Pro Arkitects - Design & Build Experts
Ashford, Kent
(71)
Ashford, Kent
(71)
From understanding project planning to building regulations, we wanted to create a business that is a one-stop solution for those wanting to design, build, construct or renovate their properties. We don’t just work with new builds but also work on restorations, extensions and conversions.
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71 customer reviews
Tony Steeles
Thinking of using Pro Arkitects for your project? Let me tell you about what happened to me, then you can decide.
It’s been almost a year now.
We approached Pro Arkitects to advise us on a loft conversion to add a bedroom and an en-suite, the project would also involve turning the stairs round the other way, movement of some doorways, etc… We made it quite clear to them from the start that we had a budget of £50,000. They assured us this was entirely realistic within our budget.
One set of drawings and £4,000 lighter we have just had two quotations after they put our project out to tender. At every stage of the process we have had to chase them. The quotes have come back at £82,000 and £76,000, so 55%-60% over the budget we had told them. Pro Arkitects told us they work closely with trusted contractors that are local. They won’t tell me who the quotes are from (so I have no way of knowing how genuine the quotes are or if they have been inflated). All they will tell me is one is based in Dartford (40 miles away/1 hour away) and the other in London (55 miles away/ 1.5 hours away – not exactly ‘local’).
If Pro Arkitects had told us from the start that our budget was unrealistic then we wouldn’t have started the process. But no, they have led us up the garden path to take our money, leaving us to chase them over the last year and then to find out the project was not going to happen.
I don’t think the realise the wasted time and energy, and the heartbreak caused by their lack of ethics and professionalism. They have just responded to my complaint but have said none of this is their fault, saying things such as ‘our consultant wouldn’t have said that’, etc…
I will be taking legal action to recover the money paid to them. And I can see from other reviews I am not the only one that isn’t happy with their service.
So, still thinking of using their services? Good luck!
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C B
Useless company! Literally promised the world, once they have your money you see what there really like.
Paid them around £3500 for drawings.
Went to a 2 hour meeting with them, which they then lost all the notes. They then had the architect draw a box in the back of our place - we wanted loft conversion and side extension so I told him that was no good. He said can I sketch it for him to copy it. That's what I was paying them for right?
They told me I would be able to start building this 4 months from the consultation. If any adjustments were required after planning this will be included.
6 months later, they had submitted the wrong drawing - which I told them from day 1. They withdrew it 2 days before the decision date because I told them I weren't happy with the wrong drawing in for planning.
After this they refused to refund anything and told me it wouldn't of been approved anyway - so why design it like that, surely they should know.
They refused to adjust drawings in the price as promised and asked for around £2000 more. At this point I told them to forget it. I weren't paying these incompetent idiots anymore money.
Id advise anyone to swerve these. They've wasted so much of our time. Conmen!
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Reply from Pro Arkitects - Design & Build Experts
Dear Mr Bartley, Thank you for your review and feedback. As you will be aware, this matter has been extensively discussed following the planning application, and this matter has been resolved. We are therefore disappointed that you have left a one star review. We are also disappointed that this review has been published 5 months after this matter was resolved. Firstly, I would like to correct your statement of paying £3500 for the architectural drawings. I can see from our records that you were invoiced £179 (+VAT) for the 3D laser scan survey, and £1295 (+VAT) for the architectural design of rear extension and loft conversion. You were also invoiced £695 (+VAT) for the preparation, submission and handling of the planning permission, with the council submission fee being included. Due to your location, the council advised a nutrient neutrality assessment was required to accompany the application, and you were therefore invoiced £1095 (+VAT) for a third party specialist to undertake this assessment. As I am sure you will acknowledge, we have no control over these external charges/fess. As you will be aware, you had an initial consultation with a senior consultant and a senior architectural technologist to establish the project, and your requirements, so that a fee proposal could be provided. Some initial notes were taken based on your design thoughts, and these were electronically recorded for use if you proceeded with our services. Following your acceptance of the proposal, a technician attended to undertake the 3D laser scan survey, with the technician taking further notes and re-established your requirements and ideas. These secondary notes were cross referenced with the original notes to establish if there were any additions or discrepancies. We therefore dispute you accusation that our internal notes were lost, as all of our notes are electronically stored, and your drawings were produced in accordance with the collected notes. Based on both sets of notes, a set of preliminary drawings were produced, with your architectural designer seeking further clarification of your desired internal layout, to ensure that you were 100% happy with the design. This is part of the amendment stage, where you (like all of our clients) are able to make any amendments to the preliminary design to complete their vision. If any indicative time line was provided by our team, it would have been clear that it is only a guideline, and may be subject to change. You would have been advised during our technicians visit that the architectural drawings would take 4-6 weeks (at time of survey). You were also advised that the planning department take 3-4 months to review applications, but that Maidstone Borough Council were still impacted by delays caused by COVID-19 and therefore this 3-4 months guideline may vary. You were notified that the planning application was submitted and we provided you with the relevant details and references. Due to a technical error with our system and the planning portal, the penultimate set of drawings were incorrectly uploaded and submitted with the planning application. This was immediately noticed and rectified by our team, with the correct final drawings being uploaded, and also sent to the council and assigned planning officer directly. Unfortunately, the council didn’t update their public planning portal, and therefore you queried why the wrong set of drawings were submitted. You were advised of the glitch and that this had been rectified, and you were informed that we would contact the council regarding their portal not being updated. Due to Maidstone planning department’s limited communication channels, we were only able to contact them via email, or request a callback when we called their helpdesk. Following consistent emails and phone calls, the council acknowledged receipt of the correct drawings 5-6 weeks after validating the application. The assigned planning officer also contacted us to discuss your project and highlighted concerns. The planning officer confirmed that both sets of drawings had been reviewed by herself, and that both the penultimate and final proposals would not receive officer support due to the extent of the extension (side/rear, and loft conversion) being proposed, and the subsequent impact on the host dwelling and surrounding countryside. Upon further consultation with the planning officer, it was firmly established that the council’s overriding view was that the extension was too prominent and not subservient to the original dwelling, and subsequently the application would be recommended for refusal. However, the planning officer provided the option of continuing with the application to receive a refusal decision, or withdrawing the application and revising the design/proposal. At your request, the application was withdrawn and you provided your ideas and thoughts for a redesign. As the proposal needed to be significantly redesigned to adhere to your ideas and the council guidelines, it is therefore considered a new scheme and separate from the original scheme and design. You were advised that revising the design/scheme would incur additional design fees to cover labour time. Due to the amendment only being required to the proposed drawings (existing drawings still being applicable), you were offered a discounted price. As the application was withdrawn at your request, and had been validated by the council planning department, you were informed that no refunds can be sought from the council for the planning fees, and therefore you would be charged for a new planning application. Even though the withdrawal was actioned at your request, you refused to pay the fees for a new planning application, and demanded we pay the fees at a financial loss to ourselves. You also demanded that the final set of drawings should be resubmitted, and you were advised (again) that the planning officer had reviewed both sets of drawings, and the final set of drawings would be refused if submitted again. You later emailed stating you wished to no longer work with us and requested a refund of the nutrient neutrality assessment and the planning application. You were advised that the nutrient neutrality assessment had been conducted and you were provided with a copy of the report. Again, we informed you that the council planning fees are non-refundable once the application has been validated by the council. We also advised that any request for a refund for our services would not be approved in accordance with the conditions for refunds set out in our Terms & Conditions. We are sorry to have received your review and feedback, especially given our previous communications to resolve this issue. We hope that this clarifies everything, however should you still have questions, then please contact us directly. We look forward to being able to assist you with any future projects. Kind Regards, Customer Services Pro Arkitects - Design & Build Experts
AnnieH-61
We are absolutely thrilled with what in essence is a new home thanks to Pro Arkitects! From the first time we met we realised Pro Arkitects were the sort of firm we wanted to work with as they listened and understood our vision and our constraints and worked magic! From start to finish we had a superb team. More...
Reviewed on Yell
KateH-454
We used Pro Arkitects to design our single storey wrap around extension, cant speak highly enough of the services we were provided with, all of our ideas/needs were taken into account along with Pro Arkitects knowledge & experience to provide us with a design & set of detailed drawings, our design changed a few times along the way & Pro Arkitects was very accommodating with every change constantly offering advice would certainly use her services again.
Reviewed on Yell
AustinW-16
Pro Arkitects were able to transform our fledgling ideas into a stunning design. They were so helpful at every stage, patient and attentive to detail; they were able to achieve something within our budget but beyond our dreams. More...
Reviewed on Yell
NicolaC-439
Pro Arkitects came up with an imaginative and successful plan that would hit the mark on all the points – by shifting the kitchen area towards the hall from its original position overlooking the garden, and by widening the room by a metre, the team created a great dining area complete with chic bi-fold doors to provide more light. A mullioned window and a skylight took yet more advantage of the aspect. The final touch was to use two sets of Crittall doors in the lounge and music room; one leading to the garden and the other adjoining the hall. The result is a bright and spacious feel across the whole of the downstairs. More...
Reviewed on Yell
JacobS-156
“Thank you, Pro Arkitects for the fantastic job you have all done in realising the potential this apartment has to offer. You impressed us from the very beginning and have never disappointed us throughout . The end result is a great tribute to your vision and skill and something we can all be proud of.” More...
Reviewed on Yell
MorrisK-2
“I am very happy with the service provided by this company which was recommended to us by a friend. We were undertaking a garage to kitchen conversion with an extension as well and unfamiliar with the process involved. Pro Arkitects visited within a couple of days and guided us through obtaining planning consent. Pro Arkitects took over and managed the whole build through to completion. They are not the cheapest company out there but you get what you pay for.” More...
Reviewed on Yell
SarahB-2936
We requested Pro Arkitects to come and give some ideas for basement works for a art studio at our new house. Pro Arkitects was brilliant in his advice and has delivered exactly what we were looking for. Subsequently, we also asked Pro Arkitects to help with Building Control requirements for our loft rooms refit and his knowledge, confidence and support have helped us to get the full support of the local authority. Building is underway and we can't thanks enough.His friendly and extremely knowledgeable approach make the whole process pain free and almost fun. More...
Reviewed on Yell
ChrisH-8515
Having lived at my current property for 13 years we were quite happy with the layout of our traditional tenement flat. We can not recommend this firm enough both for the level of service we received and the extra amount of work that was put in.
Reviewed on Yell
JamesN-267
We had been considering the conversion of our garage into an extra room for some time but were reluctant to begin the project due to the hassle factor and the expense. After consulting Pro Arkitects, however, these concerns were blown away. Pro Arkitects were extremely professional throughout the project. From the initial consultation, through the negotiation of design and planning, continuing on through the delivery of the commission, we received the highest quality service possible. The design, drawings, and general support were excellent. We compared the ideas and finished results with neighbours' experiences of similar projects and without a doubt, our conversion is the most effective. Pro Arkitects offered us an extremely competitive rate alongside exceptional advice regarding the design features of the versatile space we were looking for. We were also highly impressed at the aftercare service supplied by the firm. More...
Reviewed on Yell
NickW-412
So far our experience with this company has been very good. We interviewed several firm but eventually chose this company. Reasons - Pro Arkitects listened to us, offered ideas and provided us with highly detailed plans. We are about to start our build ~ November but I can honestly say that the service so far has been excellent. Having had past horrendous experiences with builders we also decided to secure Pro Arkitects services to manage the build. I will post a further comment once the work is underway. More...
Reviewed on Yell
TaylorW-23
Pro Arkitects were able to transform our fledgling ideas into a stunning design. They were so helpful at every stage, patient and attentive to detail, they were able to achieve something within our budget but beyond our dreams
Reviewed on Yell
Scott
Friendly and Knowledgeable architect who provided decent drawing plans for proposed works against existing building. Upfront with costing the project so we knew where we stood financially throughout the whole process. easy to approach with any concerns about the project and was happy to resolve any queries, would recommend Pro Arkitects services. More...
Reply from Pro Arkitects - Design & Build Experts
Thank you
Lewis
I would warmly recommend Pro Arkitects as a good Professional and a good Architect, willing to listen to customers’ requests and to fulfil them as much as possible. It is amusing to see how the Architect is trying to accommodate the dreams of customers with the rigid ‘planning permissions and regulations’ as he does his best to make the divergent two’s in one workable solution. He has also personal charm and common sense which are rare and valuable qualities too. I recommend him and his services warmly. More...
Reply from Pro Arkitects - Design & Build Experts
Thank you
LewisC-141
I would warmly recommend Pro Arkitects as a good Professional and a good Architect, willing to listen to customers’ requests and to fulfil them as much as possible. It is amusing to see how the Architect is trying to accommodate the dreams of customers with the rigid ‘planning permissions and regulations’ as he does his best to make the divergent two’s in one workable solution. He has also personal charm and common sense which are rare and valuable qualities too. I recommend him and his services warmly. More...
Reviewed on Yell
ScottM-528
Friendly and Knowledgeable architect who provided decent drawing plans for proposed works against existing building. Upfront with costing the project so we knew where we stood financially throughout the whole process. easy to approach with any concerns about the project and was happy to resolve any queries, would recommend Pro Arkitects services. More...
Reviewed on Yell
NelsonL-2
Pro Arkitects came to our property to offer advice on possible options to reconfigure/extend our kitchen/dining/living space. They had some great initial ideas and has given us a lot to think about! More...
Reviewed on Yell
KellyW-295
Pro Arkitects was very good to me. He explained and kept me up to date throughout the planning and building reg process. His design for my single storey house extension was amazing. Definitely would recommend him. More...
Reviewed on Yell
HarrisP-5
I would heartily recommend Pro Arkitects services. They really understood our vision for the property and converted that into plans that were far more exciting and made much better use of our space than we'd have imagined possible, using both a great eye for design and comprehensive knowledge of planning regulations. They was efficient and kept up good communication throughout the process, and worked with us well to tweak the plans until we were totally happy. More...
Reviewed on Yell
RoseP-39
Following our first meeting with Pro Arkitects, we knew they was the right firm to help us develop our dream home. We were particularly impressed with his experience which was exemplified in his ideas and designs. He made us look beyond what we envisaged and has produced a modern contemporary and practical living space. The latter was particularly important as we wanted to ensure our house was child friendly for our two boys. His spacial awareness is great and he has excellent ideas of how to best utilise it, whilst incorporating his own unique touch. We are now on our way to bringing his ideas to life and all professionals employed have been particularly complimentary of his drawings. I would highly recommend Pro Arkitects for their highly professional and great quality services. More...
Reviewed on Yell
HarryC-175
Friendly and Knowledgeable architect who provided decent drawing plans for proposed works against existing building. Upfront with costing the project so we knew where we stood financially throughout the whole process. easy to approach with any concerns about the project and was happy to resolve any queries, would recommend Pro Arkitects services. More...
Reviewed on Yell
SealyKhan
Absolutely brilliant, I've been involved in a lot of property development projects and these guys really impressed me with their service, reliability and honest approach
Reviewed on Yell
YusufK-12
They helped us with the architectural design, great staff and outstanding customer service. Would recommend
Reviewed on Yell
RominK-1
Fantastic professional company from start to end. really happy with service and efficiency. Highly recommended. Thanks guys
Reviewed on Yell
OsmanC
amazing service and very friendly, would definitely recommend to others. Excellent job!
Reviewed on Yell
AbusufianK
Great service provided and excellent customer relations. They were a great help in planning my dream house. They extended my house, allowing 2 new bedrooms and with one en-suite.
Reviewed on Yell
MohammedA-390
Excellent Architectural Designing company helped us with the building regulations drawing
Reviewed on Yell
SimonF-290
Pro Arkitects helped us to obtain planning permission for our detached property in Tunbridge Wells. They were pleasant, professional and easy to work alongside as they communicated well throughout. The drawings were detailed and they provided some great design ideas. More...
Reviewed on Yell
LaurenceM-37
Pro Arkitects helped me to design an extension to the rear of my property which i use as a man cave so i am more than pleased that i now have this space. Thank you for all of your help with the drawings and during the frustrating planning stage, you went above and beyond so much appreciated! More...
Reviewed on Yell
GurpreetS-42
Business provided me with good customer service, very clear with communications (explanations) The staff were friendly, very approachable. I had a numerous amount of questions and they were willing to listen and take action.You. The drawing and planning action was done thoroughly :) well done guys! I will definitely be recommending this company to family and friends! I can’t forget to mention the PRICE! reasonable pricing, thanks a lot guys ☺️ More...
Reviewed on Yell
CharlotteF-114
Pro Arkitects done some drawing and planning applications-excellent service, friendly, helpful and good price.
Reviewed on Yell
RoseP-34
Pro Arkitects prepared our plans for building Regulations, dealt with enquiries from local council and made minor amendments when asked, at no extra charge. They were always helpful, prompt and easy to reach. The knowledge of local council regulations was invaluable. Would happily use them again Thanks to the team for a job well done. More...
Reviewed on Yell
NahidA
Excellent customer service
Reviewed on Yell
FoysolT
Pro Arkitects done some drawings and planning application for meExcellent and professional service and very helpful and friendly. Very Good price to Thank you for all your help Pro Arkitects More...
Reviewed on Yell
Rose perry
Pro Arkitects comes highly recommended from us after they helped us with our side extension and internal renovations. The drawings, planning and project management was spot on and made the whole process less stressful. Thanks again guys!
Reviewed on Houzz
WilliamJ-177
Quick and simple process, will use again.
Reviewed on Yell
SophiaW-30
The team at Pro Arkitects helped me to create extra space in my home which i never could of done by myself. From the first appointment i knew that i had chosen the right company as they were able to answer all of my questions (i Had a lot) had lots of ideas and even ended up managing the whole build. Lovely, friendly team who are so professional but also easy to talk too. I wouldn't choose anyone else if i need these services again More...
Reviewed on Yell
OliviaT-34
We are now the proud owners of a beautiful seafront, self build house in Folkestone Kent. The journey has been a challenging one and taken 2 years but well worth it. Pro Arkitects came up with our final design concept drawings after we had spent some time looking at other architects' suggestions. They has produced an elegant house and home which makes the most of views, light and space. Pro Arkitects has been excellent in coming up with ideas and solutions. They was also very happy to listen to our comments and combine these into the drawings as we progressed to the final solution.We would highly recommend them as a talented architect but also someone you can easily communicate and work along with to produce your dream home.We are very happy to speak with anyone who may be interested in using Pro Arkitects services. More...
Reviewed on Yell
JessicaB-251
Pro Arkitects comes highly recommended from us after they helped us with our side extension and internal renovations. The drawings, planning and project management was spot on and made the whole process less stressful. Thanks again guys!
Reviewed on Yell
MeywoodH
Needed advice on my side extension, they advised me it will be under lawful development which helped me save the cost of getting a full planning application. The drawings they provided is very clear and simple which builders can work from and complies with building regs. They had this done under 3 weeks which i am impressed with as other architects have told me it can take up to 6 months. More...
Reviewed on Yell
PhillipB-79
Pro Arkitects provided useful ideas and support during the design and construction phases of this project. The office is appreciated by the staff and we have received a number of complements about the building from visiting clients.
Reviewed on Yell
LaurenW-204
The Site is a proposed development of 6 dwellings, 3 townhouses and 3 detached houses. The site has a significant gradient and a number of substantial buildings adjacent, making it something of a challenge architecturally. Following their brief Pro Architects produced three alternative schemes and once the preferred scheme had been chosen they very quickly produced several visualization models which proved extremely helpful in view of the gradient and context of this development. Modeling at this early stage is often not provided and with a difficult site such as this can be vital in obtaining the correct interaction between buildings. The scheme has been worked up to the planning stage and we await a decision in due course. In the meantime, Pro Architects have worked closely with us to deliver a design which fits our requirements and we look forward to working with them on the next stages. More...
Reviewed on Yell
MiaD-16
Pro Architects listened carefully to our brief and took the time to understand how we wanted to use the space. The end result is incredible! An open plan kitchen/dining room/snug which works exactly as we had imagined. We are about to embark on phase 2 of our extension (addition of a playroom, bedroom, and bathroom) and we know Pro Architects will do a brilliant job! More...
Reviewed on Yell
JackM-327
Needed plans for my rear extension that i wanted built, Pro Architects provided me with the Architectural drawing that was needed to help me get planning permission, overall very pleased with the service.
Reviewed on Yell
SusanS-489
We have been working with Pro Architects over the past few months regarding a site we have been developing and have found him to be extremely professional. They have been easy to contact and helpful with regards to advice and ideas. Pro Architects speed and turn round of work are excellent and the use of drones was of enormous benefit. They have been inspiring and encouraging and we look forward to working with him on other new developments that we have planned. More...
Reviewed on Yell
PeterH-1065
We bought a dated 3 bedroom bungalow in Ashford Kent knowing it needed extensive work. We wanted to create another bedroom with en suite, an external entrance wet room, redesigned bedroom and living area and redesign surrounding grounds, but we were short on ideas. Pro Architects was fantastic. They came up with several options to choose from with varying budgets. Pro Architects was very professional and experienced and had good knowledge of aspects particular to the region. The Senior Consultant was also very nice and pleasant to me and my family, including dog! I would definitely recommend him to anyone thinking about doing work to their home. More...
Reviewed on Yell
Peter Hart
We bought a dated 3 bedroom bungalow in Ashford Kent knowing it needed extensive work. We wanted to create another bedroom with en suite, an external entrance wet room, redesigned bedroom and living area and redesign surrounding grounds, but we were short on ideas. Pro Architects was fantastic. They came up with several options to choose from with varying budgets. Pro Architects was very professional and experienced and had good knowledge of aspects particular to the region. The Senior Consultant was also very nice and pleasant to me and my family, including dog! I would definitely recommend him to anyone thinking about doing work to their home. More...
Reviewed on Google Maps
DavidR-1486
Refurbishment of an 1840's building for commercial use - Pro Architects brought an innovative re-imagining of the existing space to suit our business requirements resulting in an excellent working environment for staff and clients. The overall project scheme was sympathetic to the heritage of the existing building, combining original Victorian features with a more modern open feeling. Great job! More...
Reviewed on Yell
PaulM-2307
Pro Architects were receptive and captured our imagination. They were professional and enthusiastic from start to completion of our wonderful eco home. A first class friendly service that we would highly recommend to anyone. More...
Reviewed on Yell
How can someone tell if their Garage is suitable for conversion?
Converting your garage is also a great way to add much needed space without having to extend or move and can often be done without needing planning permission. But a successful garage conversion project does require careful consideration.
Run us through the different stages of the Garage conversion process - what's involved?
The first step with any garage conversion is to conduct an assessment of the existing structure, in particular the soundness of the foundations, walls and roof.
This will go a long way to revealing the extent of works required to create a comfortable living environment – so it’s a key part of the design stages. If the building is in an especially dilapidated state, it may be cheaper to knock down and replace.
Getting the right result will depend on the scale of the scheme, how you want to use it and integrate it into the property, and what your budget will stretch to.
For higher-end projects, working with an architect could help to identify creative ways to maximise the potential of your garage and establish a space that flows naturally into your home.
Another popular route is to use a company that specialises in the design and build of garage conversions.
The results can be fantastic – if not quite so avant garde – and many will take your scheme through planning and building control as part of their fee. Plus their experience on-the-ground can help to ensure a smooth project and a predictable budget.
If it’s integrated or attached, the garage should be fairly easy to work into the main accommodation. You could knock through the wall to join up with an existing zone, for instance – perhaps enlarging a hallway or creating a front-to-back kitchen-diner.
A detached structure, meanwhile, lends itself to segregated uses, such as an annex or quiet home office. A single garage will offer around 15m2 of floor space; more than enough for a playroom, separate drawing room, guest bed, or even an accessible downstairs shower and WC.
At around 30m2, a double garage gives you more flexibility. It could house a bigger living room, ensuite bedroom, well-sized kitchen-diner or an annex.
Alternatively, you could retain a single parking space by erecting a suitably insulated and fire-rated partition, and fit-out the rest for habitation.
How can someone tell if their loft is suitable for conversion?
Check your loft is suitable for conversion. Lofts with a minimum head height of 2.3m are usually seen as fit to convert, although obstacles like chimneys or water tanks, as well as the pitch of the roof, can also affect this decision.
Run us through the different stages in the loft conversion process - what’s involved?
1. The roof space is inspected for suitability
An inspection of the inside of the roof space will provide information as to its suitability for conversion. The main features to initially consider include height, access and obstacles. Here, a water storage tank and chimney stacks formed the main obstacles, but the height and pitch suggested that conversion was possible.
2. An architect or surveyor will confirm suitability and create plans
An architect or surveyor will confirm the loft’s suitability for conversion. It is also necessary to take into account whether the building will be adequate to take the added load of a conversion. Following this, plans are drawn which also provide a basis for cost analysis, and what tasks can be done on a DIY basis.
3. The loft is cleared and prepped
With Building Control approval, work can be started by clearing the loft space. In this example the water storage tank was redundant because a new combi boiler was fitted. If this is still required then it will need to be moved to a convenient space to the side. Two chimney stacks were removed.
4. Rewiring is assessed
The electrical wiring and other services that are attached to joists and binders must be removed and rerouted. It provides a good opportunity to replace and improve the original wiring. This requirement is likely to mean that some services may not be available until the new wiring and any pipework can be replaced.
5. New floor joists fitted
The new floor joists can now be fitted. The actual sizes will depend upon the spans, but might typically be 50mm x 220mm C24 or C16 timbers spaced at 400mm intervals. Where there is a window or door opening below this is bridged by doubled-up timber suspended between doubled-up joists. The intermediate joists are attached to the window bridge using joist hangers. New wiring and any required pipework can now be installed.
6. Floors are insulated
The spaces between the joists are filled with insulation to a depth of 100mm. Following Building Control inspection, the joists can be covered with floorboards. The roofing struts and hangers are temporary but securely reinstalled until suitable replacement arrangements are in place.
7. Floorboards laid
The tongue-and-groove chipboard floorboards are held in place with screws. A water-resistant grade is a good choice, and essential in the bath or shower room.
8. Rafters reinforced
Work can now be started in rafter reinforcement in accordance with the structural requirements, so that the purlins, struts and collars can be safely removed. This will open up the area.
9. Dormers installed (if applicable)
Dormers can now be installed. This will involve opening up the roof, so dry weather is desirable to avoid the risk of water damage. The Building Control officer will inspect to ensure that the roof structure reinforcements are as specified.
Two end dormers were fitted, and a mid dormer that is destined to be the shower room.
10. Rooflights installed
Roof windows are an effective way of letting in natural light. In this project a roof window was fitted above the stairwell. These require the surrounding timbers to be reinforced but are easier to fit than dormers.
11. Staircase fitted
The point at which the staircase is fitted will depend upon individual circumstances, but when in place will give easier access to the loft area. In this example the hallway was widened by knocking down a non-loadbearing front room to the hallway wall and rebuilding the wall 450mm into the front room.
12. Dormers tiled and vents fitted
The dormers are tiled and clad to fully weatherproof them. The end dormers in this example have tiled roofs and tile cladding, whereas the shower room has a felted flat roof and tile cladding. Scaffolding will be required for safe working. Ridge and soffit vents are fitted at a convenient stage.
13. Windows fitted in dormers
The windows are fitted in the dormer openings previously accurately measured. PVCu Class ‘A’ windows were fitted here with an egress hinge on the side-opening sash to provide a good fire exit.
14. The roof is insulated
Insulation is placed between the rafters, with a 50mm air gap between the roofing felt and the insulation, for ventilation purposes. Over this is further insulation giving a total of 100mm. In the roof space above there is 300mm of mineral wool insulation. Building Control inspection is required before the rafters and insulation are covered.
15. Partition walls erected
The partition walls are erected. These use 47mm x 100mm timber studs at 400mm centres, with additional noggins. A quilt is placed within the spaces between the studs as the plasterboard is attached.
16. Wall plates and first fix
Wall plates fitted between studs will provide a secure fitting to items like radiators; they can also be used to secure the boxes required for electric sockets and switches. This is an ideal time to do the first fix electrics and plumbing.
17. Electrics upgraded
The new electrics must conform to Part ‘P’ of the Building Regulations and the 17th Edition Electrical Regulations. It may be necessary to fit a new consumer unit, or additional unit if the existing one has no extra capacity.
18. Access panels for water, electrics and eaves storage
Access panels are a useful addition. Here, water supplies and central heating feeds can be connected to the loft conversion. All metal pipework is earth-bonded together.
19. Walls are plasterboarded and architrave/skirting fitted
Plasterboard attached to the studs and rafters with drywall screws will provide the basis for the decorative plaster skim. Following this, the area is painted as required, and door architrave, skirting etc. fitted and painted.
20. Bathrooms clad and extraction fitted
The shower room walls are best clad with a cement-based aquaboard, first ensuring that all the required wall plates are fitted, and that all the required services are accessible. The shower room also requires an extractor fan.
21. Second fix, heating and finishes
With wall and floor tiling complete, the shower room items can be positioned and fitted. Second fix electrics and plumbing is progressed at a suitable time. The radiators are fitted in place, and connected to the central heating system. This picture also shows cupboard doors fitted to make use of the area behind for storage. Finally its time to decorate.
22. Decorating
The space is now ready for decoration.
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