Remodelling Existing Rooms - Home Improvement London
Monday, October 21, 2013
You may dream of creating more space, more light, more storage or greater flexibility in your home, but how is the best achieved? Most home refurbishment projects fall into four main categories, or you may choose to start from scratch and build your own home.
1) Remodelling existing rooms: if you need different living accommodation rather than extra space, home improvement could be the solution. Removing internal walls to open up kitchen, living and dining areas will bring in more light and create a sense of space and moving walls to steal space from another room, can turn a box room into a useful bedroom. Unless your property is listed, knocking down internal walls, dividing rooms with partition walls or installing an en-suite bathroom or downstairs clock room will not require planning permission, but the work must comply with relevant Building Regulations, particularly if it involves alterations to the structure of the building or the drainage.
2) Converting unused space: the arrival of children, or a change to home working can leave you scrabbling for more space, but the solution can be found in box-filled attics, junk-ridden garages or even empty basements. Loft conversions offer a convenient way to add an extra bedroom, playroom or home office. there is no minimum head room requirement to convert your loft, although common sense says that at least two metres is good guide to ensure that one would be able to stand up in the room. The stairs to reach the loft, however, must have minimum head room of two metres. Many garages never seen a car, but are expensive homes for piles of junk which can easily be turned into habitable space. You will have to upgrade the structure to meet current Building regulations covering energy efficiency, damp-proofing and ventilation. If the conversion involves building on top of the garage, the foundations will need to be checked to show they can take the extra load. Though a far more expensive option, basement conversions are on the increase in urban areas where land is at a premium.
As with loft conversions there is no minimum height but the stairs to reach the basement must have minimum head room of two metres which may involve more excavation. You must use a specialist contractor to ensure the space is correctly tanked and waterproof. Building Regulations approval will be required for all conversion and extension projects for semi-detached or terrased properties. Recent changes to Planning Regulations may mean the project is exempt, but always check with your local planning office to be sure. 3) Extending your property: as the family gets bigger, you have two choices - either to extend your existing property or move to a larger house.
A single-storey rear extension combined with a loft conversion is popular choice for terraced homes, but if there is space, space and detached houses may benefit more from a two-storey extension. There are further regulations that both single and two storey extensions must comply with. Single-storey extensions with a flat roof should be no higher than three metres, or four metres if they have a pitched roof The roof of two-storey extension should be no higher than the existing building. Another rule is not to over extend your property. Every road had a ceiling price and if yours is out of keeping with others in the road you may not recoup your investment when the time comes to sell. 4) Adding a conservatory: the rules for conservatories ar slightly different, which makes them a cost-effective way of adding extra space, but make sure you install heating, ventilation and insulated glass if you want to use the room year round. In most cases you don't need planning permission. In England and Welsh, conservatories are exempt from most Building Regulations if they are separated from the rest of the house by patio doors, the floor area dose not exceed 30 square metres and is not permanently heated.
Choosing the right builder and ensuring you communicate well together can make the difference between the success or failure of your building project. But we need to make sure that all home improvements are both cost effective and add t our enjoyment of the property, as well as maintaining its value. Good planning and clear directions are the key to success. Home improvement projects will add value to your property.