Need some extra space? Without expanding your home’s footprint? Loft conversions are the answer. Whether it is Loft Conversion Hackney or anywhere in the UK, they can enable you to add more space to your existing home and that too at much more affordable rates than carrying out a house extension or buying a bigger home.
Many types of loft conversions won’t even require planning permission as they fall under permitted development rights. However, before you hire a construction company to carry out your loft conversion, you need to make sure you hire the right one.
What factors define the right contractors/construction company?
There are many contractors, builders, and construction companies which offer loft conversions along with the installation of utilities and any additional services you may require. However, some facts will distinguish the right ones from the wrong ones. These include:
Experience
Loft Conversion Hackney or anywhere demands advanced knowledge, skills, and experience. Although a newly established construction business may offer you cheap prices and may even provide you with the right services but there is a risk associated with this, lack of experience, which can lead to many problems including technical ones as well as non-technical ones.
Therefore, it is always better to hire people who have considerable experience when it comes to loft conversions. Even the Simplest of conversions such as rooflight conversion involve technicalities that require professional skills. When you communicate with a construction company, inquire about their experience and try to check their background.
Qualifications, Accreditations, and Licenses
You should always go for a company which has qualified professionals such as structural/civil engineers, architects, electricians, plumbers, etc. Above all the company should have the necessary licenses and accreditations to provide the services they are marketing because you do not want to run into any legal trouble.
Customer reviews and feedback
You can always ask your neighbours, friends, and colleagues who have carried out loft conversions. Ask them about the service provider and the experience. You can check the company’s website and read customer reviews.
With just a little reading you can identify paid reviews. You can even ask the construction company to provide references for the projects they have completed and talk to their customers.
Pricing
The cost of loft conversions can have considerable variation depending on the type of conversion. Different companies may provide varying prices depending on what services they are offering. Prices may also vary from location to location.
Loft Conversion Hackney may have a different cost than Loft Conversion Newham. Make sure that you compare the prices of at least three companies before you make the final decision. The quote should contain a complete break-up of all costs.
What is the typical process of loft conversion?
Pre-requisites for a loft conversion
First things first, the construction company should visit your site to confirm if your loft can be converted. There are certain pre-requisites for loft conversion, otherwise, a loft conversion cannot be carried out. Some pertain to building regulations while others are technical requirements. A professional and experienced construction company should be completely aware of both.
Type of conversion
Once the construction experts have identified whether your loft can be converted or not, it’s time to identify the types of conversions you can carry out. You can select from a simple rooflight conversion, dormer conversion, mansard conversion, and hip to gable conversion, depending on the type of home you have as well as your budget. A professional construction company should be able to clearly explain all these types to you and which options you have.
Quote
Once you and your construction company have agreed on the type of conversion and the installation of all other utilities, the company should ideally provide you with a “Free Quote”. Many construction companies provide free quotes with a complete breakdown of all costs involved.
Approvals
If you have agreed to the quote, the next and one of the most important steps your contractors/construction company should perform is to seek approvals from all relevant authorities. Planning permission may or may not be required depending on the type of conversion you have opted for and the area you live in.
Rules may be different for Loft Conversion Newham than in other regions. However, regardless of everything, you will need building regulations approval, which your contractor should be able to get for you or guide you through the process.
Final Verdict
Do your homework before you hire a contractor/company for carrying out a loft conversion. You should hire professionals with considerable experience, qualifications, and skills to carry out a loft conversion. Talk to people who have already carried out a loft conversion. Read customer reviews. Communicate with companies to identify the best among them and compared their quotes.
