Enhance the spaces in homes with loft skylights

Loft Skylight

When we consider skylights, the first thing that comes to mind is extra brightness in rooms without the use of electricity. Loft skylights are no exception to this theory; however, they cannot be considered as strictly skylights in the true sense. These are usually large windows in the space of the loft, or maybe in similar places of the house. Such windows can be extremely useful when built overlooking your writing desks, or in spaces where light is required as a standard need. Such skylight windows are extremely popular in attic spaces of houses that are usually converted in tiny bedrooms for kids. This is because such windows allow a considerable amount of light inside the rooms, thus helping to make them look bigger than they actually are.

              

There are many houses that have lofts, and in these houses the loft space is not used well. In recent times, having extra space in your home can increase the value of your home . Most people are unaware that the attics are useful spaces for creating modern, functional and large spaces for dwelling or other purposes. Loft conversions can provide a better dimension for the home. Converting the loft can be done with minimal disruption and inconvenience to turn it into an additional room in the house thus making it a good way to use what otherwise would be wasted space. This space can be utilised as an office, bedroom for the kids or maybe a storage space. The most beautiful part of the loft is that they are most often blank canvases which can be easily changed. Conversion of the loft is not costly too, rather it is more convenient than moving house. Over time, people have become more comfortable with the idea of converting their lofts into useful spaces. The use of the wasted space in the loft, is a good solution for solving space constraints in the home.

Loft skylights offer the luxury of expanding the indoor spaces of homes into beautiful and useful living spaces that are filled with fresh air, outdoor views and daylight. Depending on the different requirements and needs of people, these skylights can be designed as out-of-reach or in-reach elements. The ventilation and light providing ability of these skylights is the ultimate solution for converting your loft area into a usable space for dwelling.

Lofts can also be converted for placing solar panels too, which increases the insulation in the house. This can also be accomplished without huge cost and will also result in saving you money due to the reduction in your use of electricity in the house. You just need to check out the local dealers providing loft conversion services, if you intend to convert your loft space into an office, study room or a bedroom for your kids. Loft skylights will provide natural lighting in this space, thus proving cost effective. Health and safety are also factors that are touched by the skylights. The natural light proves beneficial for the health, while the use of the skylight as a mode of escape when an emergency strikes, takes care of the safety aspect. Overall, skylights are beneficial for all type of needs.

Velux loft conversion

A Velux loft conversion is often considered the quickest, easiest, cheapest approach to converting a loft space simply because it's the least 'invasive'. Velux is the name of the company that produces these most recognised windows that are used to add light into an attic space, but technically they're just skylights or rooflights. These are the windows that you could easily mistake for solar panels if at a glance - but the change they make inside a house is quite dramatic! They are the perfect choice for a house that has a high roof cavity that just needs light.

In these times of belt-tightening, not many people have piles of cash to throw around, but need to convert an attic into a useable room to allow their house to grow with the family. While dormer or mansard conversions offer more headroom by building new walls and ceiling, they come at a much higher price; a Velux conversion is perfect if your loft already has a fair amount of headroom.

Fitting a window into the line of the roof, without making any structural changes, means there is very little disruption in the actual roof conversion, meaning that the man hours will be spent on the completion of your new room, and, for the most part, they don't need planning permission.

By having a Velux loft conversion you save time because the changes made are minimal: no chance of problems because of bad weather as it can be done in a matter of hours. Obviously, not building new external walls and ceilings saves a lot of time!

Lack of planning permission and minimum changes to your home mean that getting light into your new loft conversion is far cheaper than if you had to build new walls and ceilings to add headroom that you otherwise don't have.

As they follow the line of the room, Velux windows allow light to flood in, which is fab in spring and autumn, but can make a room very hot in summer and maybe too bright at night. Of course there are custom-fitted blinds that counter this problem, but will add another cost to your loft conversion. Some of the blinds on the market have thermal silver backing, which keep the heat in during winter and keep it out during summer.

Getting a Velux loft conversion means you are able to put your funds into doing up your loft conversion - maybe by adding a bathroom where you might not have been able to afford one if you'd had to spend your hard-earned cash on a mansard or dormer conversion.

For a quick, relatively inexpensive way to create a new room for your home, a Velux loft conversion is the way to go.

South London Loft conversions

South London Loft conversions are an increasingly popular way for homeowners to expand the useable space within their house without going through all of the hassle and expense of moving. There are a number of different types of loft conversions in South London but the most common is a 'dormer'. What is a dormer and what are its benefits and disadvantages?

The main objective of anyone considering an attic conversion in London is to achieve more useable space. In some cases the space within the existing loft is sufficient to add a bedroom and bathroom just by installing VELUX windows in the existing slope to provide natural light. In most properties the existing space is too small to be used for much more than a storeroom and so the most common type of work undertaken is the installation of a dormer as the back of the property.

A dormer loft conversion will usually protrude from the rear roof at a ninety degree angle, stepped back at least 200mm from the rear wall of the house. Dormer loft conversions in South London significantly add to the useable floor area by extending the height at the existing ridge for the majority of the rear half of the property. They are constructed using an insulated timber frame with marine ply exterior. Most dormer loft conversions include a window or set of French doors, providing natural light and a garden aspect.

South London loft conversions incorporating a rear dormer design are generally hung externally in slates or tiles to match the existing roof although can be rendered, clad in timber, lead, aluminium or any other suitable external material. An important consideration when selecting external materials is maintenance of the finish. Most traditional roofing materials do not require regular maintenance however a timber or rendered finish will require regular care which can add to the long-term costs

Most dormer conversions have a 'flat roof' which is usually a three layer felt roof, although can be lead or a liquid poured roof, depending on the specification required. It is possible to lay a 'green roof' on top of the flat roof which can be a great benefit to wildlife in urban areas and helps to regulate the temperatures in London loft conversions, especially on very hot or cold days.

Some dormers do have a pitched roof (either with a single pitch or a double pitch) which is often more sympathetic to the look of period properties. The disadvantage of a pitched dormer is that it requires more existing head height in the loft as the pitched roof adds to the overall height. It also does not provide as much useable floor space as a standard flat roof dormer. Yet pitched dormers are popular with planning departments as they do not dominate the entire roof. In some cases pitched dormers are the only way to achieve planning consent for a loft conversion in London.

Tips to find the ideal Loft Conversion Company

A loft conversion is either used as a bedroom, storage, teen den, entertainment room, children's playroom, home office or even a bathroom. Globally, loft conversions have become a welcome trend for those who desire to extend their property without using up space meant for the garden or any other thing. Whatever your needs or wants, a loft conversion is one of the most cost effective and efficient ways to add to your living space without actually moving.

Before the project of converting your loft to a usable space is initiated, several factors are supposed to be considered. Firstly, the loft space that is to be used for the project should be properly inspected to ensure that the dimensions are such that will make the planed conversion feasible. It should also be ascertained if the space under the roof bridge is spacious enough for headroom.

Types of Loft Conversion

Dormer Loft Conversion

 Dormer Lofts are constructed in treated timber and clad in slates or tiles to match your property. Normally these are constructed under permitted development.

Mansard Loft Conversion 

Mansard type lofts are formed by building up both party walls. The rear walls are constructed with treated timbers at a 70 pitch and clad in slates. Windows are formed and cladded in lead. This type of loft normally needs planning permission.

All successful loft conversions depend on finding the right builder, unless you plan on undertaking the job yourself. A word of caution if you are thinking such a move; loft conversions can be a really big job that is best suited for the professionals. It is not the ideal area to cut corners and try to save money.

Finding a good builder is stressful at best. You need to be absolutely sure you can deal with the builder and deal with the workforce that will invade your home. You also need to know enough to be sure you are getting a good service and your bed won't fall through the floor the first night you sleep in it!

Research of building companies online is probably the best place to start if you don't have any recommendations. You start out by finding companies who will undertake work in your area and initiate contact. Take into consideration the type of interaction you have with company personnel, response time and level of friendliness. I know one such kind of company which is very famous for loft conversion, diy loft conversion, diy attic conversion and all type of conversion. The company is located in south London, known as Doran Bros. 

Dormer style loft Conversions in London

If you are frustrated with the lack of available space in your home then you are not alone. In order to solve this problem many people in the UK have turned to loft conversions as they are a quicker, easier and cheaper way of gaining extra space without moving home.

There are two main types of conversions that tend to be the most popular. Dormer conversions are seen when you do not have quite enough space for headroom and to complete the conversion. Additional space must be made by construction of the dormer area, thus the name.

A roof light or Velux conversion is usually seen when there is sufficient room available for the conversion. This is one of the most commonly seen and often the least expensive style of loft conversion.

Despite the seeming lack of loft conversion styles, this is far from the case. There are multiple design and modification differences that can be made to either basic loft conversion style. One of the best ways to get an idea of what you desire in your loft conversion is by seeing what other people have done for their loft conversions in different areas.

If you were to take a look around London you would find countless examples of conversions. A very popular style of loftconversion in London area is the dormer style. Often, with terraced homes a slight variation on the dormer conversion is chosen to be employed, termed the Mansard loft conversion.

A simple glance through advertisements in Surrey reveal how sought after homes with a loft conversion are. While no one set style seems to rule the fashion, homes sporting lovely dormer style loft conversions and Velux style conversions can be found on every road. It's quite amazing how luxurious and elegant a conversion can become, featuring its own master suite with bathe.

The overall look and features of a conversion are almost endless. You are certain to find exactly the look and features of what your ideal loft conversion would have with your happiness guaranteed. Today, people around the UK are learning the wonders and joy of that added space with their loft conversion. You can now see a loft conversion in any upscale London area to some of the tinier country homes. So why should you suffer any longer with less room? Start today, and soon your conversion will be a living dream.