What Happens During a Loft Conversion?

Not a question to which you would expect everyone to know the answer! Like most construction projects things have to get bad before they get better. But here is a rough guide to the normal sequence of events:

Clear out the loft space and remove anything not required. If the old water tank is being removed then this will go early on. Ensure there is good access and space to move.

If steel is going into the building, the next phase involves getting that in. This can be achieved by removing bricks on the side of the building so the steel can slide in the side. Pad stones may be required and this means other rooms can be affected. Once the steel is secured, the roof can be secured and the uprights can be removed. This provides more additional working space. At this point, the size of the new rooms will seem enormous!

Weather depending, the windows can drop into place. It is surprising how quickly this can happen and will help ventilation for the working environment.

Next, it is time to remove any walls or ceilings in preparation for the staircase. Now, your house looks as disrupted as it is going to get!

The staircase goes in and it is all improvement from here. Materials can go up much quicker now and with part of the infrastructure in place, it starts to take shape.

You definitely want good input from your plumber and electrician by now. Anything which has to run under or behind something solid has to be carefully considered. Floors and wall frames can start appearing. Don't forget to make use of any space on top of the steel for storage and think carefully about the size and shape of those doors. Remember the height above the door may be clear in the middle of the room but compromised as the door opens.

Make sure the electrics and pipework have been fully thought out and marked out at this stage. Stud walls go into place and the utilities should be finished and tested.

Finally, the plastering finishes the walls. A good plasterer will make the room look wonderful with smooth, consistent lines. And that, as they say, is job done. You still have painting (before the floors), flooring and furniture to add. Those parts should all be done while the room is as empty as possible. The painter will thank you for that.

Then you get to move in!

S&B Joinery are a team of builders who specialise in loft conversions in cheshire (UK) They are online at http://www.loftconversions-cheshire.co.uk/ This internet resource provides a photographic tour of the portfolio of major projects that have recently been completed.