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Conservatory Projects, Conservatory Roof Conversions, Conservatory Roofing

Room Conversion Options: Conservatory Upgrades

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Conservatory room conversion image copyright: davidmartyn / 123RF Stock Photo

When homeowners start looking at ways to increase living space or add value to their homes, they often think about room conversion as a more affordable alternative to extending their property. Loft conversion is one of the most popular projects while garage conversions are also high up on the list.

However, if you have a conservatory attached to your property it is possible that you can enjoy all the advantages of room conversion at a fraction of the cost of the previously mentioned options.

Why Conservatories Make an Ideal Room Conversion Project

As detailed further below, changes in planning laws combined with a revolution in materials and construction technology have taken away a lot of the hassle out of conservatory conversions. Homeowners no longer have to put up with the cost and disruption of a full conservatory-to-sunroom extension project and can simply replace their old polycarbonate or glass roof with an attractive lightweight solid alternative.

Solid tiled roofs are very popular today for a number of reasons:

  • They are relatively affordable.
  • They are quick and easy to install.
  • They contain their own insulation, making your conservatory habitable in the winter.
  • They reduce the noise of rain on the conservatory roof.
  • They vastly reduce the amount of glare from the sun – better for many tropical plants, furnishings and electrical equipment.
  • They reduce the ‘greenhouse effect,’ ensuring your conservatory doesn’t get too hot in the summer.

Building Regulations and Planning Permission

If you do opt for a conservatory conversion with a solid roof, you need to consider whether your alteration comes under the definition of ‘change of use,’ under Building Regulations. This advice from the LABC should help to clarify your situation.
Recent changes mean that you may not need to apply for planning permission for this type of room conversion. Here is some planning permission advice from Metrotile (and if you are interested in a Metrotile roof, contact Roofworx SW conservatory roof conversions).

So, before you jump on the loft conversion bandwagon, consider how improving the utility of your conservatory might be a better room conversion project, saving you money that can be used to kit out your newly habitable room into a year-round family space.

Conservatory Roofing, Roofing Projects, Uncategorized

How Much for a Roof Conversion?

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Image Copyright: racorn / 123RF Stock Photo

If you want to quickly and relatively cheaply increase the value of your home, a roof conversion – in other words, converting your ‘loft’ into some kind of usable space – is one of the common recommendations by the experts. As well as being relatively unobtrusive,  roof conversion almost always costs considerably less than the increase in value it provides, but what prices can you expect to pay?

SWRCN did a bit of research and dug out a few guideline prices. Since all of the averages mentioned below included London-based conversions, homeowners in the South West can probably look more towards the middle of the ranges given.

Roof Conversion Type One: The Basic Conversion

This is the least expensive type of roof conversion whereby you are only looking for a bit of extra space with usable flooring and maybe a new ladder and hatch system. It won’t add much in terms of value but extra space usually helps to sell a house and a basic conversion  can cost as little as £700 through a specialist loft conversion company. There are some such companies, mainly London-based, who claim to be able to convert a loft in as little as a day!

Roof Conversion Type Two: The Velux® Conversion

Velux® conversions like Hoover® vacuum cleaners are an example whereby one brand has become so successful at marketing itself that their name has been entwined with their products in common language. Velux® are a huge windows and blinds brand but they are most commonly associated with the skylight windows that help turn a dusty old loft into a bedroom, bathroom or spare room.

The cost of a Velux® conversion will depend on what you intend the final room to be. For example, a bathroom will require extra plumbing. As a guide, you are looking at £15 000 to £20 000 for this type of conversion and planning permission is not normally needed unless you are adding over 40 cubic metres of extra space.

Roof Conversion Type Three: The Dormer Conversion

A dormer conversion (pictured) maximises space by extending the normal height of a room outside of the roof. It is possible for a dormer to be constructed under permitted development but planning permission may be required in some cases.

A dormer conversion is likely to cost between £25 000 and £35 000 (or £1 150 to £1 350 per square metre)¹.

Roof Conversion Type Four: The Hip to Gable Conversion

For even more space, some homeowners opt for a hip to gable roof conversion. These involve replacing one of the sloping portions of a traditional hipped roof with an extended wall at the gable end. You can expect to pay between £30 000 and £35 000 for this type of work.

Whatever type of roof conversion you opt for, and however you use the resultant space (bedrooms are popular due to their effect on house value), the most important factor is that the job is completed to the highest standard possible. A shoddy job will not realise the maximum added value and can even, in the worst cases, reduce the value of your home.

How your Architect Can Help

Your architect is more than just the guy (or girl) who draws nice room plans. He or she has a wealth of connections within the trade and should be able to recommend a number of builders or roofing companies who can handle the type of roof conversion you want. Once you have your shortlist (no less than three if possible), it’s just a case of getting in the quotes. Your chosen builder should be willing and able to fulfil all their duties under the Party Wall Act (where applicable) and other Building Regulations requirements; to only ask for payment once the completion certificate has been issued and to be liable to a penalty clause should deadlines be missed.

An Important Note on VAT

Builders are notorious for producing ex-VAT quotations and then flooring homeowners when the final bill comes in. VAT is now 20% – one-fifth of the net cost so don’t forget to check your quotations very carefully and ask for clarification if you don’t understand anything.

Conservatory Roof Conversions

One type of roof conversion you may not have thought about, but that can definitely add value to your home (as well as transforming your living conditions) is a conservatory roof conversion. This entails  replacing your current roof, whatever it is constructed from, with a lightweight, insulated roof that changes your conservatory into a comfortable space all year round. People who have had conservatory roof conversions find that winters are warmer and summers are cooler. Rather than avoiding the conservatory in the winter, they can continue to use it all year round.

In effect, a conservatory roof conversion provides most of the benefits of a sunroom without the need for planning permission and is only possible due to the development of lightweight roofing technologies which mean that there is no  increase in pressure and so no need to deepen existing foundations.

¹ Simply Loft