Loft storage room conversion to loft bedroom

[Hemmy82]

I hope I can get some advice...
We recently bought a 3 bed mid terrace property.

It has a loft room accessed via a removable wooden staircase via the main bedroom.

When we purchased the property we knew it was not a bedroom, but a luxury loft storage room. We saw proof of the work done.
The existing loft floor was cross braced, and boarded. The entire loft insulated (100mm rockwool) and quilted, plasterboard, plastered, electrics, 2 velux windows at the rear and eaves storage.

It looks beautiful, but it cannot be classed as a habitable room.
We would like to get a proper conversion so we can have a fourth bedroom, including staircase.

Before I start to contact builders for quotes and structural surveyors etc, can anyone with any knowledge of loft conversions let me know if there is the possibility of saving some of the work already done?

Or will the whole thing, carpets, lights, eaves storage, plaster etc all need to be removed?

For reference,  we would be looking at staying within the existing roof line, and not adding a dormer, as we are mid terrace, there is no need for a mansard roof conversion, it would also be one room, no ensuite bathroom.

We have been advised we have enough room in the landing to add a staircase, and the height of the loft is big enough to not add a dormer.

Thank you in advance for any advice...

[Big Jimbo]

Most of what has been done will get either damaged, or torn out. The main thing that sounds iffy is the floor. Although you say it has had bracing, a structural engineer would need to take a peek to see if it would comply with current building regulations. (Which i doubt) I doubt the previous owners did much more than a bit of cosmetic work. If they did, then they would have added the stairs etc, in order to get the uplift in value. The other thing is that all your internal doors, and door stops will need to be changed to comply with fire regs. Linked mains powered smoke alarms on all floors, and a suitable escape window provided in the loft.

[joe90]

As said by @Big Jimbo depends on “what” work was done before and if it meets regs. I would get a loft conversion company (a company that specialises in loft conversions) to come and give you their opinion. You may need to lift some flooring and plasterboard so they can inspect what exists. Then you have a better idea of what will be required and an idea of the costs.

[ProDave]

What about headroom and how will you fit a proper staircase?  Headroom above the stairs needs to be 2 metres all the way.  If you can't achieve that, no point even trying.

 

 

[Hemmy82]

Thanks for all the advice, we have measured and we have more than enough headroom and room to fit the staircase comfortably within building reg specifications.

 

I would think the floor joists would need to be brought up to regulations and insulation.

 

My main query was if this could be done keeping the plaster finish in place, I'm aware that fitting a staircase would mean some of the work would need to be ripped out to achieve this.

[ProDave]

Unless you are very lucky and whoever did the "conversion" fitted enough insulation to meet current building regulations then assume you will have to strip back to a bare structure and start again from that point.

[Temp]

Cant comment on how much work or what can get retained without knowing how much insulation was fitted in the roof and walls. Even how it's installed can matter. Is the roof membrane a vapour permeable type? 

 

You might also need to make changes to doors on other floors as a loft conversion makes it the three storey house.

[Hemmy82]

I know the insulation would definitely need to be increased at present it's 100mm rockwool, i believe current regs are a minimum of 270mm?

 

Multi layered super quilt SF19 was used to seal and insulate. I've no clue if that would suffice.

 

 

 

Edited August 11, 2023 by Hemmy82

[Hemmy82]

From what you've all said, I reckon we could take up and reuse carpet (it's a very expensive pure wool carpet).

 

Take out lights and sockets (again expensive brass ones we're used).

Take out and reuse velux windows and eave cupboard doors.

 

Does that sound feasible? All are good quality.

 

It seems as though (once checked and verified by structural engineer/loft conversion company), the actual structure would need to be taken apart and be bought up to spec regarding structurally, insulation, fire escape etc.

 

 

[TonyT]

All sounds plausible, expect some damage things get installed generally with no consideration with removal for reuse.

 

 

[Hemmy82]

We've done basic DIY ourselves and know people in the trade (electricians/general builders) so we'd remove what we could ourselves/what we couldn't with help, to ensure there survival! 

 

Leave the structure to the professionals.