Is My Loft Too Shallow To Convert?

You don’t have to be a pro to know that some types of lofts aren’t ideally suited to be converted into living space.

However, it may come as a surprise that a large percentage of properties haven’t got the appropriate loft in one way or another. Of these large number of properties, the most challenging are homes with shallow pitched roofs. This is because standard space increasing solutions – such as dormers – won’t compensate for the lack of headroom. Especially by the time you’ve added a new floor structure and insulated rafters, as this normally reduces headroom by a further 300mm.

There is always a solution, that’s the good news. However, the more work that needs to be done to the original frame of the house the pricier it gets. Once you have taken into account the extra labour and materials, this doesn’t come as a surprise. Below are a few solutions that allow you to convert shallow lofts;

Removing and Rebuilding Your Roof

If the lack of headroom is critical the obvious solution is to remove the existing roof and replace the original structure with a larger one. Of course, this may mean that the work takes longer, however, it isn’t the most inconvenient option as ‘Room-in-roof’ trusses can be craned into place to form the shell of your new loft and insulation is then placed above the rafters for utmost thermal efficiency. Although the site will be typically cocooned under a temporary canopy, it can still be a pain when the weather isn’t co-operative. With this in mid you may find it more convenient to go for a pre-fabricated replacement roof. Going for a pre-fabricated roof can mean that the work is carried out quicker, however it can come at a cost (typically starting off at around £1000/m₂). The biggest issue presenting itself with raising your roof is planning consent and there’s a fair chance that it will be declined, especially if you own a terraced or semi-detached home.

Lowering Your Ceilings

If you are one of the lucky home-owners who have high ceilings, then an option for you to consider is borrowing spare headroom from the rooms below. This method is different from other conventional loft extensions/ conversions instead of the existing ceiling joists being kept and new floor joists ran beside and reinforced on steel beams that are put in above ceiling level – to make the most of the unused space below this method places the new joists beneath the existing ceiling level. These are then supported by joist hangers that run beneath the steels and once the new floor is laid the old ceiling can be discarded, leaving at least 200mm of space. Obviously, the extra work will add to the total cost of the project, however, it shouldn’t add any more than 10 percent.

Telescopic Joists

The use of steel beams to support the new floor and roof are common in most loft conversions. However, choreographing the beams into place at that height can be arduous – thus, in this light, often shorter 2m lengths that are bolted together on site are used. This is a great solution when you have access restricted areas and there isn’t enough space to fit full length beams. This option also aids the fit of stairs as you don’t have the steel beams affecting the head room or access to the stairs.

Here are some examples: