The Pros and Cons of a Loft Conversion [AD]

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If you’re looking to add more usable space to your home, one option you may want to consider is that of a loft conversion.

In this guide, we’ll look at the pros and cons of a loft conversion to help you decide whether a loft conversion is right for you and your home or whether an alternative may be more suitable. Let’s dive in!

Pros Of a Loft Conversion

Starting with the advantages, one key benefit of a loft conversion is that it can be a great way of adding more usable living space to your home without the need to utilise outdoor space (e.g. to have an extension added to the back of your property).

Moreover, while expensive, a loft conversion will often add somewhere between 15% to 25% to the resale value of a home. In many cases, a loft conversion can add more value than a house extension would, although you’ll want to discuss this with a professional to get an idea of what might apply for your home in particular.

Also, in general, loft conversion tends to be more cost-effective than many types of extensions which involve a ground level alteration that protrudes outwards.

Other ways in which loft conversions tend to be a more appealing option than a regular, ground-level extension is that they are not likely to be impacted negatively by the elements and issues related to your garden (e.g. poor soil conditions and issues with sewers) should not be an issue in this case.

To make the most of your loft conversion, you’ll want to ensure it includes all elements needed to meet your needs and expectations. For an idea of the potential costs involved, skip to the final section ‘Average cost of a loft conversion’ for more details.

Cons Of a Loft Conversion

Moving on to the drawbacks of loft conversions, first, it’s worth noting that, of course, with a loft conversion you must sacrifice potential storage space whereas a ground-level extension won’t generally come with this disadvantage.

Other negatives of loft conversions include the fact they aren’t suited to every type of property (thus a regular extension may be the only option in some cases), their capacity to negatively affect the style or type of property you have, and some loft conversions may simply not be allowed in certain scenarios per the regulations.

Also, it’s important to consider the benefits of a house extension that a loft conversion is unlikely to offer. For instance, loft conversions tend not to offer as much space as a ground-level conversion might.

Average Cost of A Loft Conversion

Loft conversions can often end up anywhere from £15,000 to £70,000, although in some rare cases, the pricing may fall outside of this range.

Naturally, the price will vary significantly depending on the type (e.g. Dormer, Hip-to-Gable, Velux) and size of the extension in question. Moreover, pricing can also vary depending on the price of labour in your area and the ease or difficulty of the work area.

Of course, the total cost can also be higher if additional work is needed or preferred. For example, the average loft staircase costs somewhere between £500 and £2,500, factoring in both the labour cost and the price of materials.

All in all, you’ll want to secure a detailed quote for your proposed loft conversion and to query any potential unexpected or hidden costs. 

Beyond that, it’s generally advised to secure three or more quotes from several loft conversion companies near you before making a decision. This way, you compare a few options before opting for which service you think is best suited to your budget, preferences and project requirements.