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THE ONLY WAY IS UP
Frequently Asked questions
Before working with us, our clients usually have all sorts of questions for us. To make your life easier, we’ve compiled all the most common questions into a single place, and we’ve tried to provide clear answers to all of them. If you have a question that isn’t on the list, give us a call so we can give you an answer.
What is Our Objective?
Our objective is to give you the best possible construction for the budget and time scale you are working with. We pride ourselves on our personal approach and flexible work schedule to accommodate changes and additional work you may wish to include in the project.
Can I build within the permitted development rights?
Most loft conversions in your area are typically built in compliance with these regulations. Homeowners of houses not in conservation areas have the right to construct their loft without formal permission. The benefit of permitted development is that you can start building without notifying the local council. However, you can choose to apply for a certificate of lawful development from the Local Authority. This provides written confirmation that your plans comply with permitted development rights and can offer peace of mind or aid in property sales.
Guarantee?
We provide a 1-year company workmanship guarantee on all works carried out and a 10-year company guarantee on all structural works. This is a non-transferable guarantee and will be issued on completion of the project and payment of the final balance. This is a company liability guarantee. We can provide an insurance back guarantee if required at an additional cost of approximately £1,800.00.
When do I need planning permission
Most lofts can be built under permitted development (PD), with the following limits and conditions:
For terraced houses, an additional roof space of up to 40 cubic metres is allowed.
The loft conversion cannot extend beyond the existing roof plane or be higher than the current roof.
No verandas, balconies, or raised platforms can be added.
Your property must not be located in a conservation area, and it cannot be a flat.
The loft conversion, except for hip to gable, must be set back at least 20cm from the original eaves. If any of these conditions are not met, you will need to obtain planning permission.
Building Control?
When carrying out structural work, a set standard of quality must be adhered to. There are two requirements that must be met to ensure compliance: structural plans and a building control notice. We liaise with Building Control surveyors and guarantee final certification upon completion of your work.
Do I need a Thames Build Over Agreement?
Are you planning on building an extension? If so, it's important to know that build-over agreements are a common requirement. If your proposed extension or foundation work is within 3 metres of a public sewer or lateral drain, Thames Water must be notified. This build-over agreement acts as a seal of approval from Thames Water for your building work, ensuring that the sewer is adequately cleared by your new foundation. However, it's worth noting that you may not need a full build-over agreement. To determine if one is required for your project, check out this link for more information:
What if I want to make changes after the project has started?
Once we have started the project, you can make small changes to the original plan. These will be placed as "Change Orders" on your online account for your approval prior to the work being carried out. Please note that any additional work, depending on the amount of work required, may affect the completion date. If you would like to know the time implications, do please let us know and we can note this on the change order for you.
How will you keep me up to date with how the works are going?
Predominately, you will be kept up to date via your dedicated project manager. The personal relationship you develop with your project manager is extremely important and they will often ask for your input throughout the project to ensure that you are pleased with how the work is progressing and the layout of the loft. Equally, our project managers often use their extensive experience to make recommendations and suggestions and will always be happy to discuss with you any ideas you have.
Time-scale
The time-scale for loft conversions can vary depending on the size, specification, and additional work required. However, a standard loft conversion would be completed within a 12–14 week time-scale. A standard extension is usually completed within a 16–20 week time-scale. A bathroom reconfiguration takes a minimum of 4 weeks. A kitchen reconfiguration will take 9–12 weeks. Please note that any additional work requested during the build will mean the time-scale is subject to change.
Due to the long lead time for our refurbishment team, we recommend confirming any ground and first floor work at an early stage of the project. We only carry out first and ground-floor refurbishments after the loft has been completed.
What happens when you lower first floor ceilings?
In some lofts with limited head height, we may need to lower the ceilings to the first floor. In this instance, we request that you vacate the property for a minimum of 5 weeks as the first floor rooms would not be considered habitable whilst this work is being carried out. You must remove all personal items, soft furnishings, shutters, and smaller furniture items prior to work commencing. You are able to leave large furniture items in place, which we will cover for you with dust sheets. However, we accept no liability or responsibility for any dust or damage to items left within the rooms during the work.
Will the new staircase match my existing staircase?
The new pine and ply staircase installed for the loft conversion is manufactured bespoke for your loft, and our supplier will conduct an on-site survey to take measurements for the staircase. Your existing spindles, handrail, and newel posts will also be noted and the staircase manufacturer will endeavour to supply the closest match, although usually they can supply an exact match. There will be additional costs for any intricate or non-standard mouldings or hardwood mouldings.
Will I need to inform my adjoining neighbours about scaffolds?
Yes, scaffold poles are generally kept on your property, but in certain cases, we may need to erect some poles on neighboring properties for safe access. This is particularly true for L-shapes, where a scaffold platform is needed on adjoining owners' roofs for our teams to safely work on the party wall or the side of the dormer and outrigger. It is common courtesy for property owners to inform their neighbours in such situations.
Where a full party wall agreement or signed notice is in place, this must be discussed with your neighbours and agreed upon beforehand, and if required by the neighbour, included in any party wall agreement.