Loft Conversion Jargon Buster
Loft conversions are a great way to add significant value to your home. The home renovation has become increasingly popular, and many people are flocking to loft conversion sites to obtain research and enquire further. Unfortunately, a lot of these sites can be quite technical. The team at AKB Lofts want to make sure you fully understand how to successfully renovate your loft, and so have crafted this handy, easy to read guide explaining all the jargon you need to know when purchasing a loft conversion.
Hip to Gable
A hip to gable loft conversion is a specific type of renovation administered to houses with ‘hipped’ sloping roof sides. This is when the sides of a house roof slope inwards, causing a reduction in loft size and making a standard loft conversion difficult. To tackle this, a hip to gable loft conversion extends your loft by replacing the sloping roof wall with a straight one. The result is a more spacious loft, making it more suitable to turn into a functioning room.
Velux
Velux are a type of flat windows that can be installed into your roof during a loft conversion. Roof windows have a host of benefits, most notably allowing a huge amount of additional light into the loft. The inclusion of roof windows can make a huge difference to the adapted room by making it more liveable.
Builders Finish
If you’re looking at a loft conversion service that includes a ‘builders finish’, this means that certain fittings will be installed in your loft to enhance the renovation and make it feel more like a ‘room’. The exact applications can differ from company to company, however, the typical builders finish includes plug sockets, light fittings and skirting boards.
Truss Rafters
A truss is the overall foundation that underpins your roof. An individual rafter is a beam that, when combined with other rafters, posts, and struts, form the truss, and therefore form the internal framework of your roof. These rafters are often present within the loft, and can take up a lot of space as a result. Therefore, converting your loft into a habitable room may require the replacement of truss rafters in order to provide more space.
Party Wall Agreement
When living in a semi-detached or terraced house, a party wall agreement is authentication that a neighbour has consented to renovations being done on the wall shared by the two conjoining properties. You must give notice between two months and a year before you plan to start your renovations, and the reached agreement must be in writing.
Pitch
The ‘pitch’ is the measurable gradient of a roof’s slope. Calculating the pitch is important when getting a loft conversion as it will be a factor in judging whether the loft is suitable for your desired plan.
Dormer
A dormer is a type of window that can be installed into the roof during a loft conversion. Unlike Velux windows which lay flat, dormer windows are built so that they protrude out the roof. This protrusion acts as a small extension, and consequently adds extra space to the loft. Dormer windows also add an enhanced aesthetic to your home, while providing an opening for additional light to filter in.
At AKB Lofts, we’re experienced in all types of loft renovations to ensure you receive your perfect loft. From truss lofts to dormer conversions, we provide the best quality loft conversions to suit your home. For more information, call our friendly team today.