Wondering whether you need to get an architect involved to help design your loft conversion? Well, the simple answer is no, you don’t, however, it’s not always that simple. While an architect isn’t essential for this kind of work, they can help to save you a lot of headaches, and also money. They can help to make the whole process easier and ensure the whole project goes according to plan. We’ll take a closer look in this article.
Do I Need an Architect for a Loft Conversion?
- 12th November 2021
- Posted by: Sebastian Grayson
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Table of Contents
Multiple Aspects to Consider
When you have a traditional extension built on your home, you’re typically starting from scratch, which is relatively simple. However, with a loft, you are working with a predetermined space. This can make things tricky, especially as a lot of lofts were not built with future conversion in mind. A lot needs to be considered structurally, and the interior needs to be carefully considered to avoid problems down the line.
Choosing to convert a loft without an architect’s help comes with several risks, including:
- Poor design – this can lead to your house price decreasing rather than increasing
- Planning refusal
- Financial penalties – if planning permission requirements aren’t followed
- Extra costs due to needing to hire contractors or structural engineers to perform the work of an architect
The risks listed above all require different specialists to solve, including environmental officers, planning departments, structural engineers, building control, plumbers, and electricians. However, an architect can help you to address each of these issues during the early stages of the project, helping to ensure it runs much more smoothly. They can also help to facilitate each step of the process.
Consider the Value of Your Property
A lot of people think that an architect is purely there to help ensure the loft conversion is compliant and designed well; however, it’s important to also consider how the conversion will affect the value of your property.
A poorly designed loft conversion can lower the resale price of your home, and if you fail to meet the building regulations, you can’t legally advertise your conversion as an extra room. Even if you don’t currently have any plans to sell and move, things do change, and you may have an unexpected move in your future. Should this happen, you may find that mortgage providers will refuse to lend the amount the future buyer requires, and home insurance companies may also decline insurance. This can lead to you needing to take out an indemnity policy before you can sell your home.
How Simply Easy Refurbs Can Help
If you choose to hire Simply Easy Refurbs to perform your loft conversion, we will ensure an architect is part of the project from start to finish. We can help with the three main types of loft conversion – hip-to-gable, dormer, and roof light – and also advise you on which of these will work best in your current home. Our architect will ask you a number of questions about your current property and how you want to transform the space to help determine this.
With the above information at hand, we will guide you through the loft conversion process, and provide you with precise and clear information about how you can transform your loft and what to expect. We aim to make the whole process as easy and hassle-free as possible, and truly believe that an architect is a key part of this.
If you’re interested in converting your loft, give us a call on 0203 648 9687, or send us an email. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible with a free, no-obligation quote.
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