Loft conversions are a popular way to enhance the value of your home both functionally, and financially. They come with a wide range of benefits that mean the initial expenditure is certainly worth the investment both short and long-term.
Key loft conv2ersion benefits:
- No need to use up precious garden space to build
- Allows access to better views of the surrounding area
- Stunning natural light like on the ultradeck
- Energy efficient
- Various options to suit your budget & needs
- Suitable for a wide range of house types
- Can add a large amount of financial value to your home
- Could provide possibilities for rental opportunities
- Can be utilised for a wide range of room types, including nurseries, bedrooms, home offices and even kitchens and bathrooms (depending on the size and type)
If you’re in the process of researching loft conversions and how they add value to your home, the best thing to do is first understand the different types of conversions that are available.
Various different loft conversion types exist, and they differ slightly in how they change the functionality of the home. Some are more simple, for example, and so they may add the value of an extra small bedroom. Larger, more extensive types could hold multiple rooms, bathrooms and even kitchen areas, which presents even more opportunity for increased value, usage of the space, and even rental potential.
By understanding which loft conversions are available and how they change your home, you can begin to get an idea of your preferences, ready for that first all important first chat with a professional loft conversion company.
Different Types Of Loft Conversions
A local loft conversion company can discuss which loft conversion types are suitable for your property, but in the meantime, here’s a handy overview:
Skylight/ Velux Conversion
The skylight conversion is also known as a velux conversion because the type of windows used in this kind of loft conversion are called velux windows.
It’s a simple and effective loft conversion type that tends to be the cheapest and quickest option.
It works by leaving your roof exactly as it is, whilst other alterations are made to the floor so that it is safely weight bearing, and to the roof and walls so that they are properly insulated. Stunning skylight windows are also added so that the space is filled with natural light.
By choosing this kind of a conversion you instantly get an extra living space to use for the minimal investment. It also tends to be minimally disruptive, quick, and often you don’t even need planning permission to have it done.
In terms of value, you are adding an extra bedroom to the home, but there is no en-suite and the space is restricted to the existing loft space, including the height and shape of the roof.
Mansard Loft Conversion
You can have double, L-shaped or dormer-combined mansard loft conversions. They are the largest type of loft conversion available, and they usually sit on the back of a house, rather than towards the front.
Mansard loft conversions have a flat roof and the wall is nearly vertical, which means that there is a huge amount of space created, as well as lots of stunning natural light flooding in.
These kinds of conversions can often be added in conservation areas and on listed buildings (regulations depending), and they can be suitable for the majority of house types too.
When it comes to the value of the property, you are creating, at the very least, a large extra bedroom with stunning furniture. At the most, depending on the square footage, you could add an en-suite and even a kitchenette, which would enhance the functionality of the conversion, increasing its value even further.
Dormer
A dormer loft conversion can be mansard, flat roof, shed, doghouse, gable fronted or hip roof in design. It adds vertical walls, a flat roof and windows, and works by extending onto the roofline that currently exists.
The box-like protrusion can be added to a wide range of house types, letting the natural light flood in and also creating plenty of extra floor space.
In many situations planning permission is not necessary for a dormer conversion, which can speed up the process of the conversion overall.
When it comes to the value of the home, lots of headroom is created, making the converted space much more comfortable to use, and easier to decorate and furnish.
One thing to be aware of, though, is that the aesthetic a dormer adds externally is a little bit like marmite. Some people love it, and some people hate it. This particular factor is worth considering when it comes to curb appeal and the impact on house value that curb appeal can have.
L-Shaped/ Dog Leg
An l-shaped/ dog leg conversion can be mansard or made up of double dormers. It’s also generally only suitable for houses which have a rear extension.
This type of conversion creates an L shape space that is spacious and large enough to add various rooms and living zones, as well as bathrooms and kitchen spaces.
With this kind of extension you have the added value of lots of extra space, which is even more valuable if it is set up as a self-sufficient living space. The value of the space is even higher if you consider utilising it as a rental, which could be worth over £700 a month or more in London, even though the capital has seen rental amounts decrease over the last few years.
Hip To Gable
A hip to gable conversion is where the roof ridge extends up to a gable which the loft conversion company has added. The roof then looks like an A frame and creates lots of extra space to utilise.
This type of conversion is really well suited to bungalows, semi-detached properties and detached properties. It creates a really good amount of space, which is great for adding value to your property. However, there are lots of considerations with this kind of extension, such as a need to have a structural engineer assess your roof, as well as other checks being done, before you can get the go ahead. Some roof spaces are also simply not set up for this kind of conversion.
Which Type Of Loft Conversion Will Enhance Your House Value The Most?
All of the above conversions will be listed with different names, different building advisories, and they will create different aesthetics, and be suitable for different types of home. For this reason, the best next step you can take on your loft conversion journey is to speak to a professional loft conversion company.
They can discuss the suitability of your home for various loft conversion types, as well as the implications of having different conversion types, including; costs, timelines, potential paperwork needed, and the resulting internal and external aesthetic.
By choosing a professional, experienced loft conversion company you can feel assured that the work you have done will be of the highest quality, ensuring that even before you decorate and utilise the space, the design itself will be impactful on your homes value and functionality in all the right ways.
