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Frequently asked questions
You might have questions regarding the House of Opportunities. To make it easier for you, we have collated some of the most frequently asked questions.
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How much does a loft conversion cost?
The answer depends, of course, on the size of the type of property, the loft space and what you wish to have done.
Experience shows that prices start at around £17,500 for an extra bedroom.
Some loft converters will also quote just for the shell, leaving you to add the finishing details and decorate.
The upper limit is entirely up to you! There are examples of an investment of up to £100,000 for a major overhaul of a large loft space! Most projects, however, lie between £20,000 and £35,000. According to a survey by the Nationwide Building Society, the average cost of an extension is around £22,000.
The top five most popular carried out in 2005 were:
1. Conservatory
2. Over-garage extension
3. Loft conversion
4. Single storey extension
5. Extending and remodelling
The best way to find out about the cost in your own case is to use the House of Opportunities model to get some ideas and inspiration and then ask a loft conversion company for more advice and a quotation.
You can click here to find your nearest loft conversion company.
They will also be able to go through the House of Opportunities interactive model with you in your own home and help you to get an idea of what would be possible within your own budget.
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How long does a loft conversion take?
This depends on the complexity and scope of the project. In the case of a fairly straightforward conversion, the main construction will take somewhere around four to six weeks.
Any finishing and decoration work will probably take another two weeks.
To find out how long a loft conversion will take in your own home, the best thing to do is to invite a loft conversion company to visit your home, see the space you wish to convert, and discuss your wishes with them.
You can click here to provide details and receive contact information for one or more loft conversion companies near you.
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How can I finance my loft conversion?
There are many different options for borrowing money for a loft conversion.
You may prefer to contact your present building society or bank for a quote, but generally speaking, it is a good idea to have a talk with more than one source of financing.
There are many different possibilities – a search on the Internet for homeowner loans, for example, will give you plenty to investigate.
The thing to remember, however, is that the loan will be secured against your home, and that you must be very sure of your ability to keep up the repayments.
If you are in doubt, it would probably be a good idea to have a talk with your bank manager before you take the next step.
What you should remember, however, is that nothing in life is free. Apparently attractive loan offers can turn out to be an expensive acquaintance if you do not read the small print very carefully.
The safest thing to do is to take out the loan with a reputable source of finance such as one of the major banks or building societies.
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Will a conversion give added value to my property?
This is a difficult question to answer.
Much depends on where you live, the type of house you live in, the type of loft conversion and, of course, how much you spend on it, and how you finance a possible loan.
You may find at the end of the day that you do not recoup all of the building costs.
The question is whether the value to you in terms of living space and enjoyment is more than any shortfall on the increased value of the house after all the costs are paid.
Generally speaking, though, a loft conversion will probably make it easier to sell your house some time in the future.
As far as extra value is concerned, most estate agents agree that an extra bedroom is the most financially attractive way of improving a family house.
And from the cost point of view, converting an attic is usually a lot easier that building an extension.
The extent to which the loft conversion fits into the rest of the house is a critical factor.
Here, the staircase is important. A staircase in the same style all the way from the ground floor up to the loft, looking like it was there all the time, will make everything look much more natural and attractive.
Another important factor is to use the same decorative features as in the rest of the house, for example skirting boards, picture rails, ceiling heights etc.
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What about planning permission?
It is important to check whether your plans will cause problems later before signing on the dotted line with a loft converter or loan source.
When designing your loft conversion, you need to think of whether your home is in a conservation area or even whether it is a listed building.
Will you compromise the privacy of your neighbour by putting in extra windows? Will the conversion mean raising the roof?
The safest thing is to contact your local authority Planning Department. Planning Permission costs £110 everywhere while the Building Control Application fee for Building Control approval varies.
If your application is successful, you will have to pay an inspection fee. You will probably get a decision within two to three months.
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What regulations should I think about?
You must seek approval if the converted space is to be used on a regular basis. This means submitting plans to the Building Control Office. You can find details of your local Building Control Office at http://www.labc.co.uk/offices. This web site also has a lot of interesting information about building regulations, how to make an application, electronic applications and a lot more.
Your application will take up to eight weeks to process and will involve an administration fee. You should reckon on this costing around £600.
Another very useful site is http://www.odpm.gov.uk, where you can find a lot of specific information.
Something else to check is the need for an emergency exit window. VELUX roof windows will invariably meet the requirements of a Means of Escape window.
You should also give some thought to the materials you use.
These must meet certain thermal performance requirements.
VELUX roof windows meet the thermal performance requirements of roof windows, and use environmentally sound wooden frames that come from sustainable forests in Scandinavia.
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Choosing the right loft converter!
Loft conversions can be a complex matter.
This means that you must be very sure of your DIY skills and knowledge of proper building methods before attempting one yourself.
It may also be a good idea to consult with an architect before contacting a loft conversion company.
Make sure you obtain written quotations from at least two loft converters.
Estimates are not good enough. Ask each company for references from other projects similar to yours.
You should also check the financial solidity of potential suppliers and make sure that you agree payment in a way that does not leave you vulnerable to delays or shoddy work.
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How do I choose the correct roof windows?
Obviously, we believe that VELUX roof windows are the best solution, either in connection with a full loft conversion, or if all you want to do at present is to have more light in your loft.
The reason is that VELUX windows are based on 80 years of experience, rigorous trials in all kinds of environments, and that they are designed by experts for quality, reliability and performance. They give you more and better light, and there's a huge range of sun protection options to choose between from interior roller blinds and pleated blinds to remote controlled outside awning blinds and roller shutters.
If you choose VELUX roof windows, we also recommend that you check with potential suppliers that their installers have been trained and certified by VELUX and are already experienced in fitting VELUX roof windows into every type of roof.
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Order or download free brochures with exciting ideas about how to get the most out of your loft conversion with VELUX roof windows and blinds.
Order brochure
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