You’ve probably realised that not all types of roof are suited for conversion into a comfortable, accommodating living space. This can be a particular problem if your heart is set on a loft conversion but have a difficult roof construction - especially when a loft conversion is the ideal solution for adding space to your home.

Not enough headroom

If the initial roof inspection reveals a head height of less than 2.2m, there are a number of things you can do to make it feasible. It all depends on planning permission and the amount of money that you’re prepared to spend.

It may sound drastic, but a removal and rebuild could be a viable option for increasing vertical space in your loft and giving the required structure. The major problems are the high cost and getting planning approval (as you are quite literally raising the roof expanding your existing structure).

Another solution would be to lower the ceiling of the floor below, borrowing spare headroom from the room beneath your loft. Unlike a complete rebuild, the extra work involved would only add around 10 percent to the total cost of the project. It all depends on whether your lower floor rooms can accommodate the loss of height and still give the required 2.2m.

Trussed Rafters

If your house was built from the late 1960’s onwards, the roof will most likely be of prefabricated trussed rafter construction and is regarded as ‘difficult to convert’.

There is a solution, however, by ensuring the opposing roof slopes are fully supported and tied together at the base with new floor joists. The existing joints are unlikely adequate to take a loft floor regardless and will be required to comply with Building Regulations. 

Not Fire Safe

Since 2007, the rules regarding fire safety have changed and it is no longer acceptable to rely solely on a ‘means of escape’ window. Now an ‘escape corridor’ leading to a main exit is required.

Fortunately, the existing walls and ceiling in a typical landing, stairs and entrance hall should already provide the necessary fire resistance. But in homes with open plan layouts, a partition wall may need to be built to create an entrance hall. And of course, a properly installed loft ladder or staircase depending on the type of conversion.