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In
previous instalments, we have given you an overview of the
basic elements of your loft conversion project, including the
structural and legal requirements. But there is plenty of help
at hand to offer useful information and guide you through your
project from conception to completion.
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Probably the first
point of contact should be the Building Control
department of your local Council. They will be able to
advise on the potential of your loft room and what work
will need to be done to gain Building Regulations
approval. They won’t try to blind you with technical
jargon, their advice is free and can be invaluable!
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may wish to use the services of an architect, either
to prepare the plans for approval, or to act as a
project manager and supervise the entire conversion
work for you. An experienced architect will have the
expertise and knowledge of the skills involved, making
sure that the builder keeps to budget and timescales
and this service could prove very cost-effective. Ring
the Advisory Service of the Royal Institute of British
Architects on 01752 265921 for information on local
architectural practices. There are also builders and
specialist loft conversion companies who are capable
of providing a total service. Contact two or three
companies in your area to see how they can help you -
but make sure that they give you the names and
addresses of at least two of their customers so that
you can visit them and discuss how the company
performed the conversion, before you commit yourself
to anything. It is very important that
you do go and talk to previous customers –
unfortunately, there are many conversion horror
stories around and we don’t want yours to be another
one. |
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are also specialist suppliers you can contact for
information and advice, such as Velux Roof Windows.
Velux produce a very useful free guide called
“Making the most of your loft” and, if you ring
them on 0800 316 8822, they will send this to you,
together with a product & price list. Oakleaf
Industries can supply your staircases such as spiral
stairs, spacesaver stairs and modular staircases,
and are always willing to offer advice and guidance.
Specialist suppliers like these are always happy to
deal with you, your architect or your builder. |
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might find it useful to browse the shelves of your
local newsagent for DIY, self-build or home
improvement magazines to see if there are any
features on loft conversions. Magazines like
“Homebuilding & Renovating” or “Build
It” are worth seeking out. And, of course,
there is always the Internet. The Internet is
packed full of information but knowing where to
look can be quite daunting. A good starting point
might be the web sites for these magazines and
specialist suppliers. They will often have links
to other web sites and you will be able to build
up a good network of favourite sites to give you
ideas, see other peoples’ projects, and help you
to plan your own loft conversion |
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