In the current economic and environmental climate, making our living space as practical and efficient as possible is highly important. The modern homeowner must strive to create an energy efficient household, remodelled to cut down the cost of rising energy bills and save money in the long-term, and of the best tried and tested ways of achieving this is with a proper loft conversion and insulation.

Converting and insulating a loft/attic is hugely practical when it comes to saving money long-term and creating extra storage or living space in your current place of residence. Heating bills will be slashed along general energy usage meaning not only will you be seeing a huge difference in your annual energy expenditure but you’ll be doing your bit for the environment too! With a professional conversion you can create much more room for storage or even an extra bedroom; where many homeowners would normally struggle and set plans in motion to find a new house with extra room, the forward thinking homeowner can avoid overspending and keep their homes spacious and uncluttered.

Extra Space

Whether you are looking to create an extra bedroom in your home or merely a clean tidy place to safely store Christmas clutter and suitcases, converting your loft into a habitable area is a fantastic way of creating extra space.

If you need extra clothes storage (for access on a regular basis) then it may be a good idea to add cabinet, wardrobe and clothes draw units and easy-access stairway to the attic. Alternatively, if you are looking to create a prospective bedroom in your loft then there are certain additions that should certainly be considered; natural light is a necessity in any living space so at least one skylight or window should be added to the room. Effective and stylish lighting can be added to the attic quite effectively, making the most of the potentially stylish wooden support beams and highlighting key areas in the room such as beds and desks.

Cutting Costs

Insulating the attic is massively effective when it comes to containing heat within your home and cutting down on heating bills during the winter months. Homeowners who choose to insulate their home will benefit from:

• Significantly lower heating bills
• A warmer and more comfortable home
• A much lower personal impact on the environment

Having the base of your attic filled with professionally ‘blown’ insulation will greatly reduce the amount of rising heat escaping through your attic; the thick layer of foam-like insulation locks in the warmth and maintains a cosy temperature within your home without the need for continuous heating.

Stephanie Staszko writes for Bathshop321 who retail quality bathroom furniture perfect for an en-suite or additional bathroom in your converted loft space.

Loft conversions could help to tackle the problem of overcrowding in social housing in the West Midlands.

A pilot scheme to create new loft conversions is already starting to help families living in social housing. Housing provider Riverside has organised for the loft a three bedroomed, semi-detached house in West Bromwich to be converted into bedrooms.

It will give the current tenants more space for their five kids who currently have share bedrooms.

If the pilot scheme is successful then the conversions programme could be rolled out to more homes in the area. Paul Jones, assistant director of operations for Riverside Midlands said:

“The council’s view is to look at increasing the capacity of some properties through the conversion of loft spaces into additional bedrooms.

“Working in partnership we have identified which properties are suitable for loft conversions and we have committed to cover the capital costs for the first conversion.”

Overcrowding can be a serious problem for less well off families who are forced into cramp living spaces and loft conversions Rochester can help in that particular area.

The fact that West Midlands council is making positive steps towards creating loft conversions for their social housing will hopefully mean that other councils such as Kent County Council will begin to consider more loft conversions Kent for social housing.

Loft conversions Bromley are a solution for any overcrowded homes in the area.

Need more space in your property? The loft is often one of the least disruptive spaces to convert and can be a great way to open up a bit of extra space in your property and could save you the stress of a complicated move.

According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the cost of the average loft conversion equates to only one third of the cost of moving to a property with an extra room. The RICS also has said that the addition of a loft room can increase the value of your home by up to 25%, making it a worthwhile investment for when you do decide to move on.

An important step to consider for your loft conversions Greenwich is access. Building regulations stipulate that if a loft is to be converted into a bedroom, bathroom or study, it must have a permanent staircase.

You don’t need planning permission for every loft conversion out there, but it’s always safest to check with a loft conversions Kent surveyor first. You will definitely need planning permission if your property is listed or if any part of the extension will be higher than the original roof/overlooks neighbours. If your conversion is to be used regularly as a habitable area then your design must comply with building regulations such as energy efficiency and ventilation.

A survey of domestic planning applications – ranging from loft conversions to basement extensions – has revealed that 64,000 Londoners have joined the race for more space within their current abode during 2011, compared to the previous year.

The 14% rise signals a move towards improving property rather than relocating in recent years. “People will always need more space, but if they cannot afford to move they will improve what they have got, and hope to increase the value of their home,” says Adam Valentine of construction tracker Barbour ABI.

Most renovation projects are being carried out in wealthier boroughs of London, including Westminster (5,947) and suburban middle class areas like Richmond-upon-Thames (3,163).

The area that saw the biggest number of projects took place in Hackney, where planning applications skyrocketed by 76% year on year. Other areas which experienced strong growth include Ealing, Southwark and Tower Hamlets.

As the figures are suggesting, more and more people are discovering that a loft conversion is an effective and attractive way of creating extra space in a property.

In areas around London, J & M Home Improvements performs loft conversions Bexley and loft conversions Greenwich and we can help you with both your  domestic planning application and the actual creation of your perfect loft conversion.