Loft conversion regs Re-generate an old or tired space and give it a fresh breath of life. Click here for answers, information and tips

[Loft C]

Hello, I'm about to buy a victorian terraced house. I want to convert the loft. Some houses in the road have already converted theirs. However, my surveyors report says that as the "distance between the ceiling joists and the ridge is 7ft 6ins/2.30m ... specialist advice should be obtained."
I contacted my local authority today, and spoke to the Duty Planning Officer, who couldn't be more unhelpful. She told me that they follow the "Building Regs Guidelines," but I can't find any information regarding what the Building Regs stipulate. Can anyone help, please??

[thedoctor]

See our projects on loft conversions and building regulations.

[LCL]

Loft C

A few building regs pointers:

1. The clean head room required up a staircase, including a landing at the base and the head of the stairs needs to be 2.0m. This can be reduced to 1.9m for loft conversions.

2. There are no regulations for heights of rooms in residential dwellings but you should be looking for 2.1m minimum.

3. The floor joists will ned to be upgraded to support the additional loadings. This will reduce your head height further.

4. The roof will need to be insulated while mainintainng ventilation, this will also reduce your head room more.

Go to the projects section on the website and click into building regulations you can view the building regulations here. Park K covered Stairs. A, B and L are also key.

Hope this helps.

LCL

[Northern Carpenter]

[quote="Loft C"]Hello, I'm about to buy a victorian terraced house. I want to convert the loft. Some houses in the road have already converted theirs. However, my surveyors report says that as the "distance between the ceiling joists and the ridge is 7ft 6ins/2.30m ... specialist advice should be obtained."
I contacted my local authority today, and spoke to the Duty Planning Officer, who couldn't be more unhelpful. She told me that they follow the "Building Regs Guidelines," but I can't find any information regarding what the Building Regs stipulate. Can anyone help, please??

Yes there is such a code, if you live in Canada. Which states: Minimum height is 2.3 M and shall provide 3.5 square meters at that height over the loft floor area, assuming that you would like to use this new space as a bedroom. (You'll need to have a window in place too with adaquete egress.)
NC

[arbco]

In england and wales LCL's advice is correct.

[Northern Carpenter]

Well, I suppose we are of a larger breed.