we take every detail into account when working on a project. This is the case when we build something new and when we add on to what is already there. Ultimately, we want the final result to be something everyone will love.

So, if you require assistance from the leading architects London has, please let us know. We know that loft projects can be tricky and disruptive, but we can help you make the most of them.