Why Move House When You Can Move On Up? London Loft Conversions Transform Domestic Spaces
In major cities with lots of people and a lack of housing stock, loft conversions transform the skyscape. Of course, from a glorified add-on box to a creative architectural space, some of them are more elaborate than others. London is particularly suited to loft conversions — if you can’t move house due to rising costs or just prefer not to, moving on up adds value to your home while adding necessary space.
Sometimes you can’t mess around with exterior configuration of the roof, due to the refusal of planning permission in a conservation area. To maintain the line of your roof while using all the available space, the creation of a ‘two-tier’ loft conversion with a staircase and a second living area is a clever way to use the space.
For an average cost of around £50,000, and taking around six weeks depending on the extent of your requirements, you can have additional room for the kids or a great vantage point overlooking your backyard garden. There are certain essential practical considerations, such as head-height (in the UK, living spaces must be at least 7’6″ high) and modern insulation requirements. From the insertion of a simple Velux window to more complex designs incorporating floor to ceiling glazing, an extra staircase and maybe a balcony or two, you can turn your regular two-bedroom terrace into a desirable and roomy townhouse.
A loft conversion that involves a structure added on to the top of your house improves energy conservation; it prevents heat loss and keeps your home cool in the summer. If it also looks wonderful inside, then you’ve found the modern “Holy Grail” of home reconstruction. Why move somewhere else when you can stay where you are and just get bigger? You also get to design a part of your own space. If the neighbors (and you!) can cope with a couple of months of minor disruption, you can give a lasting and uplifting feel to your whole house.