Dear valued WLP clients,

In this Autumn newsletter we would like to share with you one of our latest projects; an exceptionally well-built loft conversion in trendy Turnham Green.

“In London, a loft conversion can add up to £200,000 to the value of a property, especially if it includes an extra bedroom with en-suite. The increase in value is influenced by the property’s location and the quality of the conversion. For example, in high-demand areas like London, a loft conversion can increase property value by 15-20%.”

Space in London is key, and adding a loft conversion or extension is definitely the best way to increase the square footage of your property. This will help you to enjoy the full potential of your home while you live in it and help you attain its maximum value when and if you come to sell. A loft conversion carried out with care and attention will maximise the useable space and value of your property. 

Once planning or permitted development has been submitted and granted, structural engineering drawings need to be calculated and created. At the beginning of the build the first step is to get well designed scaffolding in place front and back, taking the load of a full temporary metal roof (or Tin Hat), this helps to keep the house dry during the build and the builders dry too, which we appreciate.

Many houses and top floor flats in London are suitable to have lofts added, and if the property’s roof is due for works or replacement that is the best time to do it. Many houses in London are well overdue a new roof, with the sheer density of properties in London it is easy to see why this is.

Lots of older houses have chimneys, and most of them are redundant, outdated, leak-prone and sometimes unstable. Removing the chimneys from a property when done correctly helps to increase the size of your home and during a loft conversion this is the best time to do it. Waterproofing the house well is easier without chimney stacks to work around, an old roofer once told me – “the most likely spots for roof leaks to occur is around chimney stacks and roof lights.”

Once the demolition of the roof structure and removal of chimneys is complete it is time to work on the floor. A common misconception is that you can just put the new floor on top of the existing ceiling of the floor below. This is not the case the ceilings tend to be built of 2/4-inch timber, strong enough to support a lath and plaster or plasterboard ceiling but not a floor with people, walls and furniture etc on. So the new floor is reinforced with a steel I-beam, with pockets cut into the brick walls to house it and bearing plates set into each gable end. These steels in turn can then have structural timber fitted into the recesses and the floor built on top them.

Now that the floor is built, we have a good surface to work off. The ridge steel for the roof can then be set in place to the correct height and nice and level and square to the rest of the building. This ridge steel is what the centre of the roof is supported by, again pockets are opened up in the gable end walls, pad stones or steel plates fitted and the I-beam inserted. Having the full tin hat scaffolding really helps with this part of the build as block and tackles can be used to lift the steel into place and set it.

Loft conversions are brought to life with good roof lights. They help to bring light into an otherwise dark space, good double glazing keeps the rooms warm in the winter and having openable window models helps to keep the house cool in the summer. Placing these roof lights starts very early in the roof construction and the rough openings must be made and designed early in the build.

The rafters that hold the roof up must be strong, as they hold the weight of the tiles, the battens, soakers, insulation and plasterboard of the ceiling. At the top these rafters are supported by the big ridge steel beam, and at the bottom they are fixed into the floor structure. It is common to at some point along this span to support the roof with a dwarf wall, this is a short wall that is attached to and built off one of the floor steels and helps to support the roof and stop it sagging in the middle.

The back part of most loft conversions is where the real space and ceiling height is gained, this is where a flat roof can be installed. Councils will very rarely allow you to put a dormer or mansard roof onto a loft conversion unless there is precedence in your area for it. At the rear of a house there is more scope for changing the look of a house. We built a side wall on top of the existing gable end wall, changing the height and the pitch of the wall. This wall was built of London Stock bricks and Ecotherm insulated structural blocks. The rear flat roof can then be built off this wall.

Most of the effort, hard work, planning and materials of building are hidden once the build is complete. If done well the client will probably never think about it again. However there is immense satisfaction from the point of the artisan builder in a job well done.

We at Wrigley Landon Properties LTD. Hope you have enjoyed this little view into the world of building and seeing the other side of the curtain. If you or a family member or friend are thinking of taking on a house renovation, loft conversion or extension look no further than WLP LTD.

Wishing you a productive and enjoyable Autumn,

Please view our website for a full list of services and projects.

Best regards,
Henry Landon & Edward Wrigley
Wrigley Landon Properties Ltd
info@wrigleylandonproperties.co.uk