Architecture IR
Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
(1)
Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
(1)
Planning and Building Regulations Consents on Residential and Small Commercial projects, typically with a value of £120,000 or less. For these smaller scale schemes Architecture IR is also usually able to offer surveying and engineering services including steel calculations.
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1 customer review
Nidhi Bahal
Love the pictures Ian and a big thanks for helping us design our lovely home.
How can someone tell if their Garage is suitable for conversion?
I would say all garages are suitable for conversion. Such a job is really a technical problem, you will obviously have to replace the garage door, you'll probably need a new damp proof membrane over the floor slab, the insulation of the garage will need upgrading to make it a habitable room and finally you may want to level up the floor with the rest of the house. The only real potential problem with a garage conversion is at the planning stage. Councils generally don't like the loss of off-road parking and the increased street parking. But if you have a big drive for more than one car, or can take a bit off the garden to create one, there isn't usually a problem getting approval.
To complicate things some garage conversions don't require planning permission and can be done under permitted development. This is something I would check with the Council for you. Garages in conservation areas and on modern housing estates usually have to be converted under planning rules in all cases.
Run us through the different stages of the Garage conversion process - what's involved?
Having checked whether or not the conversion can be done under permitted development the process is really the same as for any extension work. First the property has to be surveyed in detail on the ground floor and for any elevations which will change in appearance once the garage is blocked up. Besides measuring the size of rooms it is important to establish the drainage runs particularly if you want a kitchen or a bathroom in the new space. I'd also be looking for existing insulation and asbestos - the first will probably need upgrading and the latter removing. Then it is make a planning application if necessary and do the construction drawings for both the Building Control inspector and for builders to quote against.
How can someone tell if their loft is suitable for conversion?
The determining dimension is the height from the ceiling joists to the ridge inside the loft space. That is essentially your maximum possible ceiling height in any loft conversion. So roofs with a steeper pitch and higher ridge convert more easily than ones with a shallow angle. You'll probably have to change the ceiling joists to stronger, deeper, floor joists, which could limit the headroom and how the stair gets into the loft is a very important consideration too. If you keep some parts of the existing roof slope you've still got to have enough headroom above the stairs so this can limit its position in the loft; and where it goes on the floor below also has to be assessed. Bedroom walls may have to be moved around to fit the stair in.
The type of roof construction also makes a difference. A modern trussed rafter roof with trusses every 600mm may not be worth the costs of converting. You can't just cut out all the diagonal timbers to clear the space. An old fashioned loft with a clear space already is an easier starting point.
Some loft conversions can be done as permitted development depending on the roof volume involved and how a property has already been extended.
Run us through the different stages in the loft conversion process - what’s involved?
Having determined whether or not the proposed conversion can be done under permitted development the process is really the same as for a garage conversion but in more detail. The whole house will have to be surveyed. For the drainage - most loft conversions are usually for a bedroom with an ensuite - you will be looking to connect into an existing soil vent pipe ideally. Some steelwork is unavoidable at the ridge particularly if you are thinking of a large rear dormer as well.
What is a special consideration on a loft conversion is means of fire protection and escape. You are allowed to jump out of a first floor window but not a loft one as that could be considered suicide! There are various possible solutions from making an existing staircase a safe means of escape to adding a sprinkler system.
What do you love most about your job?
Definitely working with clients. The design of an extension is not me telling you what should be done but a collaborative process of my ideas interacting with the clients' ideas. I will only really tell you if your ideas are not technically feasible or if they are not allowed under the regulations.
What inspired you to start your own business?
The freedom to run things the way I want. I am only taking instructions direct from the clients.
Why should our clients choose you?
Because I am professional, good value for money, and I've never been sued!
