Loft insulation for loft conversions

Loft insulation in loft conversions

Its very important that the correct loft insulation is used in a loft conversion. Building regulations dictate what type of insulation we have to fit as we have to make sure the ‘U Values’ or heat loss  factor is correct and the loft rooms are fire protected.

There are 3 main types of loft insulation we have to fit in a loft conversion to comply to these regulations.

Correct loft insulation

The 1st part of insulating your loft is to insulate the new loft floor. This loft insulation has to be thermal for heat loss, acoustic for sound transfer but mainly to achieve a 30 minute for barrier between the 1st to 2nd floors.

The next part of insulating your loft is to insulate the side walls, gable end walls and roof slopes with 2 different types of loft insulation.

We fit a rigid 70 mm foil backed insulation in between your existing roof rafters, maintaining a 50 mm air gap between your insulation and your roofing felt ( for ventilation purposes )

We then pull and fix a multi foil loft insulation roll over the top of the rigid insulation board to achieve the building regulations criteria for the ‘U Value’.

The above image shows our team fitting loft insulation to the roof slope in one of our loft conversions.

It is always recommended that you consult a specialist loft conversion company an experienced Architect  or your local Building Regulations Department when installing loft insulation as only certain products have the British Standard Certification required for loft insulation in loft conversions.

Loft Insulation

Loft conversion building regulations

• Bedroom(s)

• A bathroom

• A playroom

• A study/office

• An Gym

Loft conversions are mistakenly considered to be a simple procedure.  This is not the case and they should be designed and constructed by persons who are aware of the health and safety aspects that affect building occupiers.

Find out more about building regulations >>

Loft Conversion Building Regulations

Builders Sheffield, Sheffield Builders, Loft Conversion Builders, Garage Builder

Builders Sheffield, Sheffield Builders, loft conversion builders

Builders in Sheffield or Builders in Chesterfield for example  are what some people may search for when looking for a builder in Sheffield or Chesterfield to undertake a loft or garage conversion.

Builders in Sheffield or builders in Chesterfield are not the best search terms to look for when searching for loft or garage conversion specialists.

Builders in Sheffield or builders in Chesterfield are okay when looking for builders who can build house extensions, porches, conservatories, roof repairs and double or single story extensions etc but these type of general builders are not specialists in loft and garage conversions.

Restyle loft & garage conversions are specialists in loft and garage conversions and are not general builders or house builders. Loft and garage conversions have become a specialist area within the building industry due to the sometime complicated and complex building and fire regulations.

If you are interested in obtaining any help, advice or quotations for a loft or garage conversion you should contact a reputable loft or garage conversion company who solely specialize in loft and garage conversions and not ask a general builder for a quotation.

A general builder will not be fully up to speed with the ever changing building regulations that are associated with loft and garage conversions and therefore can not give you the right help and advice you are requesting. This will then have a knock on effect when providing accurate quotations for the loft or garage conversion and sometimes lead to their quotations looking to good to be true as they have missed items or specifications off their quotes.

Remember builders who fix leaky roofs one week, build a kitchen extension the next week then lay a patio the week after are not loft or garage conversion specialists.

Buiders Sheffield, Sheffield Builders, Loft Buiders Sheffield, Garage Builders Sheffield

Builders in Sheffield

There are many builders in Sheffield and trying to choose the right builder can be a mine field. With over 25 years experience in the building trade we have built great relationships with all trades people and reputable companies such as kitchen & bedroom fitting companies , carpet and interior design companies, general builders and bathroom experts.

So if you require some building work, house refurbishing, or general home improvements and you don’t know who to choose, please give Restyle a call and we will be happy to recommend a company or trade that you require

Please contact us on Sheffield 0114 2352282

Builders Sheffield, Sheffield Builders, Builders in Sheffield

Steel beams designed to Building Regulations being installed in a modern truss loft in Barlborough, Chesterfield

Loft Conversion, Building Regulations, Information & Guidelines

Loft conversions are becoming more and more popular. The reason being…. the housing market is still very unpredictable, mortgage lenders have tightened up on who they are lending money to therefore people can’t afford to move house.

So what happens if you are a family that’s growing and you are running out of living space ?

The Answer …. Stay put and extend your existing home. You could look at building a huge extension on the side or the rear of your property, but this is a very expensive, messy and disruptive way of gaining extra space, not to mention losing your drive way or garden for the new building.

Instead why not choose a loft conversion. They are more cost effective, there’s less disruption and you don’t loose your drive way or garden.

The thing is loft conversions have become a specialist area within the building industry, due to the complex building and fire regulations. Loft conversions must only be carried out by companies who have vast experience in the design and construction of a loft conversion.

DIY loft conversions have now become illegal and no matter what any old builder says they must not be contemplated. Building and fire regulations are there for a good reason, to protect you and your family. If anyone says you don’t need building regulations for a loft conversion or provides you with a very cheap price they do not know what they are doing.

In brief building and fire regulations covers the structural element of a loft conversion, the insulation and thermal value of a loft conversion, the headroom or finished ceiling height in a loft conversion and the fire protection in a loft conversion.

The image above shows us installing the structural steel beams into a loft conversion in Chesterfield. As you can see this is a very very important part of a loft conversion as this process is what is going to hold your new floor and your roof in place. So please be aware for builders or loft conversion companies who say you don’t need building regulations for loft conversions.

The link below is a guide line from Sheffield City Council on the Building and Fire regulations please have a quick look as you really need to know what regulations are required for your loft conversions.

http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/planning-and-city-development/building-regulations/additional-guidance/copy-of-loft-conversions

Building Regulations for Loft Conversions

Erecting stud partition walls in a loft conversion in Chesterfield

Planning permission for loft conversions

Planning permission is not normally required. However, permission is required where you extend or alter the roof space and it exceeds specified limits and conditions.

Under new regulations that came into effect from 1 October 2008 a loft conversion for your house is considered to be permitted development, not requiring an application for planning permission, subject to the following limits and conditions:

• A volume allowance of 40 cubic metres additional roof space for terraced houses*
• A volume allowance of 50 cubic metres additional roof space for detached and semi-detached houses*
• No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope of the principal elevation that fronts the highway
• No extension to be higher than the highest part of the roof
• Materials to be similar in appearance to the existing house
• No verandas, balconies or raised platforms
• Side-facing windows to be obscure-glazed; any opening to be 1.7m above the floor
• Roof extensions not to be permitted development in designated areas**
• Roof extensions, apart from hip to gable ones, to be set back, as far as practicable, at least 20cm from the eaves

*Bear in mind that any previous roof space additions must be included within the volume allowances listed above.
**Planning permission may be required if your property is in designated areas include national parks and the Broads, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, conservation areas and World Heritage Sites.

Planning permission for loft conversions

Does your loft look like this ?

If your loft looks like this you have hit the jackpot

We convert the modern truss lofts that builders and architects say can’t be converted, using our very own State-of-the-Art ReSteel System.

If your roof space is filled with tonnes of W-shaped wooden roof rafters, we can still build you the home of your dreams with our uniquely developed ReSteel System. A combination of innovative design and the very latest technologies, we use high-tensile steel beams that allows us to remove the W-shaped rafters and open up your loft to create the space needed for your new loft conversion.

These steel beams are fitted within the new floor structure and are not seen. The beams are specially designed by our structural engineer and manufactured for each individual loft conversion project and our work is fully compliant with most stringent building regulations (It’s actually stronger than before!)

Modern ‘ W ‘ Truss Loft….Does your loft look like this

Fitting of a staircase to a loft conversion in Chesterfield

Loft conversion in Chesterfield

All our staircase are individually manufactured in our own factory. We do not buy off the shelf staircases from local builders merchants like most loft conversion companies do.

The dimensions of your staircase are fed into our state of the art CAD system that will design your new staircase to maximize the space on both levels.

All staircase have to comply to building regulations and have to be 42 degrees in pitch.

We also manufacture the newel posts and balustrade to match your existing staircase so the new staircase will look like its always been there.

All our staircases are assembled in our factory and then checked to make sure they comply to building regulations.

The staircase is then delivered to your house for installation.

Because the staircase has already been assembled in our factory the new staircase is fitted and ready to walk up within 6 hours of being delivered.

That’s why we are Yorkshires finest craftsmen

Staircase being fitted in a loft conversion in Chesterfield

Need more space

Need more space, choose Restyle

Need a larger house ?

Our new marketing campaign is under way….

Have we gone mad ? ……..

We want to get our message across to family’s who  are struggling for space so we have decided to be loud and colourful by featuring a gold fish on our vans.

Our point is why waste money on moving house. Stamp duty, solicitors costs and removals fees.

It cost a small fortune to move house. Save the money and invest it in your home with a stunning loft or garage conversion from Restyle.

We can save you thousands ££££ and still create the extra space you and your family needs and unlike moving house its all stress free.

Please let us know what you think of our new marketing plan either send us an email or give us a call.

Also if you have any ideas of a name for our fish, please let us know.

Orange goldfish on our vans

Steel beams being fitted in a modern truss loft conversion in Sheffield

Modern truss loft conversion in Sheffield

In modern built houses the loft is full of W shaped roof trusses that need to be removed to enable the loft space to be opened up. However the W shaped trusses are holding up the entire roof structure as well as the ceilings at 1st floor level.

So if we remove these W shaped truss whats holding the roof and ceilings up ?

We have to put the strength back into the roof by installing individual designed steel beams. These beams are uniquely designed by our own structural engineer and comply to the most stringent building regulations.

Its essential that before any works commences in a loft conversion you have structural engineers calculations and building regulations approval.

The image above shows our team of highly skilled steel fitters installing the steel beams in a loft conversion in Lodge Moor, Sheffield.

If you are thinking of undertaking any loft conversion, please speak to a specialist loft conversion company who should explain all the key stages of a loft conversion to you. Employing inexperienced builders to undertake such complex operations could end up in disaster.

Please feel free to speak to a member of our team for free help and advice on any type of loft conversion.

Fitting steel beams in a loft conversion in Sheffield

Loft conversion building regulations

Building regulations will always be required if the loft space is being converted into any usable form of accommodation or habitable room. These requirements are in place to ensure that the necessary construction criteria are met and that the all health and safety laws, amongst other things, have been satisfied. We apply and obtain building regulations on all our loft conversions and garage conversions, so you don’t have to.

loft insulation to building regulations

Loft conversion building regulations