Loft Conversions Cost

There are several things that effect a loft conversions cost with the main factors obviously being the scope of work involved, particularly in regard to structural alterations, and the materials used for the job.  These things should be taken into account by your loft conversion contractors but a word of warning is to always have a contingency fund in your budget in case any unexpected work has to be done.

Of course a large proportion of a loft conversions cost can be saved by doing a lot of the work yourself.  It has to be said though that converting the loft isn’t a project for the weekend DIYer, if you are going to be doing any of the work yourself please be very careful and don’t be tempted to try things beyond your capabilities.

Another thing to consider is the costs charged by your architect or designer.  Be aware that drawing fees can quickly become inflated if it isn’t established right at the start exactly what is included in the fee.  Make sure that any fees paid to an architect or designer include any revisions that may be requested by the building control officer.  Also don’t forget that applying for building regulations approval or planning permission will necessitate you having to pay charges to the local authority.

Unfortunately the biggest loft conversions cost of all will be incurred by choosing the wrong builder.  We will all have seen horror stories on television about hapless homeowners paying out thousands of pounds to cowboy builders and being left with nothing more than a pile of rubble.

I can’t emphise enough the importance of getting testimonials from prospective contractors and following them up.  A full loft conversion isn’t cheap so before commiting yourself to a builder make sure you speak to past customers and see examples of the builders.

When comparing loft conversion quote make sure that the builder has included all possible work and remember that cheapest isn’t always best.  If you receive a quote that is significantly cheaper than the others (always get at least three quotes from different builders) than be very cautious.  Sometimes things can be too good to be true – especially when it comes to thinking about your loft conversions cost.