Do you need another bedroom, but don’t want to upsize your home or extend? The loft can be a useful space, but for a lot of people, they end up as wasted space. If you have a loft, consider how you can take this space and convert it into a bedroom. Even if you don’t need the extra bedroom, a loft conversion can add some value to your home.
Is Your Loft Big Enough?
Before starting any work, make sure your loft is big enough to work as a bedroom. There needs to be enough floor space in your loft conversion to fit your bed and other furniture, and the height of the room should be no less than 7ft. Consider building a closet to make the most of space in the eaves.
If your loft space is less than 7ft, you could still raise the roof to add more clearance. This will make the conversion more expensive but could make it more liveable.
Do You Need To Build A Staircase?
As part of health and safety law, it’s important to have a suitable fire exit out of your converted loft. A ladder is not a suitable fire exit, so you will need to consider adding a staircase if the loft doesn’t already have one.
The staircase can be outside or inside. Work out the cost of both and decide what will work best for you. If you go for inside, remember that you will have to sacrifice some space on your landing and in your new bedroom.
Fix Up The Flooring
Some uncovered lofts don’t have floorboards laid. If this is the case for your loft, then laying some suitable flooring will be the next step for turning your loft into a bedroom. If your loft is already properly floored, like the rest of your home, you don’t need much to be able to convert it into a bedroom.
There are lots of different ideas for flooring out there for you to think about, from hardwood to carpet. You could have your flooring professionally installed, or you can do it yourself if you’re handy. Make sure the floor is level when you’re done.
Board Out The Walls Or Ceiling
Next, you need to board out the walls or ceiling if these are currently exposed. This could be a chance to add in some insulation if your loft is not already insulated. You can also seal any gaps in your roof. After you have added the boards, you can paint or wallpaper.
Consider Electrical, Heating And Cooling
Think about what access the loft has to heating, cooling, and power. Leaving an extension cable trailing to the loft, and relying on portable fans and heaters is not practical or safe. Wire in sockets and lights and add vents for your HVAC system, you can avoid injuries and make the space into a proper room. A lot of lofts already have these and won’t need more work, but it’s always something to consider.
