If we had £10,000 to spend on our homes, more than a third of us would spend it on a loft conversion, says a new survey. Fay sweet meets two families who attacked the attic
Attic conversions top the list as the most popular major home-improvement project. According to a recent survey, loft conversions took almost 36 per cent of the votes, with kitchens at 27 per cent. It is only in recent years that home-owners have really begun to experiment with the potential of the architectural space above their heads. Many have discovered that, for the price of a new family car, attics and roofs can be transformed into appealing, high-quality rooms that are peaceful and full of light. By Gaining additional space you will not only avoid the expense and disruption of moving, but will add value to your home.
"Around 90 per cent of our customers are families with children aged under five," says Adrian Newman of building company Loft Rooms. "And of those, 85 per cent to 90 per cent are looking to gain an extra bedroom with en-suite bathroom."
The majority of projects to add at least one large room or a bedroom with en-suite bathroom, cost between £30,000 and £40,000.
"Attic rooms can be the best in the house," says Newman. "With lots of windows, the place will be bright and sunny, and its tranquil up there because of the distance from the street, combined with tough regulations on heat and sound insulation."
"The new space is exactly what we'd hoped for"
While converting the attic has become one of the most popular ways of extending our space, it can be a complex business, as Rochelle Scholar discovered.
"One year on from starting my little project, I had no room and no view," says Rochelle, From Walthamstow.
"No one told us about all the pieces of paper: the plans, building permission, structural engineer reports, and party wall agreements that all have to be in place before you even start. It's like fighting a many-headed beast. You think you've got everything sorted and then something else pops up."
Because they liked the neighbourhood, Rochelle and her family - husband Brandon and daughters Miranda, eight, and Rosalind, six - did not want to move from their Victorian terrace. But with a baby on the way, more space was needed; a conversion seemed the answer. "We tried several builders, and prices started to grow, from £5,000 to £16,000 and upwards," recalls Rochelle. Then came the matter of plans. "I had assumed that, because the job was so simple, the builder would arrange these, but we were asked to employ an architect."
They found one who drew up plans for a conversion he estimated would cost £26,00. Builders' quotes came and went; eventually one was chosen. "Then he said he couldn't start without a structural engineer's report - again we're back to zero."
Next came the party wall agreement, which cost £500 - the plans and structural engineer's report had already cost £500 each. "and that was before the builder had stepped through the door."
Finally another builder, Loft Logic, was found, which quoted £19,500. "The job was completed in three weeks and an on budget, and it looks great," says Rochelle. The first sleep-over: "It's been a steep learning curve and a long time coming." says Rochelle. "But the new space is exactly what we'd hoped for."
There was one more cost to her bill: another £500 was paid to the council to check the work had been carried out to meet building regulations.
Final cost:£21,500
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