Tag: conversion

What key factors should you take into consideration when renovating your home?

What key factors should you take into consideration when renovating your home? | H is for Home

British people love DIY and home renovations. Whether it’s painting and decorating or adding whole new sections to our living spaces, we enjoy making our homes as comfortable and as eye-catching as possible. We’re also big fans of DIY shows such as ‘Amazing Spaces’ and ‘Homes Under the Hammer’.

TV doesn’t always paint an accurate picture of home renovations, however. Whilst giving your home a new lick of paint is fairly straightforward, other tasks like adding an extension are a bit more complex. Outside factors can slow you down considerably if you don’t plan ahead. So, what key factors do you need to take into consideration when renovating your home?

Builder up a ladder in a dusty room

1. Make your neighbours aware of the work

The Part Wall Act of 1996 stipulates that you have to notify your neighbours of any renovation projects.  This occurs if you share a wall with another house and your work may undermine the structural integrity of the wall. Tasks such as fitting shelves and re-plastering aren’t included in this Act; however, if you were looking to undergo more extensive work it’s something to which you must adhere.

This approach may seem unnecessary in some cases, but it’s always polite to notify your neighbours of what work will be taking place. Present this to them alongside a copy of the Act two months before you intend to carry out the work. They will then have 14 days to raise any concerns they may have and provide written approval or rejection. Doing this will cover you if anything turns sour with said neighbour. If they do reject your proposal and it’s impossible to come to some form of agreement, you’ll be required to assign a surveyor who will then determine what work can be carried out.

Internal renovation work

2. Get building regulations approval for loft conversions

Converting a loft is another easy way to create more space in your home. However, make sure you get the correct building regulations approval. This is required to ensure there is sufficient structural strength to the floor, while also making sure that the existing roof and the structure’s stability isn’t jeopardised.

Many houses do not have sturdy enough flooring in their lofts to support a lot of weight. This could cause issues if you plan to turn your loft space into a spare bedroom, for example, and without official planning meeting set regulations you could run into a host of problems. Perhaps surprisingly, any work that you carry out could indeed hinder your future sale if you don’t get the appropriate permission and paperwork. In some instances, you’ll be required to revert the property back to its former state if you haven’t gone through the correct channels when carrying out the work.

Construction work taking place outdoors

3. Check your electricity

Electricity is an important part of home renovations which is often overlooked until work gets under-way. Sometimes, work you plan to carry out will mean moving your electric meter and fuse box. However, you must make sure you don’t move it yourself. Why? Yep, you guessed it; this is also illegal. Usually, if it’s a move of less than 15 centimetres, this can be carried out by your energy supplier free of charge. But for larger-scale moves of over three metres, your local distribution company would have to move your mains supply before the electricity meter can be relocated. If this is something you require, make sure you book the relevant appointments to avoid long delays.

Drawing blueprints for a house

4. Check if you need planning permission

Garage conversions generally don’t require planning permissions if you aren’t intending to increase the size of your house by making the garage larger. If your sole purpose is to use the space for personal gain, then you should be able to carry out your intended work so long as you complete the work thoroughly and to the correct standard. However, it’s important to note that planning permission must be sought if you’re looking to convert the space into a separate house.

Wood frame work on house renovations

5. Planning for an extension

Extensions are a popular way to add extra space to your home. However, not everyone understands the impact it may have on your property. For example, have you considered the impact an extension will have on your current boiler? Adding extra space will mean there’s an added demand on your hot water system and, in some cases, your boiler won’t be able to cope. Make sure you factor this in to any plan.

Even if you don’t require planning permission, due to using permitted development rights, you’ll still need building regulation approval. In some cases, you may also need to pay a Community Infrastructure Levy, so it’s important to investigate this prior to conducting any work.

Hole made in an internal wall between two rooms

6. Check if your home is a listed building

Some buildings in the UK fall under the listed building category – you should have been informed if your home was listed at the time you bought the property.  If it is, then chances are you’ll struggle to carry out any planned work without resistance. It’s actually a criminal offence to simply go ahead with any work without prior authorisation to do so. If you’re unsure whether or not your property is a listed building, you can check at British Listed Buildings.

Whilst renovating your home can be an exciting experience, you’ll have a lot of hard work to undertake before you can enjoy the finished product. For any work you may be thinking of carrying out, it’s important to carry out thorough research before you start so that hidden costs and issues don’t creep up on you.

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Popular ways to gain access to your loft conversion

Popular ways to gain access to your loft conversion | H is for Home

Decisions about types of access to your new loft, will be based upon the space you have available for access. The type of access you can install will, in turn, dictate the practical use to which you can put the loft. So, this is really the place to start with your planning.

Remember, you must comply with all the appropriate building regulations if you are converting your loft and there are specific regulations relating to stairs if you plan to convert your loft into a liveable space. Although a loft conversion does not normally require planning permission, there are some limits and conditions which apply, so have your plans checked thoroughly before you start.

Compact staircasecredit

New staircase

Depending on the layout of your home, the space available and the options for entry points into the loft you could install a new staircase in the stairwell and continue your existing stair design. If you cannot extend from the stairwell you could have a separate staircase installed which could be in a traditional, open riser or alternator style, straight, dog-leg or L-shaped, according to your requirements. Staircase options allow for a full loft conversion because of the easy access they provide.

Black painted metal loft laddercredit

Loft ladder or retractable stairs

If the space for access is limited, you may only be able to install a loft ladder or retractable stairs. This would make your loft suitable for storage use or limited access – perhaps to house a model railway or snooker table. Loft ladders and retractable stairs are available in metal or wood in a range of practical designs; folding or sliding, manual or electric. To comply with building regulations, you could not normally convert the loft in to a liveable space if you only have room for a loft ladder or retractable stairs as these would not provide a safe escape from fire.

Spiral stairs

Spiral staircase

If you’re looking to save space and have an access point not obstructing frequently used walkways, then a spiral staircase is a great option. These come in a whole range of styles and sizes and consist of a central column out from which the treads fan. Treads can be made from a variety of materials including wood, metal, glass, acrylic and stone so you’re sure to find a style in keeping with your décor. Check whether your space-saving stairs comply with loft conversion building regulations prior to installation.

Floating stairscredit

Floating stairs

Floating stairs make a beautiful design feature in any home. If you like the look of floating stairs but are nervous about the openness, especially if you have small children, don’t worry, clear balustrades and hand rails can be incorporated without detracting from the design impact. While these can be made in a wide range of materials there are some building regulations relating to their design so, again, ensure you check first.

Bespoke curved stairscredit

Bespoke

Whatever style of access you select for your loft conversion, you can have a bespoke design to meet your exact requirements. Whether you want straight, spiral or floating you can choose from a wide variety of materials and design features to get the exact look, either blending in the access point or making a bold statement.

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The pros and cons of converting your garage

The pros and cons of converting your garagecredit

Lots of people like the idea of converting their garage into a functional space and potentially adding some value to their homes. However, it’s vital that you research the process and understand all the ins and outs before pushing ahead. Garage conversions don’t always produce the desired results, and that’s because some home-owners take the hit and hope approach. That’s never sensible, and the information on this page should help to set the record straight. You’ll find a list of the pros and cons below, and they should ensure you leave no stone unturned and always make the right decisions. With that in mind, let’s get started!

The pros of converting your garage

There’s no getting away from the fact that converting your garage should mean you have more usable floor space in your home. You could use the extra room as a home office, games area, or guest space. There are no limits to what you can achieve. Converting a structure that is already standing sturdy is much easier and cheaper than building an extension. So, if you have to choose between those two options; it always makes sense to work towards a conversion instead.

Converting your garage will also add value to the property and encourage potential buyers in the future to make better offers. People are always going to pay more for a house with five bedrooms than they are for a home with only four. You get the idea, right? Working towards a garage conversion might require a lot of hard work, but the price of materials is minimal, and you can reduce the costs dramatically if you take the DIY approach according to https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/garage.htm and other sites. Of course, you’ll need to check how that affects your home insurance before pushing ahead.

Bedroom conversion

The cons of converting your garage

Just as there are many positive outcomes when you choose to convert your garage; there might be a few adverse ones too. For instance, there are situations in which you might have to apply for permission from your local authority. That is especially the case if you will change the exterior of the structure in any way. Your neighbours might have to give their permission for the work too. However, with a decent lawyer or architect in your corner; it is possible to overcome all those hurdles.

Contrary to popular belief; you don’t have to convert the entire garage. You could build a false wall and leave around six feet for storage. That would mean you can still keep your garage door or buy a new one from sites like https://www.vps247.co.uk/garage-doors. When you decide to sell your home; having clean and fresh doors always helps to add some curb appeal. However, there’s a problem. If you convert the entire garage and turn it into a spare bedroom or office; you’ll lose all of that storage space. Unless you have a massive shed in your garden, that could become an issue. You’ll also have to install some windows.

The procedure you need to follow

If you decide that converting your garage is the best option on the table; you need to follow the process outlined below to ensure you work within the law and avoid getting into trouble further down the line.

  • Work out what you want to do with the garage and how you want to use it.
  • Get in touch with your local authority to find out if you need to apply for permission or not.
  • Contact local tradespeople and ask them to come and give you a quote for the work.
  • Search online to see if it is possible for you to reduce the cost of materials.
  • Call real estate agents and ask them to come and value your property.
  • Instruct the tradespeople to start work.
  • Ask a safety expert to come and assess the structure.
  • Call the real estate agents and ask for a new valuation that includes your conversion.

People who follow that procedure will stand the best chance of making sure their garage conversion works in their favour.

Now you’ve come to the end of this post; you should have all the information you require to make an informed decision about whether or not to push ahead with your garage conversion. You are the only person who can make that decision, and you should never rush into anything. Take the time to talk about the idea with your family, discuss the pros and cons together, and then attempt to reach an agreement. In most instances, it’s possible to convert a garage into a functional living space in less than a week.

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Shed conversion ideas for families

Shed conversion ideas for families
Converting your shed from somewhere that’s simply used for storage to a fun new outdoor room is one of the most popular trends right now. People are clearing out their old bikes and garden tools to make way for a cool new place in which they’ll enjoy spending time. In this post, we’re going to look at some shed conversion ideas for family use. Keep reading if you think that your shed could do with an upgrade.

Yellow kid's bike outside a bright yellow shed

Kids playroom

Our first idea for a shed conversion is to turn it into a playroom for your children. Give your shed a clean or invest in a nice, new steel building from Armstrong Steel (you can find all you need to know about estimate costs in the linked article) and ask your kids how they want it to be decorated. Get them to choose the toys that they’d like to keep in the playroom and add a toy chest so that you can keep it tidy. Make sure to put down comfortable flooring to ensure that they don’t hurt themselves when they’re playing.

Green shed with yellow window frame and eaves

Home cinema

Another great idea for converting your shed is to turn it into a home cinema. All you need to do is invest in a projector and create a white wall on to which you can project your favourite. Scatter some blankets and cushions and you and your kids can spend time together watching movies in your back garden. Make sure to add a snack bar for added effect.

Woman painting in an art studio

Art studio

If you or your children fancy a bit of art and crafts every now and then, why not turn your shed into an outdoor art studio? You can add some easels, store your paint on shelves on the walls and get to creating some masterpieces. Your kids will love having a place that they can get messy and make some amazing paintings. This way, you won’t have to worry about getting art materials all over your furniture and carpets. Art is important in a child’s development so make sure to include it in their home life.

Grey shed with a thatched roof

Quiet room

For those parents who feel they need a place of quiet and calm, you could convert your shed into a quiet room. This can be your meditation space and you can fill it with excellent mood lighting, candles and soft music. You could make it an adults only space or you could encourage your children to spend some quiet time in this room when they need it.

Shed with porch

Homework room

Our final idea for a shed conversion is to turn it into a homework room that can be used by all members of the family. All you need to do is get some good lighting and a few desks and soon you’ll have a fun space for your kids to get their homework done. Homework is boring but having a dedicated space to do it in can turn it into an activity rather than a chore. Make sure to try this out and get creative with your shed!

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