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Owning a property can be very expensive these days, which means having an extra room is a luxury few can afford. Hence loft conversions are the easiest way to acquire some additional living space.

It is the most straightforward and effective way to get more space in an existing structure depending on roof structure and building constraints. 

The loft conversions help to increase the market value of your property and make it more beautiful while giving you additional space. It is extremely important that before you carry out a loft or attic conversion you should have a good knowledge of how loft conversions /extensions will work for your house.

You can hire a loft conversion company to get professional help and if you get the job done right the benefits you achieve are many. A great light-filled area, an extra floor in your house, and finally and most important of all you could also get a handsome return on your investment when you sell. A loft can add an much as 20% to the value of your home. 

Unlike building an extra room or extension to the house the builders need only have access to the roof from the outside. This ensures while the loft conversions are carried out there shouldn’t be too much disruption until the internal stairs are built.

There are different types of loft conversions, and a few of them are discussed below:

Mansard loft conversions

This type of loft conversion gains its name from a French architect Francois Mansart in the 17th Century as his constructions had a very different roof design. You can ask a loft Conversion Company to do this for you and it comes with double slopes which are kept close to each other. One of the biggest benefits of the mansard loft conversion is that it allows you to extract the maximum amount of space available from your loft. 

The loft conversion company will raise the gable walls on both sides of your house to obtain the desired space and then creates a timber frame for the conversion. This is most suited for older properties and will require planning permission before any work can be carried out.

Rooflight loft conversions

In this type of conversion it’s not always necessary to get planning permission and it’s also very cost effective. Here the loft conversion is fitted to align with the roof line while keeping the existing roof structure undisturbed. 

As the roof structure does not require much alteration this attic conversion is less expensive and gets your planning permissions faster. It can be used in properties where there is enough headroom or has planning constraints. As the windows are installed along the roof angle there is a large amount of light.  However you may need to add window blinds for summers or at night.

Dormer Loft extensions

In this, an extension is made to an existing roof allowing extra floor space and headroom, in the same loft space. Generally they extend from the slope of the roof in various styles. On the inside the ceiling is horizontally & the walls are vertical. This is the perfect solution for attics where space is limited. 

You can get a flat roof extension which will get you enough space within the loft conversion but on the outside, many think they are ugly as far as the property is concerned. For this very reason a gable fronted and hipped dormer are more attractive options though you will get less space within the conversion combined with the fact that it costs more, due to the complexity in design.

Whichever type of loft conversion you choose there are some basic tips you should follow to ensure a smooth construction:

• Contact your local planning authorities for the rules and regulations. 

• Hire a professional loft conversion company and ensure you have a contract and warranty with them before you start work. This will ensure you know all changes required to upgrade your house and the health & safety rules are followed. 

• Think & plan all your decisions carefully but be flexible towards changes that may come through on the job. 

In many areas of west London, such as Fulham, Ealing, Shepherds Bush, Kensington and Chiswick attic conversions have become very popular and that has resulted in many unqualified builders offering their services.

Loft conversions in Chiswick in particular is a very active market so make sure you make an informed decision about hiring a builder to convert/extend your loft space.

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