Advice on attic conversion

December2012

Hi,
We are considering converting our attic. We will need to take space out of our bedroom to put in the stairs.

Can I ask sone advice from anybody experienced in this area?

1. How long would you estimate that our bedroom would be unusable?

2. Is It better (or worse) for one of us to be at home while the work is being done? Generally we are all out of the house from early to late, so what advice do you suggest?

3. Ball park what time frame are we looking at? There will be work done as above, stairs up, the attic conversion itself, with an en suite and storage.

Any other tips are welcome, but at the minute I'm trying to consider how realistic it is at all.

We've also children and would like to minimise disruption to them.

Thanks

Gumbo

December2012 wrote: »

Hi,
We are considering converting our attic. We will need to take space out of our bedroom to put in the stairs.

Can I ask sone advice from anybody experienced in this area?

1. How long would you estimate that our bedroom would be unusable?

2. Is It better (or worse) for one of us to be at home while the work is being done? Generally we are all out of the house from early to late, so what advice do you suggest?

3. Ball park what time frame are we looking at? There will be work done as above, stairs up, the attic conversion itself, with an en suite and storage.

Any other tips are welcome, but at the minute I'm trying to consider how realistic it is at all.

We've also children and would like to minimise disruption to them.

Thanks

1. 2-3 weeks
2. What benefit to being there will you provide? Will you have to use holidays in work etc?
3. 2-3 weeks

December2012

Thanks

RE no 2 I wasn't sure if it's better for the builder to have us there (security, access, etc)

Gumbo

December2012 wrote: »

Thanks

RE no 2 I wasn't sure if it's better for the builder to have us there (security, access, etc)

That's something you have to deal with yourself. If you cant trust your builder to be there alone, I would argue he shouldn't be doing the work for you in the first place.

December2012

Thanks
Its our first time doing any structural work to the house, we would have to take leave (I would imagine working from home would also be difficult!)

I wasn't sure how present we would need to be if anything came up or to answer any questions, give opinions or choices.

antiskeptic

kceire wrote: »

1. 2-3 weeks
2. What benefit to being there will you provide? Will you have to use holidays in work etc?
3. 2-3 weeks

It wouldnt take 2-3 weeks to cut a pocket out of the bedroom to make space for subsequnent stairs install -whatever about the whole job.

If it were stud wall you could have it done in as little as a couple of days, plastered internally and all.

tretorn

Mine took three weeks and that included an en suite.

I wouldnt do an attic conversion if it meant reducing an existing bedroom size unless the bedroom is very large.

My neighbours took space from the box room for the stairs and now this room would barely fit a cot.

I think they have devalued the house badly because the sttic space cannot be sold as a bedroom.

salmocab

Don’t be there when the builders are there it would be a pain for both of you, but do arrange to drop into him once or twice during the build. Just let him know you’ll be by say Wednesday afternoon it’s sometimes easier to sort things out face to face than over the phone or by email.
No need to do this but I’d leave out teabags and mugs and let them know they are welcome to make themselves a cup but they have to clean up after themselves. It’s nice to be nice.

December2012

I take your point about not makong a room smaller but there is literally no other way to do it. It's the biggest room so hopefully will still be a good single room after (well go up to the attic).

mickdw

Can your roof facilitate a conversion that meets building regs?
If not, you are adding storage technically and will not carry the same value as a legit bedroom.