Loft Conversion Video

Please find a video of a complete loft conversion from start to finish. The video file is quite large and may take some time to load.

From the time that you contact Charles Grosvenor our team will guide you through the process by arranging for one of our surveyors to call and talk through your requests and design a loft room or rooms to suit you and the property in live in. Properties vary from area to area and we take great care in matching in the materials and design to suit that area. You are invited to view a loft conversion similar to yours. Our service can cover from design through to a fully completed loft conversion including decor, fitted wardrobes, carpets etc or a part job for the DIY person.

Structural plans and calculations

When your decision is made and you place your order for a Charles Grosvenor loft conversion your information will be forwarded to one of our architects, who will contact you directly to arrange an appointment to carry out a full house survey of your property.

The information gathered from the survey will be used by the architect and structural engineer to prepare the plans and calculations. We have a number of architects constantly working on many projects, some draw the plan using a Cad programme and some are hand drawn. Either way the plans are prepared the end result will be the same.

Building and planning regulations

As soon as the plans are completed they are sent to building control and your local authority planning department because they need to be approved. At this time one copy is forwarded to you for your approval.

Upon receipt of the plans, please take time to study all of the information detailed on them. Contact the office at your earliest convenience if you require any clarification of the information shown or any alterations to be made.

Full planning approval is not always required for all loft conversions, as you are allowed to extend you property by a certain volume under permitted development. If your conversion falls into this category, we always obtain permission from the local authority and sometimes this can fall into the category of a certificate of lawful development, which usually takes 6/8 weeks to obtain, however full planning permission takes slightly longer.

On average building regulation approval is obtained within four weeks.

During the time the plans are submitted with the relevant departments awaiting approval, you will be updated by email every three weeks as to their position. You will also be given their reference number, should you wish to track their progress directly by telephone or on the local authority website.

Please be aware that all new electrical installations have to conform to the ‘ Part P ‘ regulations, in view of this any new wiring to the loft conversion will be installed separately to the existing circuit in the property, and connected to the existing fuse board. Should there be no spare ways on the fuse board, a small additional one will need to be fitted, this will be at an additional cost of £330 + vat unless it is stated as included on the contract.

Also the new regulations state that any low voltage down lights currently fitted to your first floor ceiling, under the area of the proposed floor will need to be fire rated. To achieve this a fire hood would need to be fitted, again this would be at an additional cost unless it is stated as included on the contract.

Confirmation of the start date

Upon receipt of the written approvals from the planning department and building control, you will be contacted to arrange a convenient start date. It is company policy that no start date will be given until the relevant approvals are received.

At this time you will be given the contact details of your project manager, who will be responsible for all aspects of the building works from now until completion.

The approved plans are now passed to our quantity surveyor to compile an accurate list of all of the materials required to build your conversion. With the information detailed on the completed stock sheet the following procedure will take place

  • The steel beams will be fabricated.
  • The timber, sheet material and roofing material will be ordered.
  • Timber or UPVC windows will be ordered.
  • Any roof windows required will be ordered.
  • The scaffolding will be ordered.
  • The crane (if required) will be booked in.
  • The loft team, plumber, electrician and plasterer will be assigned to your conversion.
  • Any material, skip and parking permits will be applied for.

Pre build meeting

Your project manager will contact you two or three weeks prior to the start date to arrange a meeting. Any questions you may have regarding the plans, contract or building process will be answered at this time. We will also clarify the exact position and access for the scaffolding and materials etc; confirm the type of handrails, stair parts and skirting boards if they are to be matched. Approximate dates of when the stage payments will be due will also be given at this time.

All of the information discussed as well as any minor changes made to the plans or contract will be detailed on a duplicate form for yourself and the project manager to sign and keep a copy each. This will ensure we meet all of your requirements.

Commencement

The scaffolding will be erected either on or prior to the commencement date. On the commencement date the loft team will be on site to take the delivery of most of the material required to construct the conversion. If it is needed, the crane will also be on site to load out the scaffolding with the materials.

The exact procedure for building the loft conversion can be discussed between yourself and your project manager, however a typical building procedure is as detailed below.

  • Steel beams and supporting floor beams are installed.
  • Floor joists and floor boards are installed.
  • Dormer window constructed and roof lights fitted.
  • The loft room is insulated.
  • Internal partitions are built and plasterboard fitted.
  • The ceiling is cut out and the staircase is fitted.

All of the above work is carried out by the loft team. In addition to this the plumber and electrician will attend the site to install the necessary pipes and cables. The flat roof of any dormer window constructed will be felted by a roofing contractor at the earliest opportunity. The building inspector will make two of his three visits during this time to inspect the floor detail and the roof structure with the insulation fitted.

After the staircase is fitted the loft team will leave the site and the conversion will be fully plastered. Typically a conversion will take up to five days to dry out. During the drying time no other work will can be carried out, as any vibration will damage the plastering until it has completely dried out.

During the plastering process, the tradesmen will be booked in to complete their second fix work. This is detailed below.

Loft team

  • Fit skirting boards and architraves.
  • Fit handrails and balustrade to the staircase and landings.
  • Hang the doors.
  • Fit access panels.

Plumber

  • Fit the bathroom or shower room suite.
  • Fit the towel rails and radiators.
  • Extend the soil vent pipe.
  • Connect up and test the hot & cold supply, central heating and wastepipes.

Electrician

  • Fit the switches and sockets. Fit the light fittings.
  • Carry out the part P inspection and test.

Once the second fixes are complete, your project manager will arrange to inspect the works to ensure the work is completed to our high standard. Should there be any unfinished work discovered, it will be detailed on a snagging list for the relevant person to return and complete. The snagging list compiled will be forwarded to you for your approval, any additional items of work you wish to add must be listed at this time, so the relevant tradesman can complete it with one visit, so additional expense is not incurred.

At this stage of the conversion the building inspector will make a final visit to carry out the completion inspection, in order to issue the completion certificate.

The final stage is to remove any surplus material, rubbish and the scaffolding. Once we are in receipt of the completion certificate, the project manager will contact you to arrange the collection of the final payment.