Whatever the project we undertake as a company there are 4 main stages
1 Consultation
2 Design
3 Permissions & Party Wall Agreement
4 Build
Consultation
- This involves a free no obligation survey of your property by one of our specialists.
- We can visit your property at a convenient time for you to carry out this survey.
- We take measurements, discuss your ideas and requirements to help us understand your needs.
- We offer you advice, current thinking and information from over 15 years experience about points you need to consider when creating your loft.
- We can show you examples of your previous work, so you can see the quality of lofts, extensions and refurbishments we produce.
- A personalised, tailored written quotation with a drawing will be sent to you. This will also include all the options and costings for each.
- You then have the opportunity to ask any questions you need to based on the quote.
Design
Lords can provide full structural calculations and full working drawings for your proposed loft conversion. We will prepare your plans and consider all approvals required so that these are incorporated into the design of your loft.
Elements such as:
1. Adequate head height
2. Positioning of staircases
3. Windows
4. Structural steel formation
5. Roofing
6. Shower rooms
Will all be considered.
The preliminary drawings will be sent to you for approval and any amendments in design or layout can be made at this point.
Once you are happy, full working plans will be created incorporating a structural layout. Full working structural calculations will also be provided.
Our team also looks at the permissions you require and advises in this regard.
WHAT PERMISSION IS REQUIRED?
Building Regulation Approval
All loft conversions need Building Regulation Approval. Either you’re Local Authority or an Independently approved Building Control Company can be appointed.
Full plans and structural calculations will be submitted to the chosen Building Control authority. These, in turn with onsite, visual inspections will ensure that the proposed design and work is sufficient to meet their requirements.
Once they are satisfied that after their final visit your loft conversion meets the current Building Control Regulations, a completion certificate will be forwarded to you directly from them.
Permitted Development Allowance
A loft conversion for your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an
A loft conversion is considered to fall under the permitted development heading where an application for full planning permission is not required.
The permitted development allowances described here applies to houses and bungalows, not flats, maisonettes.
If you are unsure, your Local Authority will be able to confirm if your permitted development rights have been removed from your property, however Lords loft will always apply to your local authority for a certificate of Lawful development.
The following conditions and limits must be met to ensure your proposed loft conversion complies with Permitted Development:
ADDITIONAL VOLUME LIMITS - Any additional roof space must not exceed these volume allowances:
Terraced Houses & Bungalows 40 cubic meters Detached Houses & Bungalows 50 Cubic meters Semi-detached Houses & Bungalows50 Cubic meters
Please bear in mind that any previous roof space additions must be included within this volume allowance. Although you may have not created the additional space, a previous owner may have done so.
DESIGNATED LAND
Roof extensions are not permitted if your property is within a conservation area.
FRONTING HIGHWAY
An extension beyond the plain of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts a highway is not permitted development.
MATERIALS
Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house.
HEIGHT LIMIT
No part of the extension to be higher than the highest part of the existing roof.
BALCONIES
Balconies, verandas or raised platforms are not permitted development.
WINDOWS
Any side facing window must be obscured glazed and non-opening unless the parts which can be opened are more than 1.7 meters above the floor of the room in which it is installed.
DISTANCE FROM EAVES
Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as is practicable, at least 20cm from the eaves.
The 20cm distance is measured along the roof plane.
PROTECTIVES SPECIES
Work on a loft or any roof may affect bats. You need to consider protective species when planning work of this type.
Certificate of Lawful Use
If you want to be certain that your property does not require planning permission, an application for a lawful development certificate can be applied for at your local authority.
It is not compulsory to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate but you may be required to produce one at a later stage for example when selling your property.
This certificate will confirm that your loft has been converted using your Permitted Development Allowance. We will always receive this prior to work commencing
Planning Permission
Should your proposed loft conversion not be permitted under Permitted Development and a Certificate of Lawful Use be refused, a Planning Permission Application would need to be submitted to your Local Authority. It is their responsibility to decide whether a proposed development should go ahead. Planning permission takes approx. 8 weeks from the date the validate your application. We will consult with the Planning Officer appointed to your application to check the progress of it and act accordingly should it be visible.
Party Wall Agreement
Walls shared by adjacent properties are usually jointly owned by the two owners and are termed party walls.
The party wall act provides a framework for preventing and resolving disputes in relation to party walls.
If you intend to carry out any work to the party wall, it is your duty to inform your neighbouring property of your intentions. This should be done in writing before work commences.
The Act contains no enforcement procedures for failure to serve a notice, However, if you start work without having first given notice in the proper way, adjoining owners may seek to stop your work through a court injunction.
An adjoining Owner cannot stop someone from exercising the rights given to them by the Act, but may be able to influence how and at what times work is to be done.
It is essential that you discuss your plans with your neighbour prior to starting work. You may find that they have no objections and will agree to sign an informal Party wall agreement even if they are not 100% supportive of your decision, they will no doubt appreciate being asked and consulted. If your neighbours insist on a full party wall agreement then we have surveyors who work with us closely and the fore can recommend Party Wall Surveyor's to you should it be required. Lords loft will fully assist and guide you through this process
1. Pre-start Meeting
The initial stage in the process of commencing your Loft conversion, Extension or Refurbishment is for your Project Manager and Build team Leader to meet you on site prior to the work starting, at that meeting the full process of the pending work will be explained and last minute changes that you wish to make to the plans can me made
2. Scaffold Erected
Independent Scaffolding will be erected to accommodate your proposed loft conversion. This will only be carried out by our approved companies with clear method statements and working to the approved Health & Safety policy.
3. Structural Work
The existing attic space is cleaned out ready to receive the new load bearing steel beams, plates, timber trimming beams and new floors joist thus creating a separate structural sub floor with the layout being designed specifically for your conversion.
Structural walls of the dormers, hip to gables or mansards are formed, high level steel work inserted and all clad in sheathing to form a total rigid structure. Build control will attend at this point to inspect the structural work and sign off this stage of the works,
We are Also Installers of A Telle Beam which is an independent light weight metal joist system for where there are particular issues regarding where the party wall cannot be used to bear the normal loads down on to it.
4. Plumbing 1st Fix
Old water tanks are removed if necessary. Tanks that are in use are disconnected and re-located in the void area within your loft space. At this point, many customers choose to upgrade their existing heating system to a New boiler or pressurised hot water system. New waste pipes are laid as well as hot and cold pipe work laid ready to accommodate fixtures to the loft bathroom / shower room including the extension of the existing heating system.
4. Electrical 1st Fix
New wires are installed ready to accommodate all the new electrical fittings to your loft room(s) as well as running supplies down to the existing fuse board and running cables for the new smoke alarm system.
5. External Work
New UPVC / wooden or Aluminium windows and doors are installed, all complete with double glazed units, Velux pitched roof windows and flashing kits are installed along with any flat roof windows if required. Roofing work including tiling, slating, lead work and flat roof/s is completed. Fascia boards, guttering and down pipes are fixed and all new external walls are tiled, rendered or pebble dashed.
6. Internal Work
The whole of the loft is insulated to comply with building regulations. Internal walls are formed. Flooring is laid creating loft room floor. Stairs to loft area are installed. Build control will attend at this point to inspect the structural work and sign off this stage of the works.
The whole area of loft conversion is clad with plasterboards followed by two coats of plaster which are applied to the boarded areas.
7. Plumbing 2nd Fix
The 2nd fix plumbing takes place after the areas required have been tiled, Radiators, sanitary ware, towel rails are installed and the final waste connection is carried out into your existing drainage system. Existing S.V.P is extended.
8. Electrical 2nd Fix
Plug sockets, light points, extractors fans, smoke alarms etc are connected to the wiring in your loft conversion and the final connections are made to your new fuse board.
9. Second Fix
Stair parts, Skirting and architrave's are fixed throughout your newly converted room/s and 1/2 – hour fire checked doors are hung along with and the clients final snagging items that are required to complete the new loft conversion . A Lords loft final walk round and our own final snagging list if required is then drawn up.
10. Completed
Scaffolding and skip is removed. Site is left clean and tidy.
11. Building Control Approval
A final inspection will be carried out by building control and a completion certificate issued.
Your whole loft conversion should be completed within 8- 10 weeks for standard rear dormer and 10-12 for hip to gable or double dormer.