Choosing the right builder for your loft conversion
Reading time: 15 minutes
If you love your home but feel like you need more room, converting your loft into usable living space can be the perfect solution. As well as increasing the size of your property, a properly finished conversion can also add significant value to your home.
With a project of this scale, finding the right loftconversion specialist完成这项工作是必要的。We spoke to some of the experienced tradespeople recommended on MyBuilder to find out the key things you should know in order to make the right choice:
- Have your plans ready
- Find out if they’ve done similar loft conversions to yours
- Make sure you are comfortable with them
- Look out for experience as much as accreditations
- Get like-for-like quotes and make sure everything is included
- Establish a payment plan
- Check their familiarity with planning permission and building regulations
- Ensure you check for snags before the job is finished
Keeping these points in mind can help you focus on what to look for when you’re meeting with tradespeople and getting quotes for the work. Carry on reading for more details on how to go about finding the rightconversion specialistfor your job.
Have your plans ready
A loft conversion is a big project, and will generally require significant structural work to complete. The vast majority of loft spaces cannot be simply transformed into extra rooms, as regulations regarding stairs and windows will apply to the newly-created space, and most lofts will not be suitable for a straight conversion as they are. With that being the case, there are three general styles of loft conversion that are commonly built, to add space and meet requirements:
- Dormer loft conversions: The most common style of loft conversion, these are an extension to the existing roof, building out sections with vertical walls from the roof to add floor space and room for windows.
- Hip to gable conversions: An option for detached and semi-detached homes where the roof has at least three slanting sides, a single hip to gable conversion fills out one of the sides by building a vertical end wall, giving you a larger amount of interior space. A double hip to gable conversion can be done on detached houses, building out on both sides.
- Mansard roof conversions字体最引人注目的改造风格包括改变整个屋顶结构，增加了一个带有72度角倾斜“墙”的平屋顶，并增加了天窗。它增加了大部分的空间，但显著改变了物业的外观。
The work you can do to your own home depends on the type of home you have, what planning permissions you are allowed, and your available budget. To begin the process, you will need drawings of the planned conversion created by an architect or architectural technician, while a structural engineer may also be required to assess the viability of a conversion, and what changes will need to be made to avoid damaging the property. This can all be done prior to hiring a builder, and in the opinion ofLewis Sage of Romford’s UPS Home Improvements, a tradesperson with more than 160 pieces of positive feedback on MyBuilder, it’s best to have it all ready before bringing a tradesperson in.
I’d say in seven out of ten cases, people have their plans ready when I come in to quote, and that’s the simplest way, as I’ll know the scope of the job can give a good, accurate quote. Sometimes people have me over and they don’t have plans, in which case, I pass them on to architects I know. It’s best to have them done separately, and pay for them separately - then they’re your plans, and you can take them to different builders to get a range of quotes.
Find out if they’ve done similar loft conversions to yours
Loft conversions are not a simple, off the shelf purchase - they are as different as the homes they sit on.
当你为你的阁楼转换寻找一个商人，这是明智的，与那些已经执行了类似的建设，你已经计划，无论是简单的天窗或一个完整的复山屋顶重建。
除了查看他们的作品集的例子，你可以安排通过建设者访问他们以前的工作-他们应该很高兴把你与以前的客户联系，他们以前做过工作。刘易斯说:
Any good builder who takes pride in their work should be happy to put you in touch with old clients. When I’ve done a good job and the client is happy with it, I’ll say to them, can I ask a favour, can I use you for a reference in future, and it’s no trouble. I’d say to clients get out there and have a look at something the tradesperson has done in your local area - there’s nothing better than actually seeing it.
As well as seeing the finished product, seeing a work in progress can also be invaluable, as Lewis explains:
The other good thing to do is ask if they have a build currently on the go, and go along and see that. That way, you don’t just see a nice, tidy job, you can make sure everything behind the scenes is being done properly. It also shows you that they’re a well-thought of, active company - not a firm appearing out of nowhere with no history.
Make sure you are comfortable with them
As well as knowing if they are familiar with your kind of job, you should simply assess how comfortable you feel with the potential tradespeople. You can do that from your first contact with them; are they polite on the phone, do they arrive for meetings at the scheduled time, do they ask lots of questions about the project?
Loft conversions are expensive and time consuming - the entire process can typically last for several months - so being able to maintain good communication throughout the build is essential. You don’t have to become best friends with them, but you should be able to have a professional relationship - you must feel comfortable speaking openly about any concerns that may arise, and dealing with any issues. Lewis said:
Get a free quote
We can help you meet professional loft conversion specialists near you to get real quotes today.
Getting on with someone is a thing that goes both ways. Sometimes I’ll go to meet a client and just feel that I’m not the right person for the job - I could take it on to make the money, but it wouldn’t be the best for either of us. It goes both ways - homeowners should make sure they like the tradesperson and can get on with them for the long haul.
如果你觉得合适，你可以开始考虑他们是否适合这个项目。
Look out for experience as much as accreditations
As well as seeing previous work from builders, there are other things you can do to assess their experience. On MyBuilder, you can read honest feedback on the jobs they have undertaken for homeowners, as well as seeing pictures of the jobs they done. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions as well, about any qualifications they may have, their length of time in the business, or how they’ll approach your own particular job.
You can also find out if the tradesperson is a member of any trade associations or accreditation schemes. Builders who work on loft conversions may belong to a variety of organisations. Some you may encounter include:
- Federation of Master Builders (FMB): The UK’s largest trade association for the construction industry, all members are inspected by the body and expected to uphold standards and follow a code of conduct. There are different levels of membership, with the highest, Build Assure, offering the option of an insurance-backed building work guarantee.
- Guild of Builders and Contractors: Members of this body who become a “Trusted Member” have to demonstrate three years of trading with customer and financial referees, and abide by certain standards such as providing written contracts and clear payment plans.
- Guild of Master Craftsmen: Covering a variety of trades, each full member is assessed in person by the Guild to ensure they are reaching high standards of work. The Guild also provides a conciliation service for disputes between homeowners and member tradespeople.
- National Federation of Builders:会员必须提供商业及财务资料，投保公众责任保险，并遵守行为守则。虽然它不保证不工作，但它有一个投诉程序。
- FairTrades Association: Established in 1983, the FairTrades Association covers multiple trades and works to ensure standards, encouraging its members to offer insurance-backed guarantees on their work.
- British Woodworking Federation (BWF): Members of the BWF are visited by the body and vetted to ensure they are either compliant, or working towards compliance with a code of conduct that emphasises qualities such as customer care and clear contractual dealings.
Membership of one of these bodies is a good indication that a tradesperson is competent and working up to certain standards, however, there are many experienced tradespeople who do not belong to these bodies - there is no obligation to be signed up, unlike members of the Gas Safe Register, a legal requirement for tradespeople who work with gas in the home. Use your own judgement to assess a tradesperson’s experience, and see accreditation as a healthy recommendation or extra seal of approval. Lewis says:
A loft conversion being worked on by Lewis Sage, UPS Home Improvements
Being a member of a body like the Guild of Master Craftsmen is another string to a tradesperson’s bow - it’s good to have, and shows you do your homework. But it’s not the be all and end all - it’s experience that counts.
Get like-for-like quotes and make sure everything is included
It’s advisable to meet with, and get quotations from at least three tradespeople. The detail and scope of their quotation can tell you a lot about their process. It’s important to make sure that all the quotations are like-for-like - do they include materials and labour, as well as any subcontracting the tradesperson may do, and VAT? The only way to accurately compare quotations is if both cover the same things.
Taking a sample of at least three quotations can can help you spot any that seem unreasonably low - if this is the case, it could be the sign of a tradesperson who wants to win the job, but will make up the true value by adding on extra costs during the course of the build. Lewis said:
It’s vital when you get your quote that it covers everything. Does it stop at plastering, or does it include decoration? Are things like doing the skirting boards included? It’s easy to forget about these things until you get the end of the build and realise you don’t have what you want - and if you want to add them on, a tradesperson can charge extra.
Establish a payment plan
After agreeing to a price through an accurate, written quotation, make sure you have a payment plan in place that you are comfortable with.
一个信誉良好的商人不会期望，或要求，一个昂贵的阁楼转换工作的总价值预先。然而，少量的存款并不罕见。虽然许多建筑商从贸易供应商那里赊购材料，并且不会要求预先支付这些费用，但如果是一家小公司，而它的大型建筑涉及到高成本，这可能会被纳入计划。刘易斯说:
A deposit is normal, but I do advise the homeowner waits until a few days in before handing it over. See what the time-keeping is like, if they come on time and don’t leave early, if the skip comes and the scaffolding starts going up. When you’re happy everything is kicked off, then you can do the deposit.
Some builders may defer payment until after the build is completed, but the most common method of payment is an installment plan that sees you paying certain percentages of the total bill after various stages of the job are completed, after Building Control has inspected the work to ensure that it has been completed to standard. Other tradesperson may prefer to be paid on either a monthly or weekly basis, especially over a longer timeframe, in order to cover their material costs and paying subcontractors and employees.
Some builders will also a retention payment - a sum of money (typically between about 2% and 5% of the overall cost of the build), which you as the homeowner keeps until final sign-off of the project, to ensure the tradesperson finishes the job to standard. Lewis said
The best thing to do is sit down together, homeowner and builder, and work out a payment scheme that works for both of you. I take a deposit once the work has started then go in stages, but you have adapt to what the client can do. At the end, I leave 5% with the client until all the snags have been worked out.
对于大额支付，商人通常接受支票和银行转账。
Check their familiarity with planning permission and building regulations
Many houses will have permitted development rights when it comes to loft conversions, meaning that you will not need to apply for planning permission when going ahead with the build. There are exceptions to this however, mostly related to the amount of space being added via the conversion. Additionally, if your home is within a location such as a conservation area, or is a listed property, you may have to obtain planning permission before your work can go ahead.
There are two separate sets of requirements your build may have to abide by - planning permission and Building Control (sometime called building regulations). Planning permission deals with the development of buildings and its impact on the wider community, for example, how an extension effects the street scene, or if an office block can be converted into flats. Building Control sets standards for the design and build quality of any development, ensuring the health and safety of those who will use the building, as well as providing standards on energy efficiency and requirements like disabled access.
不管你是否需要规划许可，你都需要建筑控制部门在施工过程中签字，检查员会来监督施工进度，确保施工符合法律规定。
If you have plans done before hiring a tradesperson, you, and your architect, should have established if planning is needed, a process that typically takes around eight weeks with no complications, and requires paying certain fees. Your local authority’s Building Control office will send inspectors to view the project as it happens to sign stages off, a process that can cause delays - you can also pay for private inspection firms to sign off work, which speeds up the process, but will cost extra.
At whatever stage in the process you hire your tradesperson, make sure the tradesperson you choose is familiar with the planning situation in your area. Experienced builders will be knowledgeable about all the latest requirements and and how they apply to your project, and how they will be dealt with by the planning departments of local authorities - they may even know planning officers to ask for advice. Beware of any tradesperson who is casual about the need for planning permission or Building Control inspections - breaching regulations can lead to costly fines, and being forced to undo any work. Lewis said:
I’m very familiar with local planning offices and all the Building Control staff. When they come on site, they say hello and shake my hand, because they know I do a good job. The whole process is easier with that experience. The only issue is if there are delays. With a lot of people choosing not to move house and instead improve their property, there are a lot of renovations and extensions happening, so inspectors can be booked up for a week - you don’t want to wait around for days to begin the next stage. That’s where private inspectors can be useful.
Ensure you check for snags before the job is finished
对于一个像阁楼改造这样的大项目，可能会有复杂的过程。通常情况下，这些问题可能直到工作概念上完成之后才会显现出来，并且这个商人已经换了其他工作。既然如此，雇佣一个乐于回到构建中继续工作并纠正工作完成后可能发生的任何事情的技工是明智的。
Some builders will put something to this effect in their initial contracts with the homeowners, while others will offer a more informal arrangement. Lewis said:
我的政策是在所有的问题解决之前，把总费用的5%留给客户。总会有一些事情——房主有权发现任何问题并指出来——他们应该让我们承担责任。即使是世界上最好的商人也会错过一些东西。所以我让他们在这里住了一段时间，然后列出所有的问题，包括未完成的问题、油漆问题等等。然后我回来，他们带我走一圈，我们把他们都说了一遍，看我要完成什么。完成后，我会拿到最后的付款。
See if any tradesperson you are considering hiring is willing to offer an option like this. If the tradesperson is willing to put you in touch with previous clients to see their work, then it is a good sign that they have maintained good relationships, taken pride in their work, and ensured that they have followed-up on any issues that have arisen.
