Business Finance – Loft Conversions with DIY Funding

Thinking of converting your loft?  Read on for some tips that could save you time and money with the right loft ladder prices.

 

The first step towards a loft conversion, other than making sure that your business finance is in place, is to secure Building Regulations approval.  Due to the complex nature of the work, the building control body is likely to need full calculations and structural design before approving the work.  You can apply for approval by submitting the full plans, or using building notice procedures.

Most loft conversions require structural alterations.  You may need to make provision in your business finance plan for underpinning of foundations, alterations to the roof, or adapting the layout to create a more comfortable living space.

You will be required to install stairs to the loft.  Many people are under the misapprehension that it is legal to have a retractable ladder or another cheap alternative to a staircase.  It could be your business finance budget, or a question of available space, that means you would prefer not to install a staircase.  However, for fire safety you’ll need stairs to the new rooms, or where space is an issue you could use a space saving stair.
The new staircase should be protected against fire in a similar way to the existing stair. The new room(s) should be separated from the staircase by fire resisting walls and fire resisting self-closing doors. Your business finance plan should also budget for adequate landings to be provided at the top and bottom of the new staircase.

Fire safety precautions should be of the highest standard because nobody wants to take a chance on life or death. It is a fact that the higher a room is from ground level, the more it is at risk from fire, so ensure you factor business finance costs to install a floor that has adequate fire resistance beneath it.  Doors should be designed to hold back smoke and flames for long enough for occupants to escape.  And of course fire alarms should be installed.

Windows or roof lights in new habitable rooms should have a large enough opening to provide adequate ventilation and to enable people to be rescued from the building if escape through the building is impossible should the internal escape route be compromised by a fire. The type of windows you choose will again come back to your business finance budget, but you should try to minimise heat loss to reduce your bills and to be more environmentally friendly.  Remember that ventilation is required in all rooms that are to be lived in.
You can help protect your business finance investment by making sure that your loft conversion has adequate thermal insulation.  In some cases it may also be necessary to ventilate the roof structure in order to prevent condensation which could affect roof timbers. 
You may consider installing solar panels during the course of your loft conversion.  These involve an initial business finance outlay but you will see a return on your investment in the long term, and business finance assistance is sometimes available from government agencies who are keen to encourage the reduction of CO2 emissions and greener energy production.
Keeping the neighbours happy.  All building work inevitably involves a certain degree of disruption, so it’s a good idea to keep your neighbours in the loop.  Although you’re not obliged to consult them under the Building Regulations, you should be careful that your building work doesn’t interfere with their property.  If your conversion does interfere in some way with their property, it could lead to civil action requiring modification or removal of the work as well as bad feeling and a large hole in your business finance budget.