design

design masterclass: Converting Spaces Great Ideas Experienced renovator and property developer Michael Holmes offers innovative design tips and practical advice

sing the space to provide additional accommodation makes good sense. On a new dwelling it will maximise use of the built volume and bring down Uthe average cost per square metre. In an existing home, converting the loft is often the most cost-effective way to add space. There are two main options when it comes to design: to commission an architectural designer to produce drawings which can then be put out to builders on a competitive tender basis, or to hand the whole project over to a design and build contractor offering a one-stop service. Both will deal with planning permission, if required, and Building Regulations approval.

Think 1 Ahead Designing a roof with future conversion in mind will allow for the expansion of living space should demand arise. Specifying either a cut roof or trusses instead of ‘fink’ trusses will add £1,500-2,000 to the average build cost but hugely simplify the conversion process. In addition, including a This self-contained loft apartment, designed plumbing and heating manifold in the roof by Brooke Fieldhouse Associates (01723 space, siting soil vent (SVP) pipes where they 871388), was created within a 1970s might be needed, and allowing space on bungalow, so the elderly owner’s adult son the consumer unit for power, lighting and could move back home to provide support. other circuits, will bring down the cost of The distinctive curved ceiling has been achieved with tongue-and-groove boards. a conversion. Finally, opt for a ‘warm roof’ Planning permission was not required as design and consider the addition of a full rooflights were inserted instead of staircase. t

homebuilding.co.uk | Homebuilding & Renovating 75 loft conversions | design

Add Glazing sound- 6 proof it 2 to Walls acoustic separation is critical complement rooflights with a glazed gable to maximise light There is a minimum soundproofing requirement, but this is inadequate where The opportunity to introduce This Nottingham loft conversion scheme the use of the attic room is likely to be noisy, in gable walls is often overlooked when by NH Architecture (01246 860547) added such as a playroom. If the floor is to have designing a loft conversion, yet it is a great a new master with en suite. a hard surface, such as a wooden floor, an way to introduce light. As with any Much of the gable wall has been glazed and acoustic floor is essential. the cill must be 800mm above floor level. opens out, with a Juliet balcony offering Sound can travel between attic rooms and A gable window can be expanded so protection. the floor below by two means: airborne and that the whole triangular impact transfer. The first can be reduced gable wall is glazed, with a by making sure the structure is airtight, structural frame of timber taping insulation materials together, and and steel reinforcement where using sealant around the floor edges, etc. necessary. This can really add The voids between the floor can be wow factor to a loft room. before filled with high-density acoustic insulation, Glazing a gable wall is Juliet although this cannot be used around unlikely to be an issue on recessed spotlights. Using high-density fibre- a forward or rear-facing balcony reinforced plasterboard (e.g. Fermacell) can gable and may be classed Where it is not possible to add a roof terrace also reduce sound transfer. as Permitted Development or balcony that you can step out onto, the Impact transfer can be reduced by using (PD). New windows in a side solution is to add a balustrade just beyond the caulking to separate the structural floor joists doors (which are designed to open inwards). elevation will always need from the wooden floorboards and ensuring On a traditional building this is often in black- planning permission unless painted wrought there are no fixings – screws or nails – they are obscure-glazed with iron, but on a more contemporary between the flooring and the joists. any opening part at least 1.7m building a glass balustrade is above floor level. discreet and simple.

This luxurious smart loft conversion is kitted out with a ) 5 Control4 Smart home system, The Ultimate age p enabling control of the ceiling Go Hip to Install a Space-Saving speakers, blinds, CCTV and Master Suite revious front door entry. The en suite p 7 Gable features two waterproof create a personal haven on the top floor 3 4 staircase 26-inch HD televisions, ceiling Where the roof of a property is hipped, speakers and mood lighting Away from activity in the rest of the house, the attic level can be e.g. sloping on all four sides (three on a introduce winders and kites to save space, or use spiral semi-detached house), there may not be the perfect place to create a master bedroom suite. “I want to be ); Jeremy Phillips ( able to stay up there and relax, reflect and clear my mind for days sufficient roof volume with full headroom to The ideal position for the staircase in a two storey house make conversion viable. However, the roof Slimline stairs on left without anyone bothering me,” were the instructions given by a a loft conversion is directly above the staircase below, running in the same can often be altered from a hip to gable on company director who works long hours to London-based design by Econoloft direction. Where there is insufficient headroom – minimum one or both sides, forming a gable pitched and build specialist Ashville Inc. (econoloft.co.uk) 1.9m at the centre and 1.8m at the string – a carefully Ashville Inc interpreted the brief by creating a space in which roof with headroom along the full length of ); Econoloft ( positioned window or rooflight can make all the their client could rest, relax, work and entertain. A new master suite

the roof. right difference. However, where this is not possible or practical, A hip to gable conversion may not was created by remodelling the roof space, doubling the floor area require planning permission providing the most space-efficient staircase configuration should be and increasing the headroom. As well as the bedroom area, there the design complies with the criteria for found. is a living space, work area, walk-in wardrobes and a beautiful en The maximum pitch under Building Regulations is 42° suite bathroom. Permitted Development (PD). This allows ); Ashville Inc ( 3 3 Features include underfloor heating beneath the wooden

and although there is no minimum width for a staircase, left

an increase of 50m to the house (40m on p flooring, together with air conditioning to give total climate

a terraced house), providing no part of the less than 600mm is unlikely to prove practical. Landings to to roof is higher than the original. change direction take up space, but these can be avoided control. The bed is designed to look as if it floats by concealing the It is always worth checking with the local by using winders and kites (triangular treads) so that stairs legs out of view, and is underlit by subtle LED lighting. The multi- circuit lighting scheme is controlled on a Control4 Smart home authority as to whether or not planning can turn at the same time as rising; a spiral staircase is made permission is required. It may be possible to system, which also controls other areas of the home via 7-inch up entirely of winders. For a single-room loft conversion touch-screen wall panel displays. undertake work using PD rights that would the Building Regulations will accept a space-saver staircase, : NH Architecture ( hy Designed with all of the luxuries of a spa, the bathroom features not comply with local planning policy were which has alternating treads. p permission required. a steam room, Jacuzzi bath and hi-tech toilet. hotogra t P

76 Homebuilding & Renovating | homebuilding.co.uk homebuilding.co.uk | Homebuilding & Renovating 77 loft conversions | design

Types of Conversion Install Feature 10 Rooflights… maximise glazing to get the most out of your loft space Rooflight Conversion The standard solutions for bringing light into Vision (below), is a good option for a , an attic room are the rooflight and the dormer especially above a stair landing. Rooflights can window, but it’s really worth considering feature be fixed or hinged for access to the flat roof. windows, which can bring in more light and When closed, no part of the frame is visible, create a sense of space, as well making the most except on very large rooflights which are made of any views. from two or more units supported by a steel A bank of rooflights arranged together, mullion, although even this can be replaced by a typically in a symmetrical pattern, look structural glass beam. Dormer Conversion impressive and be achieved using both conventional and conservation rooflights. Other options include ridgelights – a bank of Walk-on rooflights from glazing running along one or both sides of the Glazing Vision (glazing- ridge – and glazed roof lanterns. vision.co.uk) Where the loft has a flat roof there are many options for introducing light, including and pyramids, or roof lanterns with arched, gabled or hip gabled profile. The frameless flat rooflight, by Glazing Mansard Conversion

A bank of large Velux rooflights create Or Be More an impressive feature in this loft Hip-to-Gable Conversion conversion, opening outwards to form Juliet balconies (velux.co.uk) 11 Conservative ) on period homes and barn conversions, a discreet option may be best

right The conservation rooflight is a modern sections to ensure that each pane is always

); Lumen ( Bring in reproduction of Victorian cast iron single- taller than it is wide. As well as creating

Mansards Work right

glazed rooflights commonly used in more pleasing proportions, this reflects the Light agricultural and industrial buildings during limitations on the size of glazed panels in above 9 the 19th century. the 19th century before the development of If budget is limited, the least expensive on Terraces ision ( 8 V type of loft conversion design is a Designed with a thin, low-profile frame, float glass. many local authorities prefer this steeply pitched solution the conservation rooflight – typically Modern conservation rooflights are made

lazing ‘rooflight’ conversion, also known as a G

); ‘Velux’ conversion after the well-known powder coated in black – sits flush with from steel and have a thermally broken A – named after 17th century a mansard structure, creating space with manufacturer. the plane of the roof and is visually less frame and low-E double-glazed units, to above This type of conversion only works

French architect François Mansart – is a full headroom over a significant proportion obtrusive than a conventional rooflight. improve energy efficiency. t elux ( roof that has two slopes, with the lower of the property, without raising the ridge V where there is already a large amount In Conservation Areas and on listed ); of loft space with full headroom, as Below: This conservation rooflight from Lumen creates a slope being so steeply pitched as to almost height. Usually rooflights are added in left buildings, the local planning authority low-impact opening (lumenrooflight.co.uk) be vertical and the upper being very low the front plane of the roof, but in some the roof itself remains unaltered, other is likely to be far more receptive to than by cutting in rooflights between pitch, often down to just 5-8°. Spanning situations it may be possible to alter the proposals for additional openings in the the . from gable to gable, or from hip to hip on roof to a mansard design at the front, too, As no volume is added, planning roof if conservation rooflights are used. In a four-sided mansard roof, it maximises the effectively creating a whole additional storey permission is not required in England many instances they are a requirement of volume of interior space within the attic on the building. and Wales providing the work planning consent. They are also favoured without requiring masonry. The steeply Many local authorities favour mansard constitutes Permitted Development by the National Trust, English Heritage and pitched slope is typically punctuated with roof conversions, as having a slate-clad roof (flats, listed properties and properties many conservation designers for all period where Permitted Development rights

dormer windows or glazed doors. extending from party wall to party wall of a : Aspire Extensions: 0845 872 5500 ( properties. hy The design works particularly well on terraced house is considered far less visually p are restricted or removed will still need Conservation rooflights are also terraced houses where the rear section of obtrusive than a large box dormer set consent). identifiable because larger window openings hotogra the roof can be removed and replaced with within party walls. P are divided vertically by glazing bars in

78 Homebuilding & Renovating | homebuilding.co.uk design 12 li “ awkward becoming increasingly common. One option becoming increasinglycommon.Oneoption costs, however,thiskindofconversionis can proveuneconomic. replaced tocreateausefulclearspaceandthis supporting theraftershavetobecompletely for conversion,asthestructuraltrusses of loftspaceisoftenconsideredunsuitable together bymetal‘gangnail’plates.Thistype of thintimberswithW-shapedstruts,held engineered ‘fink’trussesmadeupfromaweb Many housesbuiltsincethe1960shave 80 g S

new roofsupport(telebeam.co.uk) telescopic aluminiumbeamstocreate for finktrussroofs,usinglightweight T With property values exceeding conversion With propertyvaluesexceedingconversion elebeam is an innovative solution 13 h teel beams are teel beams are rules forPermitted Providing thevolumedoesnotexceed thatallowedunderthe the loftspacewithfullheadheight isthewraparounddormer. innovative designsolutionthatcreates additionalvolumein window is usually limited on the rear and side elevations. (three inthecaseofasemi),scale ofaconventionaldormer On abuildingwithhippedroof,whichslopesonallfoursides permission.

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sh in below A k roof ou n n u l ) – has made the process ) –hasmadetheprocess d f nd all c o u n n v e d r e si r o p ns d d 14 which hascreatedabalcony by rooflightsandtheadditionofadormer, T overcome thisrequirement (nationwidefiresprinklers.co.uk), will A an automatedsmokevent,such as the level. from theatticstoreyatfirstfloorlanding open groundfloormuststillbeseparated stairway to30-minuterating.However,the doors, ortoupgradethestructureand having toupgradeexistingdoorsfire negotiate withBuildingControlandavoid and self-closingfiredoors. and separatedbyfire-resistingconstruction escape routeseachleadingtofinalexits final escapedoor in the hallway, or to two route leadingfromtheatticdowntoa create anenclosedfire-protectedescape open planlayouthastobeadapted layout. Withoutasprinklersystem,an discharge intoanopenplangroundfloor requirements, evenwherethestairs a loftconversiontomeetfiresafety D one habitablefirstfloorroom. protected routefromtheatticto atleast the firstfloorlandingsothatthere isa his loft kitchen is illuminated - omestic sprinkler systems can enable omestic sprinklersystemscanenable Vent developed by Nationwide With a sprinkler system it is possible to With asprinklersystemitispossibleto T his usually means subdividing his usuallymeanssubdividing

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Photography: Telebeam (above left); Ashville Inc (left); James Robinson (above); LoftPOD (right) 16 a below instead. below instead. so theconversion becomespartoftheroom hallway meanssacrificing toomuchroom, create aseparatestaircasereached fromthe where theamountofspacerequired to well. Thisisalsoagooddesignsolution building –amezzaninedesigncan work or inthecaseofaconversion asmall instance inasmallterracedhouse orflat, by afullloftconversionislimited–for Where theamountofspacetobegained

se required foranindependentdwelling. the open market, or to dispose of the property separately from the main house, consent is occupied by members, dependents or guests of the main household. incidental totheenjoymentofmaindwellinghouse,whichmeansitcanonlybe permission isnotusuallyrequiredtoconvertaloftintoanannexe,buttheusemustbe Consider addingagrannyannexeorhomeforolderchildrenintheloftspace.Planning a 15 m

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space x e homebuilding.co.uk 17 The loftcomponentsaredeliveredtosite The podiscranedintoplace The loftisfinished in justunderaweek f house inLeicester( into placeonamidterraceVictorian was thusavoided. brackets. was liftedcarefullyintoplaceonsteel in readinessviaascaffold,andtheloft but isintheregionof£1,000/m fitted, variesaccordingtospecification for the LoftPO assembled in just one week. calculations, themainstructurewas the signoff,designandengineering in lessthanfourweeks,butfollowing 27m designed and delivered a fully finished maximise energy efficiency. be verywellinsulatedandairtight,to controlled conditionsallowtheloftto with minimalsitedisruption,factory- A decorated, carpetedandfurnished. extension inlittlemorethanaday, it ispossibletoaddaloftconversion Using modularconstructionmethods pod.co.uk inishe s well as the ease and convenience, s wellastheeaseandconvenience, LoftPO T Cumbria-based LoftPO he existing roof had been removed he existingroofhadbeenremoved 2 loft space by road, and craned it |Homeb d A D full scaffold during this work fullscaffoldduringthiswork designed and built the loft designedandbuilttheloft in D

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Lower 18 Floors In a Conservation Area alterations to the roof may not be permitted, especially increasing the existing ridge height. Where loft space is limited, a solution is to lower the ceiling in the storey below. This will add to costs compared to a standard conversion, as the existing floor/ceiling joists will need to be removed and replaced at a lower level, and a new plaster­board ceiling added in the storey below. There is no minimum ceiling height required by the Building Regulations, but the minimum practical ceiling height is 2.2-2.4m (2m in an attic room). The maximum height Ceiling heights practically need to that existing ceilings can be reduced by is be 2.2-2.4m else the ceiling in the usually dictated by the height of the window lower storey may have to be dropped. heads, although it is possible to form a box Econoloft (econoloft.co.uk) has created detail around the window heads, which will this luxurious master suite above a be incorporated within the of the attic Beckenham terrace at a total cost of room. £34,000

designer’s advice Create a Roof “Look for Ways Terrace to Increase Light” 19 Daniel Louisy, director of ashville an outdoor area will add another dimension to your conversion inc (020 7449 2638), gives his tips on loft conversion Creating an outdoor living space as part of a Many roof terraces are built over a flat “When converting roof or loft space into loft conversion can add an extra dimension roof that is at the same floor level as the living space, it is important to utilise to the space. It can also make better use of loft conversion, covering part of the storey every square inch. In prime postcodes an loft level space, as a feature like an inverted immediately below. Typically the roof will additional 20-30ft2 gained at the design dormer – cut into the roof – or a cabriolet need to be strengthened to take foot traffic, stage can make a huge difference to rooflight can extend right to the eaves where and a doorway added for access. The terrace property value, while adding a minimal amount to the build cost. head room in the loft would be too low. surface will need to be non-slip and suitable “In the design process we primarily for foot traffic; a balustrade will need to be use areas with full head height for living erected around the perimeter of the terrace. space and pitched roof areas for offices, A change of use of an existing roof to a roof bathrooms and storage. We are always terrace requires planning permission. looking for ways to increase natural light Open in the designed space. A simple example Another option is to create a covered of this would be the introduction of Juliet 20 Plan outdoor area beneath the eaves of a balconies to replace conventional windows, An open plan loft conversion can make projecting gable roof, but this does usually and maximising the number and scale of ) . better use of space than one divided up mean sacrificing some of the internal area. left to form a landing with walls around it to “Internal room sizes and composition are

form a fire-protected staircase, especially governed by client input. We always ask igden ( where the staircase needs to land in the clients: “What do you want this space to do R centre of the space because of the layout on for you?” Any additional living space must ); Nigel the storey below. The fire door separating enhance your lifestyle or cater to it in some p the additional storey from the rest of the way. For example, if a loft is being created to property can be positioned at the foot of to accommodate growing teenagers, our the stairs on the landing, instead of at the recommendation would be two , top, with a small landing at the foot of the and depending on space available, a shared : Econoloft ( hy attic stairs at least as long as the width of Jack and Jill bathroom, or two en suite p the stairs. bathrooms.” hotogra P

82 Homebuilding & Renovating | homebuilding.co.uk