An empty attic is a space that is wasted. With a loft conversion project, you can turn the useless space into a more useful part of your house. You can either turn it into a living space or a simple storage room. Besides this added space, a loft conversion can add a significant value to your property.
So now, whether you want a living room or a storage space, a loft conversion project can be your best move. But first, know how much this project will cost you today.
Usual Cost Of A Loft Conversion
The cost of converting an attic depends on what kind of room you want it to become.
A loft conversion into a storage space costs $2,000 to $5,000.
On the other hand, the cost of a conversion to a living space (workroom, playroom, or bedroom) ranges from $10,000 to $90,000.
The price estimates include planning and designing, structural renovations, labor, materials, carpentry, plumbing, drywall, electrical installation, building permits, and inspections.
Factors That May Affect The Cost Of Converting A Loft
Conversion. As mentioned above, the cost of converting an attic to a storage space and a living space is different. The latter is more expensive because a living space requires more components into the project. For instance, if you convert the loft into a bedroom, there are better electrical and insulation requirements in the project, not to mention yet the need for new windows. If you want to add a bathroom, the price can go even higher. Besides this, the more complex the design of the new room, expect the price of the conversion to go even higher.
Size. The size of your attic can also affect loft conversion prices. Small projects like bedrooms, workrooms, and playrooms can only cost around $10,000 to $25,000. However, converting large attics may reach up to $90,000 in total.
Attic. If your attic is already finished into good condition, the cost of the conversion can be cheaper. This is as compared to starting the loft conversion with an unfinished attic. Also, if the loft is made not to receive enough natural light, you may need to design a better lighting scheme for the attic, which can make the project more expensive. The same is true for attic space that has floor joists that can be unable to support the use of the converted room. Upgrading the floor joists can make the cost of the conversion higher.
Materials. Using upscale materials will make the cost of the conversion higher as compared to using average-grade materials. High quality materials will cost twice or thrice as much as standard quality options.
Contractor. The people you will be hiring for the job can also greatly affect loft conversion prices. The fees usually differ depending on the contractor’s reputation, licenses and qualifications, geographical location, and type of services being offered. Some homeowners decide to do the conversion themselves to save on the cost of labor.
Added Costs When Converting A Loft
If the attic is not accessible with a staircase yet, you must prepare for the extra cost of installing a stair. The cost of stairs varies depending on the kind of staircase you want to use to access the attic space. Some stairs can cost more than a thousand dollars while basic pull-down stairs range from $100 to $300. You also have a choice of wood or aluminum finish where the latter is the more expensive choice.
Adding windows to the loft can also mean an additional expense when converting a loft. The price varies depending on the type and the number of windows you choose to install.
You may need to hire an interior designer to help you with decorating the finished living space such as painting walls, adding furniture, laying carpets, and the like. You may choose to do the job yourself but you will not be free from purchasing room essentials yourself such as furniture, paint, carpet, and other accessories.
Is A Loft Conversion Possible?
Understand that not every attic can be converted into a good living space or storage space. Here are some considerations you need to check out to know whether or not your loft can be a good candidate for conversion:
Roof. Your roof can be built with either rafter or truss framing. The latter is not ideal for conversions because there are smaller rafters in the roof frames that give you almost no space in the loft. On the other hand, a rafter roof frame is ideal for loft conversion. See this illustration of the two types of roof frames to help you evaluate your home’s situation:
(Source: Home-Improvement-And-Financing.com)
Headroom. The general rule for attic conversions is that at least half of the available height in the loft must be around 7.5 feet or 2.30 meters when fully converted. Hence, you do not measure this when the loft is still bare. This is calculated given the additional space that is eaten up by the ceiling and the floor during the conversion.
Foundation and support. Both the foundation and supporting walls of your home must be able to carry the strength of the possible weight that can be added by the converted attic. You may need a professional to check this for you. Also, you must check if the existing floor joists in the attic is enough to support the new traffic that is designed for the converted space.
Access. It is important that the access to the attic is considered prior to converting the space. There must be a place where the stair will properly go. Also, building permits will require you to have a fire escape facility in the attic, especially if it will be used as a living space.
Some Tips Before You Decide To Convert Your Attic
Work with the contractor in terms of designing and planning the project. You can also consider hiring a home designer or an architect to help you with the job. Take note that it is very essential that a good and functional design is applied into the attic to ensure perfect functionality of the converted space.
When looking for contractors, deal only with a reliable and reputable contractor that is licensed and certified in your state.
Get all the necessary permits for the loft conversion project. Your contractor can help you attend to the details of obtaining permits. Take note that it is not advisable to hold an attic conversion without permits because in the end, a project that does not meet local building codes can mean more expenses awaiting you.
Get price estimates from three or more builders to help you find the best services at the best deals. Check out the inclusions in the price quotes such as planning, designing, permits, inspections, and the like. Give close attention to the quotes because some builders will offer you a lower quote but will have a lot of limitations in the package.
Get a contract in writing once you have chosen a builder.
Loft conversion requires a lot of time, effort, and skills from the builder. If you are considering doing the job yourself, make sure you can deal with everything in line with the loft conversion. Take note that it is better to pay higher for professional conversion instead of saving money and having the quality of the job compromised.