A loft conversion is a great way to expand your living space in a way which best suits your needs, a playroom, additional bedroom and shower room, the choice is completely yours. A loft conversion is less disruptive than moving home and less expensive, with no solicitor fees, no stamp duty and all other costs that can be incurred with moving home.

A loft conversion generally adds an additional 50% on top of your initial loft conversion investment. So if you spend £40,000 on your loft conversion, you've added £60,000 on to your property's value.

For your property to be elligable for a loft conversion, you can initially find this out yourself quite easily. If you get yourself a tape measure and measure from the underside of the ridge beam (highest point of your roof inside your loft space) to the top of your ceiling joist your stood on. If the measurement is 2.2 meters or more, your loft has enough inital height for a conversion and it is a good sign it can have a loft conversion.

Every house and every loft conversion is different and unique to your property, which is why it makes it hard to put a general price on it. Loft conversion costs typically range from £20,000 up to around £60,000, with a bedroom and bathroom addition generally costing around £40,000.

A loft conversion on your home is considered to be permitted development, not requiring planning permission, but there are limits and conditions to this:

• Terraced houses up to an additional 40 cubic mentres of space.
• Semi-detached houses up to an additional 50 cubic metres of roof space.
• No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope the faces the highway.
• No part higher than the original height of the roof.
• Materials to be similar to the existing property.
• No verandas, raised platforms or balconies.
• Not permitted in designated areas.

For more information visit the planning portal.

All developments must be built to building regulation standards, your local authority or an approved building inspection company can suppkly one. Failiure to have one can devalue your property if you decide to sell.

As part of The Part Wall Act 1996, you must notify your adjoining neighbours if you live in a terraced or semi-detached house before you do any work on your loft.

Which ever loft conversion company you decide on using, the company will usually be able to offer the full service from the inital architects design to completion. You can of course choose your own architect, but this may increase your costs, as a company offering the full service look at making a profit across the whole build, rather than just supplying the plans, and also can be easier for the company as they know how their own architect works and vice versa.

If you do find you have your heating system or water tanks located in the loft space, an initial survey is carried out by a heating engineer to give the best possible solution. Usually we recommend removing the water tanks completely and relocating or replacing the boiler with a pressure cylinder or combination boiler.

An average loft conversion takes around eight weeks, this is from the initial point the scaffolding goes up around your property until it's fully completed. Don't forget more time may be required where plans need to be drawn up and if it is a build where planning permission will be required.

It is very rare for people to move out whilst their loft is converted, there is no requirement to as there is minimal disruption to your original living space whilst the craftsman and builders carry out their work.

With any three-story or higher home will need to ensure that the doors to the landing and stairs are FD30 fire rated. This means they can withstand 30 minutes of heat and fire, enabling you to evacute in case of a fire. 37mm thick doors that can withstand 20 minutes worth of fire may be acceptable where additional heat detectors are fitted that are wired, linked and with battery backup. This would be down to the building control inspectors to decide.

For the majority of the build, the craftsman and builders will be accessing via the scaffolding, so they will not be entering your existing living space. The only time the builders will need access to your home is when the staircase is being installed and any works required around it (making of corridors and/or splitting rooms to accomodate).

All our work is warranted and guaranteed for any issues which may arise with the build for up to 2 years, giving you peace of mind. We are also fully insured for any unexpected situations which may arise.

As we carry out loft conversions on private residencies, we cannot guarantee the ability to enter and see the interior of one of our builds. We could possible point you in the direction of one of our completed builds so you can see the qulity of the finish on the exterior of one of the properties with converted, this of course from the road. We are more than happy to share photos and experiences from our customers with you on the builds we have completed.

We are situated in Southampton and cover Southampton, Romsey, Eastleigh, The New Forest, Winchester, Totton, The Waterside and the surrounding areas. It's always best to contact us with your postcode so we may confirm we can complete your loft conversion for you.

All quotations are valid for 30 days. Due to the fluctuation of building materials and trades, we unfortunately cannot offer a longer period to ensure the best possible price for our customers.