Loft conversion help

[II Architect II]

Hi people,

I was looking for any information from people who have converted their loft.

Any rules and regulations would be of great help.

Basically, its for a small house, the loft itself isnt a huge one, it has a lot of beams which I imagine wouldnt be able to be substituted with other structural support.
Its just going to be a small gaming area with a big fridge full of beer

Oh and by the way, im not looking for this to be classified as another room for the house.

So, questions,

Ventilation regulations?
Does it have to have a window?
Planning permission?
Just how good is the sound deadening plaster board I hear you can buy?

Absolutely any information would be most greatfully received


Thanks guys and keep up the awesome setups..

[ColdKilla]

the problem comes in that in reality you should only be using it for light storage and with no fixed staircase if you are not going to class it as a room.

If you are going to class it as a room then you need a structural floor, fire doors throughtout the house etc etc.

Whatever you do up there be careful as when you come to sell it could reduce the value of you house as work may be required to rectify what has been done. You should not have any kind of permanent fixed access unless all the other alterations are done for it to be actually classed as a room.

In reality most of the other things dont matter as it is a non-habitable storage area so you don't need windows, you defo dont need planning permission but you also should not be using it for anything other than light storage!

Basically unless you do it all properly you shouldn't really be using it as a room!

CK

[s2holdings]

REgarding the above,

if you are going convert it to a habital room you will ned to get building regs approval but you do NOT need planning permission.

To get building regs approval you will need to have a structurakl engineer sign off the floor and also meet all the building requirements that are current on your date you want to gain approval.

Things to consider are an enclosed staircase with a firedoor, emergency escape route from the loft.. you can get Velux windows that are deisnged to the building regs that act as a emergency escape.

I am currently going thorugh the planning stange of a conversiona nd finding it hard to get a structural engineer to do the drawing etc, they want to manage the whole build only.

steve

[II Architect II]

Cheers for the reply guys.

The problem is, with me only being a young un' , its my first house and its very small.

basically I have 3 areas to possibly put a nice setup. The livingroom, which is actually a stud wall that is shared with the kitchen, the tiny loft, or sunk into the wall that overlooks the stairs ( so you kind of play on the top stairs landing looking over at the wall which is above the stairs (its actually the wall that is one side of the bedroom cupboard. Again, thats a stud wall.

Im really not confident on how well a stud wall will hold a 40" tv :S

any suggestions?

[Sawdust]

Originally Posted by II Architect II

Cheers for the reply guys.

Im really not confident on how well a stud wall will hold a 40" tv :S

any suggestions?

If you can find the studs and make sure you put the screws into them then a stud wall will easily hold a big TV.

If the TV fittings don't allow you to put screws straight into the studs then the easiest way is to screw a plywood board to the studs and screw the TV mount onto the plywood. If you're careful you will be able to hide the plywood behind the TV and make a tidy job.

I don't really like the little plastic fixings for use in stud walls but these http://www.screwfix.co.uk/prods/8978...ng-Toggle-6x75 are pretty strong if you can only put the screws into the plasterboard

As for a loft conversion, have a look at my sig pictures. It's not a 'habitable' room and strictly speaking it's a store room but it does me!

Cheers
Mike

[Ivor the Engine]

My advice would be to have an outline chat with your local building inspector. He will be able to detail exactly what's what. I'd keep schtum about what exactly you are thinking of, i.e. not looking for sign off as a room, but he could be an invaluable source of information.

Anyone wanting a good structural engineer,at a good price, in Kent who will do drawings etc for sensible money, I have a good contact.

[II Architect II]

Thanks for all your reply guys, the tv im after is the Samsung f86 so will have to look to see if its able to go into the stud.