Make best use of your loft
lofts are not just for Christmas!
Many of us only set foot in our lofts to grab the box of Christmas decorations, yet it can be a space you could make much more use of.
A loft can be a useful storage area for personal possessions we want to keep long term, but don’t need regular access to. For many householders it’s a case of storing cardboard boxes in a rather haphazard way, pushed through the loft hatch and positioned as carefully as possible.
If you want to make more of this storage space — and to make this safer — then installing wooden loft boards is an option to consider. With a bit of careful research, someone who is competent in DIY skills could carry this out. However, it is important to bear in mind the depth of thickness of the insulation material and to ensure that its effectiveness is not compromised by fitting solid panels across it, resulting in heat loss.
SAFE ACCESS
If you’re going up into the attic it’s wise to have someone on hand to hold the ladder and for you to pass items to. For added safety, especially if you regularly access your loft, it’s a good idea to fit a loft ladder which folds away up into the loft hatch. With hand rails for stability, and easy access features, they really make sense.
LOFT CONVERSION
Turning your loft into a room could open up all sorts of options — a spare bedroom, a hobby room, or home office for example. If this
appeals, it’s time to speak to an expert as there are all sorts of conditions to be considered. Depending on the type of conversion you have in mind, you may need to seek planning permission. Even if this is not the case, your plans will definitely need to satisfy building regulations. So, it’s a good idea to approach an experienced local architect or a builder to talk through your plans to confirm your position in terms of permissions. There are all sorts of things to consider, from fire safety to sound insulation, ensuring the joists are adequate to support the weight of a new room, access, and so on. And, if the work you’re planning is going to affect a wall that joins your house to your neighbour’s, you will need to have a Party Wall Agreement
You can find further information by visiting the www.planningportal.co.uk and read more at:
www.which.co.uk/reviews/loft-conversions
CREATURES IN SITU
If your loft is currently home to bats, a protected species, you will first need to have a bat survey and may be required to obtain a mitigation licence to carry out work. The Bat Conservation Trust (www.bats.org.uk) will be able to advise.
DID YOU KNOW?
Government guidelines recommend a minimum 270mm thickness for loft insulation.
“Imagine the extra room you could have”