15 replies to this topic

[Jammy]

Basically, I came up with this brill idea to move my bedroom into the loft, which would allow my rents to use my bedroom as an office, and so saving MY garage from being made into their new office. Unfortunately they've thrown up this old wives tale about the floor not being strong enough, due to the joists up there spanning such a long distance (we live in a largish bungalow and the joists span lengthwise).

What are the various methods of strengthening the floor and how much is it likely to cost me?

[*Raz*]

Ill ask my daddy how he did it in our loft

[panelbeaterpeter]

Adding an extra joist inbetween the current ones, and adding cross pieces would work, then lay proper chipboard floor boards. If you're in doubt, consult a builder, it not the kinda thing you want to be messing with if you don't really know what you're doing! (no offense, like)

[Gibbo]

I remember seeing a "DIY mess ups" [rogram on tv, some guy had decided to do his own loft conversion and simply cut out all thh supporting beams, cut a hole in the roof, fitted a window and put floor down. wondered why a few months down the line they had to evacuate the house as the roof was collapsing.

DOH!

No offense Jammy, just reminded me of that.

[Jammy]

The problem is this. Its going to cost me parents £2k tops to kit the garage out to make it into an office (which then means I lose the use of a garage). If we need a builder to strengthen the floor in the loft then its going to cost a hell of a lot more than that.

Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost for a builder to put in a couple of RSJs into a loft?! I don't think adding strengthening beams across them will work, as it would just put more weight into the middle of the beams and there isn't much to support them... unless bolting those beams to the outside walls, and then somehow tying each lengthwise running beam to the lateral beams would work?!

[v8mini]

we converted our loft and cost about 10k, luckily the beams in the roof were already attic trusses so no strengthening was required, and the space was basically a room already.
just needed stairs fitting, insulation, velux windows one of which one must be for means of escape. we also had to re board the flooring that was already up there as it wasn't thick enough. you will also need mains smoke alarms fitted on all levels and they need to be linked so they all sound at the same time. fire door fitted to loft, and all other doors leading on to landings and hallways needs to have self closers fitted. we also fitted an ensuit.

would probably be best to convert the loft for the office space, as building regs might not be quite the same as making it into living space ie bedroom.

[Ethel]

I bet there's something online, probably even a program or files for CAD.

There are other factors like the strength and construction of the walls and supporting the roof.

Your best tactics would be to get the 'rents to consider changes to the rateable value. quite a few people opt for a 'garden shed' office as it's a temporary structure and avoids bills and red tape.

[biggav]

you will need Building Regs to convert your loft either by form of a building notice (tell them you are doing it and they come and inspect) or by full regs (you get an architect to do full drawings which they approve and still come and check you are working to plan. You will need a permanent stair case not a ladder. At least one opening window (now means of rescue not escape) insullation between the roof timbers of at least 4" cellotex of similar with a 2" air gap... if your roofing timbers are 4" you will need to either add 2" bits of wood underneath or put 2" insullation between each set of timbers and full 2" sheets drawn underneath with plasterboard fixing through onto the timbers.

You must have a door at the top or bottom of the stairs to give you 30 minutes fire protection between rooms.

there are ways round some regs like by using a sprinkler system you can avoid the 1/2 hour rule and rescue window as you have a protected means of escape. but again this costs money.

The other alternative is to just do it and don't mention it on the internet so tha no one knows you have done it.

[Oldskoolbaby]

Have you considered what you will do with the plumbing which 90% of houses have in the atic? If you have an unvented type heating stystem its dead easy to move around but with a vented type its a different story. Its a pain in the a55 as you need to retain the f&e tank as well as the cold storage tank.

Edited by Oldskoolbaby, 02 April 2008 - 07:54 PM.

[Jammy]

Other than the heater at one side of the loft their isn't any plumbing luckily.

[*Raz*]

Ask your sister

[Bungle]

i bet there are a lot of wires in the way when you have to double up the floor timbers

[jayare]

Throwing another option into the pot - do you have space in the garden for one of those log cabin type sheds that can be set up as the office? It would be a lot cheaper than doing the loft properly.

JR

[biggav]

Tent?