Loft extension – Everything you need to know

Having a loft extension is becoming more popular. It will not only give you more space but it will add value to your house when you come to sell it. Yet make sure you do your research before getting one. There are lots of things you can do to let the light in, it can be difficult to know what to choose.

The different styles of extension

With loft extensions, there are 3 main styles, each suited for different reasons and with different costs to build. Here we have the styles and why they are more suited to different houses.

Velux (Roof light)

This style of loft extension is the cheapest, once complete it will leave you with sloping ceilings with velux windows installed to let the light in (other roof light manufacturers are available). There are over 20 different sizes of roof lights in Velux’s range and each of those have different opening options too. If you have a large loft space, then this option should you suite you well.

Dormers

A dormer is a popular extension, and often won’t require planning permission (all loft conversions need building control approval though) as it gives a greater amount of headroom and allows normal vertical windows to be installed, giving better views from the bedroom.

In most cases dormers are located on the side or rear of the of the house. It is possible to install a dormer to the front of your property, but this is subject to planning permission. We will be able to advise you whether we think this would be advisable or not, just get in touch to arrange a free site visit.

Hip to Gable

This is a popular way to increase head height in a loft, it is relatively straight forward and can double the useable space within your loft. This type of extension is more popular in semi-detached houses, where there is an existing hip, as this is traditionally how their roof is laid out. This type of work wont necessarily require planning permission either, and so is a great way of getting extra bedrooms in your home, and adding value at the same time.

Making the most of your space

Now you have this extra space, you need to make the most of it. Therefore, we have some suggestions to help make the room feel as spacious as possible.

Use light colour

By using light colours it allows the room to feel bigger and more spacious. The light colours reflect the light rather than absorbing it with dark colours making it feel smaller.

Big windows

This continues to the last point, try to get as much light in the room as possible, this will help reflect the light coloured walls. When planning your loft extension, make sure you acknowledge where the sun comes up to try and place your windows in areas where you will get as much natural light as possible.

Built in shelves and extra storage options

Having built in shelves will decrease the amount of furniture on the floor making the floor space seem bigger. Make sure you have built in shelving all the way to the ceiling to make the room look taller and also increasing the space for storage. It is also a great idea to use the space in the eaves where there is limited head height to keep the boxes you would usually store in the loft, sliding doors can hide these away.

En-suites

The right loft conversion design can give you the master bedroom and en-suite you have always dreamed of. This room in a loft is often the biggest bedroom in the house, so it is always a good idea to try to fit in a beautiful en-suite to give your new master bedroom that 5 star feel. Head height for showers can be an issue, but feature wetrooms can reduce the step into a shower tray and give the loft a real wow factor.

If you are wanting a loft extension, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a design planning. Call us on 01916 80 80 88 for more information.