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| To
be able to make good use of your loft, you need to have a reasonable
amount of available floor space and headroom. This is determined by
the type of roof structure you have. If your house was built after
1965, it is quite likely that the roof was built using "trussed
rafters", creating a network of timbers criss-crossing the
loft. The bad news is that you can't usually alter this type of roof
and a loft conversion is probably out of the question without
replacing the roof structure. Sorry! |
| If
your roof is of traditional "rafter and purlin"
construction, where a large beam (or "purlin") runs
horizontally along the roof about half way up to support the roof
rafters, this is a better option for conversion. A steeper roof
pitch will be another benefit, allowing more headroom. For
comfortable use, you really need a minimum height of 2.3m (7
'6") available over half the floor area for a bedroom, playroom
or study. If you are short of headroom, creating a dormer window
will help to increase your useable space. There are no rules to say
how small a loft room can be - if you only have space to create a
small office of study, then that is entirely up to you (provided it
meets all the current UK Building Regulations. We'll look at this in
Part 4 of the guide.) |
| Ok,
so you've looked at the roof structure and are happy with the floor
space, now you need to take into account the floor structure. The
existing ceiling joists were only put in to support your first floor
ceilings and will probably not be strong enough to carry floor loads
and so new floor joists will have to be provided. Look to see where
the water tank is standing, as this may have to be repositioned. If
you have a really comfortable headroom, you may be able to create a
storage space above the new loft room ceiling which could house the
water tank. If so, remember to take the weight of the tank into
account in any structural calculations. |
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While
you are examining your loft, take time to look at the condition of
the structure. Check the supporting walls, timbers, and the
underside of the roof covering for any obvious signs of defects or
damage and look to see where electricity cables are laid. If there
are any problems, these will have to be remedied as part of the
conversion project. Just stand for a while and start to get a feel
for the room you will be creating and consider the best positions
for windows and stairs. We will be looking at this in detail later
in the series. Now that you have
assessed your roof construction, size and condition, it's time to
think in more detail about access from the floor below and we'll
tackle this in the next issue. |
| If
you'd like advice about a potential loft conversion project, it's a
good idea to pop along to the Building Control Department of your
local council and they will be happy to help. We'll also look at
where to go for help and advice later in the series. |
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