When it comes to a loft conversion, the time scales involved are always as individual as the conversion itself and based on the form of conversion, no two projects should be given the same general time frames.
The three stages of work that are commonly concerned are what most conversion timelines have in common:
Designing
Actually, the design stage requires scheduling together a project team (usually including an architect) to complete a review of the loft and the entire property and create a blueprint of the perfect loft space, so that points such as accommodation requirements, access, headroom, and fire access can be carefully considered and reacted to in the design. There may be many options at this point that cater to you, and before the perfect concept is decided upon, a few separate proposals may be drawn up. When you have negotiated with the project manager on the concept, it is time to send the plans, if appropriate, to the municipal planning office and development control to receive any consents necessary for the conversion to go forward.
Planning
As planning applies to timescales for local councils, the exact amount of time it can take to grant planning or visit building control may vary across the whole UK. While the planning office will be able to provide you with a rough guide to what you should hope to learn, this can just be an approximation. However, ensuring that planning is accurate for the first time (i.e. compliance with the applicable legislation and municipal constrictions) decreases the risk of refusing planning requests and literally having to return to the drawing board. The loft conversion project can be planned in real time until planning has been approved, with suggested dates for the conversion to begin and end, within the intended scope of the work.
Construction
A full plan of works is created with permission given and building control fulfilled, so you can know exactly what needs to happen and in what order, such as roof and exterior work; then internal roof work; preceded by the installation of staircase access to the loft; the ‘breaking through’ to connect the new room to the rest of the house before the final stages of constructing the room, including, Of course, the exact time is taken to complete this series of works would depend on the method of conversion of the loft, something that can differ significantly:
Conversions to Velux loft are one of the easiest forms of conversion and can be achieved in less than 4 weeks.
Depending on the total size and roof work needs, a dormer conversion can take a minimum of 4 weeks, but usually not more than 6 weeks.
Conversions from hip to gable end can also last up to 6 weeks.
If, as with a Mansard conversion, the conversion involves the entire roof to be removed, so the timescale maybe about 7 or 8 weeks
It is still worth keeping into account that whilst certain methods of conversion, such as craning a prefabricated ‘home’ into the roof area, will decrease the total phase of work and damage, there will also be a wait-time for preparation and off-site construction of the room. For the on-site tasks such as building the staircase and providing access to space, time would then also be required.
A timetable of sorts
While proposed timescales are approximate, it is often only beneficial to know what to expect over the phases of work, especially if you have to consider work and family. So, with pretty typical conversions, you might be looking at a calendar of work that runs with these estimated timings in an average timeline:
Weeks 1 & 2:
Often, the first week of ‘work’ is really a stage of planning, when supplies and machinery are ready for work to start safely and effectively. So, while there does not appear to be much construction on the room itself, a skip may be shipped outside, scaffolding may be erected and supplies of goods are expected to arrive on-site, ready for use as the job continues, aside from the team making a hole in the roof for entry. At this point, all work takes place from the outside or inside the roof room, rather than affecting the inside of the house too much. By the end of the second week, based on the method of conversion, work may have started to protect and maintain the foundation of the roof.
3rd & 4th weeks:
Today, like floor joists, the task normally goes inside and the loft floor is mounted, followed as the construction continues by insulation, ventilation, and internal stud walls. For simplified conversions, such as Dormer and roof light conversions and the mounted windows, external roof works are finished. This work will remain underway for Mansard and hip to gable transformations. At this point, access to work for teams via the roof, again with little effect on the rest of the building, unless it is a small, simple conversion, in which case the following works can be done within week 4 (usually the final stages)…
5th, 6th, 7th Weeks:
As the staircase is completely mounted, the first step of this final stage has the remainder of the house now involved and there is the thrilling moment of “breaking through” by opening the loft to the rest of the house. With handrails and banisters, the stairway is fine, and any extra plasterwork and new loft space are entirely plastered and plastered. This stage also involves the completion of carpentry works, such as dresses, doors, and fitting cupboards, before the final stage, electrical and plumbing are built and tested: decorating to complete the build.
Of course, additional time could be required for bigger or more complex conversions (for example, having several rooms and/or a roof terrace), but generally, from a minimum of one month to an average period of three, you will have your extra accommodation.
Disturbance and disturbance elimination without adding length
While some households are understandably worried overtime periods, this appears to be linked to the principle of interruption of the entire timetable. The irony, though, is that the longest stretches of work are not destructive, just those in which the work takes place from above, and then the room is done.
The interruption at Abbey Relationship is often held to a minimum, pride is taken in the job practices being as tidy and functional as possible, and on having a professional addition to your accommodation within a couple of weeks, thanks to schedules that are pro-active, productive and coordinated for the customer throughout.
