How to Ensure Your Loft Conversion is Fire Safe

Are you planning a loft conversion in your home in Newcastle or the North East? It’s a big job, and one that can often be daunting and accompanied with a number of pitfalls! However, a loft conversion can also have a great deal of benefits, including enabling you to open up more space in your home and add up to 20% extra to the value to your property. The do’s and don’ts of a loft conversion are not always something our clients are all familiar with, leaving them to rely on loft conversion specialists for advice and guidance. However, one of the most important things to consider when constructing a loft conversion is ensuring you keep to the fire regulations (approved document part B) that accompany this building project. When it comes to loft conversion fire regulations, there are strict and stringent rules that must be followed. Whether you are converting a loft to add another rent-able room to your property or it is simply for your own residential purposes, fire safety is essential to ensuring the welfare of inhabitants.

Of course, finding out if you need planning permission is your first port of call when beginning a loft conversion project, the building regulations and fire safety is next on the agenda. Most lofts are exempt from planning permission, but it always best to check! Here are the Acre Design top tips for ensuring your loft conversion is fire safe and follow UK building regulations…

#1 FIRE SEPARATION OF A NEW STOREY

The new storey / loft conversion needs to be separated from the rest of the house using fire resisting construction. This is achieved by the compartmentalisation of the loft from the rest of the property using.

• Structural elements, including floor joints, walls and beams with fire resistance of at least 30 minutes – this may involve re-plastering the ceilings on the floor below with fire-rated plasterboard.
• The loft and protected route of escape must be fitted with fire doors, at the top and bottom of the new staircase as well as any habitable rooms with doors onto the escape route.
• Exposed steel beams finished with in-tumescent paint and a flame-spread resistant top coat.
• Interior timber must be of Class 1 rating, or finished with Class 1 rated coatings.

#2 ESCAPABLE ROUTES

Building regulations stipulate that there must be a protected escape route all the way from the loft to the ground floor exit door. All walls leading through the escape route must be built to the fire protection standard, this protected corridor must have passive fire protection for at least 30 minutes to ensure full loft conversion safety. Before you finalise your building work, all partition walls along the escape route must be adequately assessed to ensure they are in line with regulations.

 

#3 SMOKE ALARMS

It is a UK building regulation that mains-powered smoke alarms are installed on each and every floor of your home and are linked to one another so that they all ring if one is activated. Therefore, if you are adding a storey to your home in the form of a loft conversion this storey must be fitted with smoke detectors. All mains-operated smoke alarms should be fitted with batteries as back-up. Further, all smoke alarms must be fitted in so-called ‘circulation spaces’ such as hallways and landings and sited within 7.5 meters of a habitable room.

#4 FIRE DOORS

Loft conversion doors are another essential feature when considering the fire safety of your home extension. All interior doors must be fire doors and they need to be fire resistant for a least 20 minutes. Therefore, doors cannot be glazed (unless with fire-rated glass), so you may want to consider windows or roof-lights to bring daylight to the stairwell.

#5 WINDOWS

Although it is no longer necessary to fit escape windows into a new loft conversion, don’t underestimate their benefit. It you decide to use windows as a possible escape, route you must ensure that they are large enough and low enough to escape from. They also must be a minimum size of 450mm x 450mm and at least 0.33m2 in the area. As long as your conversion has open access to a stair escape route, one escape window will be sufficient within the roof room. Please note that if there is more than one room in your conversion you need to make sure all of the rooms have
these precautions.

If you are interested in starting the process of building your dream loft conversion please contact Acre Design today to arrange a free consultation. Our in-house loft experts are well trained on the importance of fire safety and would be more than happy to assist you to ensure your loft conversion covers all of these building regulations.

Modern house architecture trends

The modern aesthetics trend is playing a huge role in architecture and architectural design, heavily featuring in homes we are seeing today. Modern residential architecture is based around clean, open plan living spaces – designed to fit in with the growing needs of a modern household. We have put together a few trends in modern house architecture we think you will find interesting…

Bringing the outside indoors

This is a common lifestyle trend – as the digital world is taking over our everyday lives, households want to inject a bit of nature back into their homes. Modern house architecture does this through making living spaces creative. We don’t just mean adding a few potted plants in your living space; this new trend involves the use of vertical gardens with vines creeping up and around your walls, or
even an indoor courtyard of trees – with added skylight features to really open up space.

Large Windows

Following on from the last trend, adding large windows and skylights are becoming increasingly popular within modern homes – they are basically the definition of modern architecture. Large windows and glass walls add that element of environmental connectivity to outside surroundings – they also really transform any space into a beautiful architecturally designed home.

Sustainable Homes

Self-sufficient homes are the dream for every homeowner. Renewable energy systems in a home environment are no longer as abnormal as they once were, more and more people are opting for solar and wind driven systems over fossil fuels. The cost of renewable energy is rapidly going down – and with consistent reminders of the environmental benefits of renewable energy sources – the demand of this lifestyle choice is increasing.

Transformable spaces

Rooms that have flexibility in regards to the layout and space are currently really popular. The reason open-plan layouts are now all the rage is because you have the ability to transform that space into anything you need. Also, the convenience of having everything you need all in a close proximity is becoming a growing household need. The trend is increasingly popular with smaller spaces too, being able to make the most use out of a really small space is so important. By adding simple features like, bigger windows and lifting the ceilings higher (when possible), it creates that bigger, more open plan feel and ambience.

Smart Home Features

As mentioned before, the home architectural trends will grow with current lifestyle trends. As digital features are taking over our daily lives, households have a desire to start incorporating these features into their homes. Enabling your home with the latest household digital software is currently one of the biggest modern architectural trends. Having a modern home design that will fit in with these adaptive features is so important.

Transitional Design

Last, but not least. Every home seems to have adopted that of the Pinterest, modern farmhouse style. Something that offers a classic look, but also has modern functionality. A home with contemporary, but a historic twist. Transitional style, basically means, to add a mix of traditional and modern furnishings and decorative features to the interior of your home. It’s all about finding the right balance of building attributes and the furnishings you put in it.

If you’re looking to change your home layout and add a modern design to your exterior or interior, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Overheating of Homes…a sticky situation

The use of large amounts of glass when extending your home is something that almost all
of our customers are desperate to have, and understandably so!

Any house looks luxurious with bespoke bi-fold doors spanning up to 6 metres, or with sliders you get unobstructed panes up to 3 metres for a single pane, the perfect addition to your new dream home. The more glass in your extension you have, the more light will flood in, and happier you and your family will be in your new extension right? Well yes, but there are also some other considerations to bear in mind when deciding that you simply must have an entire wall as glass,
or every window is to be from the floor to the ceiling. A big consideration when designing buildings is that buildings ability to maintain a steady internal temperature throughout the year in this, lets be honest, fairly changeable climate we have to deal with on the fair isle.

Heat in… Heat out!

Glass just isn’t as good as an insulated wall for keeping the heat in, and is absolutely terrible at keeping the heat out in the summer, in fact, it does the opposite! I am sure most of us have walked into a conservatory that has been left to heat up on summer day? When you walk in, the heat hits you like walking into a furnace! Similarly that same conservatory is a no go area in winter when it is just impossible to heat up without seeing a marked increase in Januarys gas bill.

Focus on insulation

Keeping homes cool in the summer is not the focus of the building regulations, they are focusing on insulation and keeping the homes warm in the winter, but with global warming and the subsequent warmer summers, homes being built closer together (thank you very much the planning department), poor temperature controls and ore airtight buildings overheating can be as big a problem!

By definition a building suffers from overheating when the temperature becomes uncomfortable for occupants within a building. Increased humidity can also exacerbate the issue. It therefore must be a consideration when specifying large pieces of glass in any extension, or the orientation of that glass when designing new build housing.

 

Tricks for blocking the sun

In the UK the Zenith of the sun moves between 62 degrees in summer and 12 degrees in winter, meaning that specially designed shading like larger soffits, or brise soleil might be used to keep the sunshine out during the summer, but let it in during the winter. Another clever trick is to use deciduous trees positioned to block the sun in the summer period but will let light through in winter. Internal blinds can also help, with different glazing also an option to block out the worst of the sun’s rays. It is not just windows that let the heat in. The heat from the sun is defined as radiant heat and when it strikes a solid object it is absorbed and reemitted at a different frequency, as conductive or convective heat. Designers really therefore need to look at the types of wall and roof construction as much of this is only designed to stop the transfer of conductive or convective heat and allows the radiant heat to pass right through into the home. The use of multiple layers of different insulations, air gaps and ventilation
should be considered at the design stage.

Thermal Mass

With the growth of lightweight building systems like timber frame, SIPS panels and pre-insulated shuttered formwork the heat that enters the building quickly heats up only the air without any large amounts of mass (in this instance called thermal mass) to absorb the heat during period of high temperature, and then release that heat during the cooler evenings and night time. It takes around 4 times more energy to heat up a solid that to heat the air, and so including some thermal mass in the building (a concrete floor, granite work tops, masonry chimney breast or even just some denser plasterboard) the tops can be knocked off the peaks during the summer months.

If the property does get too warm, the best way to cool it is through cross ventilation with cooler air. One window is not enough as the air needs to pass from one opening through anther, this is easily achieved on a detached property, but often it is important to think about how to ‘bring in the breeze’ especially on terrace or semidetached property like we have here in the North East. All considerations we take into account for our clients, to make sure they get the dream home that they deserve, on budget and on time.

Self Projects: Let’s get started.

There’s no greater space than one created specifically to meet the needs of you and your family and it doesn’t have to cost the Earth. In fact, cutting out developers and creating a self-build will not only leave you with an overwhelming sense of satisfaction but could also save you big bucks. If you’re ready to take this creative and innovative plunge, we’ve put together some money-saving ideas to ensure your budget goes even further. ..

Planning and Preparation

Before you begin the design process, it’s a really good idea to consider the garden and surrounding features. There are the obvious choices to make: views, south-facing gardens and so on but further to this, recycling already established plants and tress is a really cost- effective strategy. Plants don’t have to remain in situ however, digging them up and keeping them well for replanting post-build could save you some cash at the garden centre! This, coupled with keeping the spoil (what’s dug from the land to fit the foundations) could save you a small fortune. Not only can spoil removal cost thousands but re-purchasing soil for landscaping can run up a hefty bill too. While we are talking horticulture, another great solution for a soakaway is to have a pond. If the pond is set 600mm below the surrounding ground and the surrounding banks are planted up, heavy rain could make the water level rise but it will then disperse into the surrounding soil.

When designing your space, ensuring it suits your needs entirely is a must and at ACRE we are experienced in understanding the needs of our clients. Many things must be considered in the initial design stages. The lounge is one example where focal points can often compete for space in this busy living area; simply situating the fireplace in the corner of the room (as opposed to the traditional centred wall fireplace) eliminates the problem. Not only does it reduce cold spots either side of the fire but it allows wall space for large windows, sofas, a television, storage or whatever you are passionate about! This is a the beauty of the self-build: we can help you achieve the perfect space, forget the ‘norm’ and build the perfect house for you.

Insulation Essentials

From a cost saving perspective, as well as an eco-sensitive one, insulation is a vital consideration. Further to the obvious use of insulation, simple additions can make a huge difference; for example insulating your bath with mineral wool insulation behind the panels (as long as it isn’t freestanding of course) ensures your water stays warmer for longer – especially handy if you have a few children to bathe!

As we all know, insulation is key for cost-savings with heating but here’s another cheap consideration – sound insulation for stairs in your self-build. Though this would allow an easier entry for teenagers sneaking home later than planned, a ‘silent staircase’ could make a huge difference to the peace in your home. This can be achieved ridiculously easily by stuffing the underside of the staircase with wool insulation before boarding stairs – obviously this wouldn’t be compatible with an open staircase however. This is another area where the team at ACRE understanding your needs entirely can help make sure these kind of elements are included in your designs.

 

Equipment equals ease

In rainy climates such as ours, laying concrete can be problematic which is why hiring a concrete pump is one of our top recommendations for self-builds. They can be costly at around £500 a day but they allow for large amounts of concrete to be laid in one day and avoid damage which can be caused by lorries, dragging concrete and bad weather.

Using manpower alone to put up trusses and steel joists in particular can be a time-consuming and dangerous task, which is why we would recommend hiring a crane for this, and at around £500 per day it’s well worth the spend. It’ll keep the job moving forward, cause the least aggro and remove potential damage – to your build and body parts!

Detailed design

Lastly, we cannot stress enough the benefits you’ll see when appointing ACRE as your designer. With detailed plans, developed with your dream in mind, your home can be built within budget and without nasty surprises.

Thinking of Self Building? A few tips to get you started.

Your home extension: external finishes and render options

The two main reasons for applying an external finish on a residential building is:

• To protect the wall of the building from the effects of weathering, for example from the force of rainfall
• To make the building aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

 

Types of External Renders

Acrylic Render

Acrylic render is normally applied as a very thin finish layer to improve aesthetic appearance of the building’s face and is very popular in modern day residential construction. When the acrylic material is made, small fibres are added in order to give a durable finish and to prevent cracking once it has been applied to the building. Silicone is also used in the process giving the product longer life span and the ability of self-cleaning.

Plasterer’s Company Website

Cement Render

Cement used to render a building is mixed on-site and this material is usually given 3 or 4 layers of application onto the building face, then the top coat is given a shiny, polished finish. The materials used to mix and create the cement are cheap however the labour is very expensive and this type of render usually requires frequent repainting to maintain its aesthetic appeal.

Concrete Company Website

Lime Render

Lime render is available in many different formats, such as lime putties or bagged hydraulic limes. This material is more difficult to apply and a little more expensive than other materials like Portland cement. Lime render also must be mixed on-site.

Building suppliers’ website

Monocouche Render

Monocouche render is supplied in a bag ready to be mixed with water and applied by hand trowel or usually sprayed on to the wall surface. This render is pre-coloured in a variety of different colours with a weatherproofing layer. It also contains additives making the material more likely to eliminate cracking, with the ability to also be self-cleaning. Using a monocouche render can be expensive to buy the materials, but it is easy to apply therefore it reduces labour costs without the need for any subsequent painting.

Product news website

 

Polymer Render

Polymer renders material is sold in pre-mixed quantities, available in a variety of different colours and based on either white cement or lime. During the production of the material, polymers and other plastic-based products are added in order to make them less prone to cracking, enhancing the life span of the finish.

INFORMATION ON TYPES OF EXTERNAL RENDERS

Types of External Cladding

Timber cladding

Timber cladding is a very popular cladding material, particularly around residential buildings, as it gives off the feel of a traditional timber frame and gives a very natural aesthetic to a building exterior.

Advantages of Timber Cladding:

• Easily installed– Timber is a very lightweight material, making it easier to handle for labourers so they can install it faster. This makes it a cost-effective cladding material as construction costs are reduced.
• Energy efficient – Timber is a very good insulating material and with a lower thermal conductivity than materials like steel and concrete, it reduces energy consumption of the building that is required to be heated and cooled. This is another reason why timber cladding is a very cost-effective material.
• Environmentally friendly – Timber is a renewable resource whereas many construction materials are non-renewable. In addition, timber is 100% recyclable making it one of the most environmentally friendly building materials available.
• Flexible – Timber is a very versatile material as it can be cut and trimmed into any shape to meet the clients demands, it is also available in different pattern styles.
• Very durable – Timber cladding can last for many years if it is maintained regularly and with the correct cleaning methods, and scratches or grazes are not as prominent as they would be on other cladding materials. Timber usually goes through manufacturing processes to enhance its durability and making it more resistant to fire, however there are lots of timber species such as Western Red Cedar or Douglas fir that naturally last longer than other types of wood.

Concrete cladding

Concrete cladding is usually considered a material to be used in commercial building and is manufactured in the form of cladded tiles. These tiles are cut in a limited number of shapes and they also take longer to install therefore labour costs will be higher. Concrete cladding tiles are very strong, durable and only require a very small amount of annual maintenance.

Fibre cement cladding

Made up of a combination of cellular fibre, compressed sand, water and cement creating wet sheets, fibre cement cladding is a low cost of cladding sheet. It is very easy to install and can come in a variety of different colours and effects, with the material being painted or stained in the factory. Maintenance is not a big issue with this material as it only requires a small amount of annual cleaning and does not need to be repainted or stained.

Metal cladding

There are different types of this type of cladding, but metal cladding is the most common cladding material used in commercial building such as business parks and offices. All metal cladding types are easily decorated according to the client’s demand. Steel cladding is commonly used for commercial purposes as it is a strong, durable material, it is low maintenance and is very pleasing on the eye. However, it can be expensive therefore unfavourable on a tight budget and has poor thermal insulation performance. Aluminium cladding is also popular as it is very affordable, requires low maintenance and is easy to install on site. On the other hand, this material can look cheap if designed incorrectly and is easily damaged. Like steel, aluminium also offers a very low thermal insulation performance to a building.

Rainscreen cladding manufacturer website

Stone cladding

Stone cladding is very popular when it comes to residential building. It can give a real natural aesthetic feel to a building and is sometimes combined with another exterior finish or render to add dimension to the building. Stone is a very good insulator and is a very durable material, as it is able to withstand years of weathering making it a very popular exterior choice for residential buildings. However, stone cladding can be a very expensive material to install and maintain, but if the budget is not tight on a project, this cladding would be a good choice as it provides the building with a range of benefits.

Vinyl cladding system or Vinyl Siding

Vinyl cladding/siding is predominately made for cladding the exterior faces of houses and other residential buildings. Vinyl cladding comes in a variety of colours and patterns, and is also a cost-effective material as it reduces the cost of heating and cooling the living space that it is built on. This material requires little or no maintenance and can withstand harsh weathering but may need replaced every 5-7 years as the colouring of the cladding may fade. One major negative points would be that this material can cover up problems such as damp or other moisture problems which allows mould to grow. Also, this type of cladding can release harmful toxins when exposed to regular high temperatures which is bad for the environment. Cladding supplier website

Weatherboard cladding

Weatherboard cladding is a common type of technique used on residential building today and can be carried out with a wide variety of materials like fibre cement and UPVC, and in a range of colours and effects. It is an extremely durable method of cladding the exterior of a building and it can be applied to a variety of substrates. Weatherboard cladding usually requires a thorough annual maintenance routine to be kept at best condition. TYPES OF EXTERNAL CLADDING

How to ensure your building project runs smoothly

Do you want to make sure you’re completely ready to undertake your long awaited extension or self build project?  Of course you do! It’s been a long time coming and by following these points you will be as well prepared as one can be, ready for a smooth build that’s completed on time and on budget.

 

# 1 Relationship between the builder

The key to a smooth build is a good relationship between the builder and the client onsite. Knowing what is expected of each other is essential to the success of a building project. Acre Designs clear specification and detailed plans will result in a good working relationship. Good communication at an early stage can save thousands.

# 2 Communication

Communication with neighbours from an early stage is important. One of the first things to do once a design scheme is nearing agreement is to take a plan round and introduce yourself and show them the proposals. If there is a problem, don’t let things build up, iron it out. Usually, the neighbours get frustrated or annoyed simply because they haven’t been involved from an early stage.

# 3 Schedules and Meeting

Acre Design works with a number of excellent contractors, however, it is important that you choose a builder you feel comfortable with and can envisage working well with. Ask them for a detailed schedule of works (if Acre Design hasn’t already produced this). So you have a point of reference, and arrange a regular meeting to discuss any changes to the plan and to check on progress.

# 4 Specification

Acre will consider everything thoroughly before building commences, and will ask for your thoughts and ideas, be sure to be thorough, no matter how trivial, if you mention something you’d like, we will ensure its accounted for in our specification. Changing the specification once the build is underway is possible, but may incur delays and additional costs.

# 5 Get booked in early

A common problem is the expectation that builders will be available in a short notice. Good builders can be booked up several months in advance.

# 6 How much do you have to spend?

Give the principal designer full disclosure on the desires for your home, but also the limitations, this is usually the amount of money you have to spend. We would never want to design something you loved, only to find out the design is unrealistic or unachievable because the funding wasn’t there. Knowing how much you have to spend is a key element affecting our design.

# 7 Read your quote!

Make sure you know exactly what you are getting from your builder. Get everything in writing, read your quote carefully and ask for it to be explained if it’s not clear.We will happily have everyone around the table to go through it all should it be required.

# 8 Getting your house ready

Most work will involve major upheaval. The contractor will cover everything anyway, but it does make thing a lot easier and safer if you got the house ready by removing all personal belongings and furniture -where practical. Leaving a clear workspace makes a big difference to the speed and often finish date for when the contractor is able to achieve.

# 9 Dream home is not far away

When projects start onsite, every party involved, the client, the principal contractor and principal designer should have no further questions about the task at hand. During the design phase, Acre Design will have agreed on a scheme with the client, and prepared all the necessary paperwork and specification, alongside the detailed plans and gained the necessary approvals. To get to that point, there will have been meetings with involved parties to iron out any issues or answer any questions and now is the time to put all that hard work into practice. Your dream home is not far away now!

Top Exterior Design Trends for Home Extensions

2018 is already becoming a great year for the architecture industry and what it can bring to houses/buildings. The industry is ever changing, with new and exciting ideas constantly coming into play, and so the trends are constantly changing. Therefore, we have created a list of our top 3 picks and what we believe will become the top exterior trends for 2018.

It is not just about how a building looks inside. Now people are more likely to judge the inside of the building before they even step foot in it, due to the outer aesthetics.

#1 Texture

Something that will give off a ‘wow’ factor to any building is the texture of it. Bringing different textures to the outside will create an unusual look which will bring the whole house alive. One way which is starting to become popular is the contrasting textures. For example, a gloss steel alongside a wooden front. The shine off the steel and the dull wood will complement each other well.

Wooden textures:

One texture which is becoming popular is the wooden cladding. Apart from the aesthetic look, it also has the lowest energy consumption and the lowest CO2 rating, as it actually absorbs it during growing, and locks it in when used in construction. So not only does it look great, but when sourced from a local producer it is very green.

Wooden textures are not a new invention, however, they were becoming a ‘thing of the past’. Yet, towards the end of 2017, there was a big breakthrough with part wood surfaces on houses. Breaking up the all brick look with a contrasting surface.

Metal textures:

Metal surface for houses is a brand new concept, however, one which is becoming increasing popular. Metal surfaces are an ultra-modern look, and with the reflective surface, will make your house appear bigger.

Stone textures:

The use of stone placed on brick looks great. The difference in textures are subtle yet still looks modern. 2018 is set to see more of these houses.

Apart from them just looking good, they also have some huge benefits. Stone is considered as one of the most durable construction materials, meaning it will protect you against most weather types, including a strong resistance against fire and water.

#2 Red bricks

Red bricks are back! But not like you are used to. Red bricks have been used in a number of different ways. From heritage buildings to general suburbia where they were a default choice. Now these red bricks are coming into 2018 with a different approach…a more premium style.

The red bricks will be used in a stylish way to enhance any areas of a building. It will show a contemporary style of building work, enabling you to show off aspects to your building which will give the most amount of effect.

#3 Eco/nature-friendly

Eco friendly houses are becoming more and more popular, and in 2018 it isn’t going to stop. People are now more conscious of the environment. However, this doesn’t have to be boring! There are many different ways to liven up a building with eco-friendly ways. One way, which also ties in with our number 1, is the texture.

Grassed walls are becoming more and more popular. It is not only a great talking point, but also one which is great for the nature around you. A quirky look for your house will give you the wow factor.

#4 Dark outer

Another increasingly popular design which is already showing a great impact to the architecture industry this year, is the dark facade. Darker houses and extensions, create a more sophisticated look. Giving a greater impact to the first glance of the building.

So 2018 is set to be an exciting year for architecture. Exterior trends are becoming a big focus as people want to give off the ‘wow’ factor not only to the inside but the exterior. For more news on architecture, click here.

8 Key Stages of Preparation Before Extending Your Home

Choosing the correct design firm.

Every project needs to start somewhere. And when extending your home, the first thing you should do is decide who is going to help you turn your dreams into reality. Whoever you pick, you need to make sure they have enthusiast! And if you pick us, you will see our excitement shine through…
 

Measured survey

The next step once you have appointed your designer and set the agreed schedule and payment terms is to book the full measured survey of the existing house and gardens. Here someone (or a team of people) will call around and measure every room inside and each face of the house outside. This survey will include your drainage locations, window sizes, floor and ceiling levels. They will show radiator and boiler positions as well as your meters and manholes. So that any work affecting these can be shown on the plans.
Once the house has been measured, the team will then move to any garden area. Taking measurements to the boundaries, and noting any type and height of any boundary ‘treatments’ (hedges, fences or walls). This information will be shown on a site plan. Which is required by the planning department when making an application.
 

First draft proposal

The next stage is to begin the process of designing. Your chosen firm should speak to you about what you are looking to do. Whether it is a loft conversion, create an open plan living area, a swimming pool or cinema room… The possibilities are almost endless! You also need to have an open discussion about budgets. This will help the architectural designer come up with something that can be constructed within budget.
Your chosen architect should have lots of experience. Being able to come up with a design that they think best suits your needs. They should not be too precious about their design. If you don’t like their initial ideas then they should – and at Acre Design we certainly do! – move the design back to what the clients had in mind. By working collaboratively, the design comes to a stage where both the client and designer agree on the finalised layout and external aesthetics of the project.
 

Preparing and applying for planning permission

Once the design is agreed. These plans will need to be taken to the next level of detail for the full planning application. The planning department ask for a minimum amount of detail to allow the neighbours to have their say. Also for the planning officer to make a fully informed decision. These include all elevations, floor plans, site, roof and location plan. They can also ask for an array of other plans and reports such as heritage statements, design and access statement, bat surveys, flood risk assessments etc. These will be commissioned only if the planners require them. The clearer the plans are, and the more detail that is provided and the more comfortable the planner is in making a positive decision. Which is why we use the latest 3D design software and have an approval rate of over 95%.
 

Full technical drawings and building control application

Once the planning has been submitted the client chooses if they wish to wait for a positive outcome. Or move straight to next stage which is to produce full technical plans. The planning drawings show what is going to be built. Yet these drawings show how it is to be built. The plans go into great detail specifying every material used on the build and how those materials interact with each other. This is shown through a number of cross sections and a constructional specification. On these drawings, all works are shown to allow for building control (another council department that requires an application) to check for compliance against the building regulations.
All lintel sizes, drainage runs, sockets, lighting locations, smoke detectors, new radiator positions plus an array of other information is laid over the planning drawings. Along with the cross sections and specification which will form the plans. Which you will be using for the next two stages of the process.
 

Party wall letters

Party wall agreement.– If you are working on or near a ‘party wall’, which can be any boundary line or wall that separates you from a neighbour. You must inform them, due to the party wall act that the procedure is laid. This will require an appropriate letter. With all the information. Plus a copy of the required plans to be sent to them giving notice of when you intend to carry out the work.
 

Finding a builder

Acre Design, and most reputable design firms, will have contractors that have done good work for them before and that they like to use to ensure the design is completed as intended on time and on budget. We will first send our plans and check if the contractor’s availability fits in with our clients expected timeframe. If so, they will request them for a quote. If our clients have builders they have used in the past, then they are more than welcome to take our plans and speak to them. We love having a big meeting with everyone involved before works start. This is to go over everything over a coffee at our office in Wallsend.
 

Ready to start

With all the approvals in place. A good builder lined up and our technical plans used as an instruction manual for the build. The work can commence. Contact us for more information.

Loft extension – Everything you need to know

Having a loft extension is becoming more popular. It will not only give you more space but it will add value to your house when you come to sell it. Yet make sure you do your research before getting one. There are lots of things you can do to let the light in, it can be difficult to know what to choose.

The different styles of extension

With loft extensions, there are 3 main styles, each suited for different reasons and with different costs to build. Here we have the styles and why they are more suited to different houses.

Velux (Roof light)

 

This style of loft extension is the cheapest, once complete it will leave you with sloping ceilings with velux windows installed to let the light in (other roof light manufacturers are available). There are over 20 different sizes of roof lights in Velux’s range and each of those have different opening options too. If you have a large loft space, then this option should you suite you well.

Dormers

 

A dormer is a popular extension, and often won’t require planning permission (all loft conversions need building control approval though) as it gives a greater amount of headroom and allows normal vertical windows to be installed, giving better views from the bedroom.

In most cases dormers are located on the side or rear of the of the house. It is possible to install a dormer to the front of your property, but this is subject to planning permission. We will be able to advise you whether we think this would be advisable or not, just get in touch to arrange a free site visit.

 

Hip to Gable

 

This is a popular way to increase head height in a loft, it is relatively straight forward and can double the useable space within your loft. This type of extension is more popular in semi-detached houses, where there is an existing hip, as this is traditionally how their roof is laid out. This type of work wont necessarily require planning permission either, and so is a great way of getting extra bedrooms in your home, and adding value at the same time.

 

Making the most of your space

Now you have this extra space, you need to make the most of it. Therefore, we have some suggestions to help make the room feel as spacious as possible.

Use light colour

By using light colours it allows the room to feel bigger and more spacious. The light colours reflect the light rather than absorbing it with dark colours making it feel smaller.

Big windows

This continues to the last point, try to get as much light in the room as possible, this will help reflect the light coloured walls. When planning your loft extension, make sure you acknowledge where the sun comes up to try and place your windows in areas where you will get as much natural light as possible.

Built in shelves and extra storage options

Having built in shelves will decrease the amount of furniture on the floor making the floor space seem bigger. Make sure you have built in shelving all the way to the ceiling to make the room look taller and also increasing the space for storage. It is also a great idea to use the space in the eaves where there is limited head height to keep the boxes you would usually store in the loft, sliding doors can hide these away.

En-suites

The right loft conversion design can give you the master bedroom and en-suite you have always dreamed of. This room in a loft is often the biggest bedroom in the house, so it is always a good idea to try to fit in a beautiful en-suite to give your new master bedroom that 5 star feel. Head height for showers can be an issue, but feature wetrooms can reduce the step into a shower tray and give the loft a real wow factor.

If you are wanting a loft extension, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for a design planning. Call us on 01916 80 80 88 for more information.

Loft Conversion Information

If you want to add space and value to your house, and there is little room to the side or back of your property (or you love your garden too much), then Attic conversions are a great way to do so. The number of people who are now choosing to move up rather than out is increasing. It not only adds space to your house, but it also adds value. Most Attic conversions will give you an additional bedroom or two as well as an ensuite or second bathroom. Yes it does require building work to complete but can add at least 15% onto a property’s value, usually more than the works cost in the first place.

If you are considering an Attic conversion, make sure you are equipped with all the facts first. Which is why we have all the information you need before you start to design your dream Attic conversion. Take a look at our FAQ’s for more information.

#1 Make sure there is sufficient headroom

The minimum head height of an Attic conversion is 2.3 meters. This is deemed fit to create your loft into your dream bedroom or office. However, if the height of your Attic is below the required measurement, don’t throw away your dream just yet. There are alternatives, but these are costlier. Lowering the ceilings by 20-40CM can give you that all important headspace in the attic .

#2 Attic conversions will give you value for money

Adding a loft conversion to your house can have significant effects on the value of it. Adding bedrooms is the best way to add value to your home, and attic conversions can give you up to two great new rooms for you or your kids now, and you can get your money back if you decide to sell.  Attic conversions vary in cost dependant on the design, with basic lofts starting at around £20,000 with double dormer conversions and en-suites between costing up to £45,000

#3 You probably don’t need planning permission

Most Attic conversions don’t need planning permission. This is due to most houses being given an amount of ‘permitted development’ by the planning department. This means you can go up to the loft without permission. Only when the size of the loft conversion is bigger than this allowance do you need planning permission or if you live in a conservation area.

However, you will need to satisfy building regulations. For example, depending on how some lofts are, they may need fire doors added to the Attic and other rooms.

#4 Is it a shared wall?

If you haven’t got a detached house, and your house adjoins to a neighbour. You will need to get your neighbour to sign a party wall agreement. This ensures that your neighbour is happy for you to do work on your house with a wall which is connected to them. Make sure you get this sorted as soon as possible, in order to give enough time if there is any disagreement.

#5 Tell your mortgage and insurance lender about your Attic Conversion

Remember to inform your mortgage and insurance lender before you go ahead with the conversion. By converting your loft, it may increase your buildings insurance premium.

Now you have all the information you need to know, it is time to get planning. If you need help with the architecture of your conversion, then get in touch with us. We are happy to help you turn your dreams into reality. Get in touch with us here.