Take Another Look at Your Loft
As you shove the Christmas decorations up through the hatch into the loft for another year, take a minute to look around.
What do you see? A cold cheerless space full of mouldering junk, or an undiscovered delight with ancient rafters soaring to the roof and full of possibilities.
We take our lofts for granted and yet, with a little thought and imagination they can be transformed into vibrant spaces within our homes, adding space and privacy and allowing us to carry on living in houses long after we thought we might have to move through lack of space.
Whilst moving walls to change the layout of rooms can be a hidden nightmare within the main part of our homes, lofts are there, bare to see and full of possibilities.
It doesn't matter if you need a space as long as the house for a model train set, or a separate bedroom and bathroom for visitors, the loft is waiting for you.
Of course there are a few considerations when undertaking a loft conversion.
You might need to strengthen ceiling joists to avoid aunty arriving unexpectedly in the bedroom below and you should create your design to incorporate the major roof structures and add plenty of light.
Apart from that, let your imagination soar.
Once you've played around with a few ideas, call in an architect or a builder who is experienced in loft conversions.
They will be able to shape your ideas as well as suggest the best methods of access and how to incorporate water and electrics into the existing circuits.
They will also advise you on whether you need planning permission or building regulations.
It is very important that you discuss a budget with them at this stage and make sure that you do have the right finance in place.
Then off you go and very soon your dream will be a reality.
Apart from the added space within your home, one of the benefits that you will find from your loft conversion is added warmth throughout the home.
This is because you will need to comply with current insulating regulations.
So, instead of a thin layer of insulation scattered haphazardly around the loft floor, you now have a thick layer of insulation right up under the roof line, keeping your home much warmer than before.
Next year, when you put the Christmas decorations away in their carefully created cupboard in the loft you'll look round with pride at the rest of the conversion and be glad you took a good look this year.
What do you see? A cold cheerless space full of mouldering junk, or an undiscovered delight with ancient rafters soaring to the roof and full of possibilities.
We take our lofts for granted and yet, with a little thought and imagination they can be transformed into vibrant spaces within our homes, adding space and privacy and allowing us to carry on living in houses long after we thought we might have to move through lack of space.
Whilst moving walls to change the layout of rooms can be a hidden nightmare within the main part of our homes, lofts are there, bare to see and full of possibilities.
It doesn't matter if you need a space as long as the house for a model train set, or a separate bedroom and bathroom for visitors, the loft is waiting for you.
Of course there are a few considerations when undertaking a loft conversion.
You might need to strengthen ceiling joists to avoid aunty arriving unexpectedly in the bedroom below and you should create your design to incorporate the major roof structures and add plenty of light.
Apart from that, let your imagination soar.
Once you've played around with a few ideas, call in an architect or a builder who is experienced in loft conversions.
They will be able to shape your ideas as well as suggest the best methods of access and how to incorporate water and electrics into the existing circuits.
They will also advise you on whether you need planning permission or building regulations.
It is very important that you discuss a budget with them at this stage and make sure that you do have the right finance in place.
Then off you go and very soon your dream will be a reality.
Apart from the added space within your home, one of the benefits that you will find from your loft conversion is added warmth throughout the home.
This is because you will need to comply with current insulating regulations.
So, instead of a thin layer of insulation scattered haphazardly around the loft floor, you now have a thick layer of insulation right up under the roof line, keeping your home much warmer than before.
Next year, when you put the Christmas decorations away in their carefully created cupboard in the loft you'll look round with pride at the rest of the conversion and be glad you took a good look this year.