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Loft Conversions in Birmingham and the West Midlands

Looking for a loft conversion in Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham, or anywhere else in South Yorkshire? CK Architectural can help

A well-designed loft conversion with CK Architectural Birmingham can feel like finding hidden treasure. The space that you’re using is there already, we’re just helping you to make it meet its full potential. Our years of experience and specialist designers all work together to give you the best designs possible, and with our project management service available too, we can even take care of the build.

We take you through the best options for loft conversions in Birmingham and the surrounding areas, with roof lifts, hip to gable and dormer loft conversions and extensions all being an option. Layouts for bedrooms, bathrooms, en-suite and glazing can all be explored. Introducing small dormers to the loft conversion design can add more standing height or feature windows to improve internal use and external feature. With more lenient budgets, we can introduce recessed balconies, oak or traditional truss effects with eye-catching angles and light changes. There’s a lot of creativity to work with.

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The loft conversion process

The process to have your loft conversion carried out with CK Architectural comes in a few different steps, all of which we have expert advice and will guide you through entirely. Initially, we need to get a grasp of your property, and the ideas you have in mind. We’ll work with you to create the perfect design for your loft, and then we’ll create this initial drawing so that you know what the final project should be.

After that, we’d always advise getting a certificate of lawful development. Loft conversions in Birmingham usually fall under permitted development rights, meaning you don’t need planning permission, but getting this certificate just means that you have that in writing. We can submit all of this information for you, as required for your project.

Finally, it’s down to getting building regulations drawings created and submitted making sure all of the technicalities are worked out and that your conversion will be of the highest quality, completely legal, and safe above all else, and then it’s time to build. We can project manage the whole thing for you as an additional service, or we’ll provide you with the tools to do it yourself.

Design considerations

The main considerations for converting a loft in Birmingham are the height and the stairs. The stairs will need 1.9M headroom over the treads and the same clearance over the existing flight. The roof will need improvements to the structure, so you can add a floor, prevent roof sag, and spread then add insulation. We recommend you have at least 2.4m or 8 feet from the ceiling joist to the rafter joint (top of apex). There also needs to be fire and smoke protection, a door and a landing at the top or bottom of the new flight.

Once we have the sizes and stairs designed, it is a simple case of laying out the rooms and adding windows. If you need bathrooms or en-suite then the waste and ventilation must be considered along with the physics of using water if you’re into the sloping section of the roof.

There will always be the need for structural design by an engineer, as floor and ridge beams are typical for this to take the extra weight and prevent spread.

We update you every step of the way through the entire project

Planning permission

Most conversions to the roof can be done without the need for planning consent with permitted development. You can change the internal roof structure, add rear dormers and even go hip to gable without the need for planning.

We do advise that you get it in writing from the council by way of a permitted development enquiry for a small fee. This will ensure you have no delays should the question arise when selling the property.

Take a look at our planning guide for more information.

Planning permission guide

Loft conversion permitted development rules

1. A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres of additional roof space for terraced houses

2. A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres of additional roof space for detached and semi-detached houses

3. No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts the highway

4. No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof

5. Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house

6. No verandas, balconies or raised platforms

7. Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor

8. Roof extensions not to be permitted development in designated areas**

9. Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20cm from the original eaves

10. The roof enlargement cannot overhang the outer face of the wall of the original house.

Building regulations

Any changes to the roof structure with a loft conversion will need a building certificate. This can be gained by way of approved building regulations drawings and site inspection through the build. This is done by either local authority (Birmingham city council) or private building inspectors. You will need input from an engineer, the new floor and roof will bear weight onto steel designed and calculated. You will need a protected fire route with smoke seals and an interlinked detector/alarms on each floor.

The stairs must be safe from collision and not steeper than 42 degrees, plus protected from fire. The new floor joist must be the correct size and spacing, determined from the unsupported span, the floor must be fire and sound protected.

New rooms will need to be thermally adequate, lit and ventilated. For dormer roof conversions, you will need a ridge beam which requires the design/calculations from an engineer. We will work through design options with you knowing they can be converted into working building regulations detail drawings. Read our detailed Building Regulations Guide.

Building regulations guide

What our customers say about us

Lars Cavi
13. November, 2020.
As a developer in Hull, I have been working with CK Architectural on many complex projects and they have always delivered a great professional service. Highly recommended. Lars
Peter Tyas
28. August, 2020.
Great service from the team at CK helping out with a every changing project design. Friendly and knowledgeable service, which I would recommend. Thanks.
Dave Turner
12. July, 2020.
Highly recommend CK Architectural. Chris and his team did a great job gaining planning permission for a new build and renovation of an existing property. We hit some dead ends with the planning officer but Chris found different ways of getting around the problems without going over budget.
Carl Newlands
10. July, 2020.
For someone far removed from the building / planning industries the thought of where to start when thinking of a big extension project to my house (two story to the side and wrap around of semi-detached 3 bed) was a little daunting at first. Luckily, after obtaining a competitive quote, I enlisted the services of CK Architectural and have been very impressed with not only the service received but the ease at which they have made the whole process. After listening to my thoughts and the reasons for needing the extension work doing, the architect came up with a great design that encompassed everything that was needed. Even when I changed my mind over a couple of aspects, Donna, Chris and the team were quick to administer any alterations. Every visit to the house for measurements / planning etc has happened without a hitch with all members of the team we've encountered being punctual and professional at all times. The best thing has been by far the ease at which CK have made of getting all council and local authority sign off for the project. All I have needed to do is pay the fees at the required time, no stress involved and all went through seamlessly. I'm now at the stage where I have the drawings to hand and have submitted them to builders to obtain quotes. Importantly, the feedback so far from the builders indicates the project to be within the budget specifications I explained to CK during the first consultation. Very happy customer 🙂 Carl.
Delwar Hossain
21. May, 2020.
Excellent Service and prompt!! I have taken CK's service twice. Chris and his team is very helpful and most importantly have enough patience to accommodate my frequently changing mind set. I would happily recommend any one to CK Architectural and wish them all the best.

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