Loft Renovation - Is It Worth It?

Creating additional living space in your loft or attic can be a great way to make more room in your home and add value to your property. However, a loft renovation will take time, be disruptive and cost money.

So is renovating your loft worth it? Let’s examine the pros and cons as well as the different types of loft renovations more closely.

Loft Renovations - How Much Value Do They Add?

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Nationwide Building Society suggested that those who take the plunge and renovate their loft space could increase the value of their home by as much as 20%. So depending on the area in which you live, you could make a considerable profit should you decide to go ahead. 

Many people don’t currently use their loft space - it’s dead space that simply sits atop your usable living space and therefore lends itself well to being converted into an additional room. You don’t need to eat into your outside area to gain the extra space in the home. The structure is also already there, which means this would likely be a less expensive way of expanding the square footage of your property without building an extension.

An extension would also require planning permission, where loft renovations typically do not. If they don’t exceed 40 cubic metres (terraced properties) or 50 cubic meters (detached properties), then you should be able to go ahead without having planning permission in place.

Adding insulation to the loft space, which would be necessary if you were to convert it, could also help lower energy bills and lower your carbon footprint simultaneously. 

Loft Renovation Types

There are four different types of loft renovation including:

1. Roof light - where skylight windows are built into the roof, and a proper floor is installed.

2. Dormer - a flat roof extension built out from the slope of the roof.

3. Hip-to-gable - an extension of the sloping roof (hip) is built outwards to create a gable wall. This creates greater space in the room.

4. Mansard–an extension that runs along the entire length of the roof, changing the angle of the roof to make it almost vertical.

Considerations Before Renovating your Loft

Feasibility

The age of your property could have a big impact. The floor joists need to be strong enough otherwise, deeper joists and more support may be necessary. The minimum headroom must also be met, which is 2.2 meters. You’ll also need to be able to fit a loft staircase that meets building regulations and ensure you have enough space to do so.

Budget

Different types of loft renovations cost more money. If you need to raise the roof, this will add a significant cost to your project. Similarly, the bigger you want the space to be, the bigger your budget will have to be.

Storage Space

If you currently use your loft as storage space, you’ll need to consider where these items will go as you’ll have to clear out your loft before work can begin. While many loft renovations still retain some eaves storage, you will end up losing a lot of storage space, and if you are guilty of packing your loft space full of belongings, you may need to be up for having a big clear out and creating space elsewhere in your home to store these items. 

Disruption

Depending on the type of loft renovation you require, you will have to be prepared for many disruptions in your home. Renovating your loft and adding a staircase is a big project and typically will take around 6-8 weeks to complete. There will be builders, carpenters, and electricians coming in and out of your property. Of course, there may be delays or unexpected problems that could delay the completion date further. You also may need to redecorate rooms that have taken a bit of a battering during the conversion process, so this should be factored into your timescales and budgets too.

Loft Renovation- A Great Way to Add Space & Value

If you are considering renovating your loft, this can be a great way to expand your living space and add significant value to your property. However, it is essential to make sure you have carefully considered the above before doing so. 

Being organised, creating a realistic budget, organising your belongings, and being prepared for the disruption will help ensure that your loft renovation project goes smoothly and that you are delighted with the end result. For more information and ideas, check out our other guides on loft renovations here.