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Howdy and thanks a lot for dropping by at my user profile, my given name is Andrew but most people usually call me me Smudge, I pride myself in being a loft conversions expert from Lichfield, England. My interests are do it yourself, taxidermy and field hockey. I went to school in Dunbar and I graduated from Regent's University London. I've got a brother Pedro and two sisters, I've a pet dog called Hallie. I operate a loft conversions agency and assist people to remodel their dwellings so they haven't got to sell up and move. Not everybody can afford to move to a bigger house these days, with real estate selling prices escalating and costs spinning out of control. There are far more fees than just the buying price of a new house to take into account, the physical act of house is pricey and there are a lot of added costs to look at. If your house is no longer big enough to accommodate your growing family, relocating isn't the only option. If your house is suitable, you could perhaps build an extension to get that much needed extra living space. It will be necessary to get planning permission for this and this can be expensive. A further potential option is to do a garage conversion, which would be cheaper however depends upon you actually having a suitable garage and not needing to use it. The other option is to do a loft conversion, which could not just be cost effective, but could also add to the value to your property without extending its footprint. In the 21st century, for the reasons given previously, loft conversions have become increasingly popular. You must make sure your house is actually suited to a loft conversion prior to you making a final judgement. Not all houses are suitable, particularly more modern homes that have got roofs made with trusses. The optimum homes for loft conversions are slightly older ones, especially those constructed before the nineteen seventies. To make sure your specific loft is suitable, you should call in a builder to inspect it. If things are good to go forward with your loft conversion, you could request a quotation from the builder. Don't simply go along with the very first estimate you obtain, get a number of quotes before picking out your conversion specialist. Use your instinct rather than just considering the cost when picking who's the best person to carry out your loft conversion. There is a good chance that you won't need to get planning permission for converting your loft, because most loft conversions don't need it. Your planning department is the place to find out if you're going to need planning permission. While doing a loft conversion is the right option for a lot of householders, it's still a costly project. A lot of people get a loan for a project such as this, or perhaps get a second mortgage on their house. As a guide you may assume a loft conversion to cost you about the same as a fair sized brick built extension and the chances are that you'll achieve more space with a loft conversion with out increasing the footprint of your property. The layout and style of your particular home will influence which type of loft conversion you go for. The various sorts of loft conversions comprise: loft pods, roof light conversions, hip-to-gable conversions, roof lift conversions, mansard conversions, velux conversions and dormer conversions. Your chosen builder or loft conversion specialist will tell you what type is most suitable for your house. Dormers One of the most popular types of conversion in recent times is the dormer style, a concept that provides decent value for your money, although still generates the maximum possible space. The dormer is a popular option with homeowners since it's both practical and attractive and provides every little thing that is likely to be needed. With this form it might even be possible to add in a balcony, which means that you are even creating extra outdoor space too. You will find there are distinct types of dormers including flat roofed dormers, hip to gable dormers, shed dormers and Velux dormers. Consult an expert to learn which one is the most suitable for your home. Velux Windows One of the most famous names in roof windows, Velux, have been around now for around 50 yrs and they can be trusted to provide loft windows that are both top quality and efficient. Velux windows are built to be fitted in line with the gradient of your roof and hence do not alter the shape of the roof structure, nor do they generally call for local authority permission plus they are fairly inexpensive to fit. They produce a decent amount of daylight and in fact could even need window blinds in the summertime. If your loft has got a decent bit of headroom, Velux windows could be a good choice for you, particularly if you're on a budget. How Much Time Will it Take to Do? The time scale for completing a standard conversion would depend on four or five factors which include the availability of required materials, the reliability of the building company, the prevailing weather conditions, the level of forward planning which is done and the style of conversion. As an approximate guide a rear dormer conversion undertaken on a terraced dwelling should take approximately four or five weeks, a hip to gable dormer conversion on a semi-detached home ought to take approximately five to six weeks. As soon as your loft conversion is finished, there are plenty of uses you are able to put it to. You may use it as a new downstairs bathroom, a guest room or an extra bedroom. But of course there's lots of uses to which a well designed loft conversion can be put, limited only by your imagination!
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