your loft conversion specialists
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The Elite Lofts Process
We believe planning a loft conversion should be straightforward and transparent. Our process has been designed to give you a clear understanding of your project and the investment required before detailed design work begins.
1. Initial Enquiry
Contact us to discuss your proposed loft conversion and we will arrange a convenient time to visit your property.
2. Free Site Visit
We visit your home to discuss what you would like to achieve and assess the suitability of the property.
During the visit we consider the available loft space, roof structure, potential staircase position, likely conversion type and any relevant planning considerations.
There is no charge or obligation for this initial visit.
3. Your Loft Proposal
Following the site visit, we prepare your personalised Elite Lofts Proposal.
Your Proposal provides a clear overview of the conversion discussed, the overall project investment, what is included, our Price Promise and an explanation of how your project would progress.
Rather than producing detailed drawings and specifications before you have decided who you would like to appoint, we first give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
4. Choosing Elite Lofts
If you decide that Elite Lofts is the right company for your project, simply let us know that you would like to proceed.
We will then request the £500 Project Development Fee, including VAT, and provisionally reserve your position within our programme.
5. Your Bespoke Project Pack
We then develop your loft conversion in much greater detail and prepare your bespoke Elite Lofts Project Pack, including:
• Detailed 3D visuals
• Full construction specification
• Payment schedule
• Programme of works
• Customer contract
This allows the design and specification to be carefully considered and tailored specifically to your home.
6. Design, Structural Calculations & Approvals
We then instruct the relevant design and structural professionals and progress the necessary Local Authority applications.
This stage allows the detailed design, structural calculations and regulatory requirements to be completed well before your construction start date.
7. Construction
Once the required approvals are in place and your agreed start date arrives, our team will begin construction of your loft conversion.
Your project is carefully managed throughout the build, with Local Authority Building Control inspections undertaken at the appropriate stages.
8. Completion
Once construction is complete, we carry out our final checks and ensure the project is completed to the standard you expect.
Following final Building Control inspection, the relevant Completion Certificate is issued.
From the first visit through to completion, our aim is to make the whole process clear, organised and as straightforward as possible.
Types of Conversion
FLAT ROOF DORMER
By far the most common type of conversion is the Dormer. This type of loft conversion creates the most usable floor and ceiling area which often lead to this room becoming the largest within your home. They are most common amongst houses with minimum available height within the loft and can be installed on most types of house
The internal walls are mostly vertical like a normal room of the house with a flat ceiling providing maximum room. This type of loft conversion usually provides more versatility when positioning the new staircase as the new stairwell can often be fitted directly above the existing one so that no space is lost on the existing hallway
The roof of the dormer can normally be pitched or have a flat roof dependent on the existing height of the ridge of the roof
L-Shaped DORMER
Similar to the standard flat roof dormer, this type of loft conversion also creates the most usable floor and ceiling area which often lead to this room becoming the largest within your home. This is most suitable for houses with a rear addition or extension as found in many Victorian properties
Pitched roof dormer
When there is lots of headroom within the loft, it is often possible to create these kind of dormers. They can be more pleasing to the eye within the street scene when placed on the front of the property and may also be required to match other existing properties. Some properties may have 2 or 3 of these on front and/or rear of the property. It is also quite possible to have these on the front combined with a flat roof dormer on the rear to gain maximum space
HIP TO GABLE
A Hip to Gable type loft conversion is most common on Semi-detached, detached, end of terrace or bungalows where the existing roof has 3 or 4 sloping roofs.
The existing ridge of the house is extended out level with the existing end wall to form a ‘gable end’ to the side of the house.
Dependent on the height of the existing ridge a dormer can then be constructed to the rear to maximise the available floor space
VELUX
A Velux loft conversion is normally favoured when the existing footprint of the house is substantial and the ridge is of adequate height. The existing roof shape remains the same as no dormers are added - although smaller ‘pitched roof dormers’ are sometimes added to give a town house kind of appearance.
Staircase positions can sometimes be limited with this type of conversion and all rooms within the new loft conversion have sloping walls as opposed to the dormer type conversion
FAQ
Our most commonly asked questions are below. Please click your pointer over the relevant question to reveal the answer.
Alternatively feel free to contact us and ask any further questions
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The Party Wall Act 1966
Where a property shares an adjoining wall with a neighbour you must have a written agreement between both parties before work commences
Because of the shared ownership of a party wall between neighbours the property owner must notify their neighbour of their intention to undertake any work that will affect the party wall and also receive consent from their neighbour through a written party wall agreement.
You can download our generic party wall agreement to issue to your neighbour for them to sign by following the following link:
If you cannot get written agreement from your neighbours you will need to employ the services of a party wall surveyor.
Further advice is available from your Local Authority or you can read the Party Wall Explanatory Booklet on government planning portal website
Building Regulations
All loft conversion require building regulations approval and some loft conversions also require planning permission
Building regulations must be adhered to as laid down by your local authority and are mainly concerned with the structural integrity and interior building work being undertaken within your house. Drawings and various calculations are submitted to the local building control department who will then check for items as follows;
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the structural strength of the new floor is sufficient
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the stability of the structure (including the existing roof) is not endangered
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safe escape from fire
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safely designed stairs to the new floor
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reasonable sound insulation between the conversion and the rooms below
A loft conversion is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to certain conditions
For further information on Building Regulations please follow this link to the government planning portal: building regulations
Planning Permision
Most major changes to existing buildings or to the local environment need consent - known as planning permission. Without a planning system everyone could construct buildings or use land in any way they wanted, no matter what effect this would have on other people who live and work in their area.
Your local planning authority is responsible for deciding whether a development - anything from an extension on a house to a new shopping centre - should go ahead
Permission is required where you extend or alter the roof space and it exceeds specified limits and conditions.
For further information on planning please follow this link to the government planning portal: planning permision
