Do acessing loft conversions save space?
Can stairs be made to order?
Can you install a spiral staircase in a loft?
Are spiral staircases legal in UK?
All building regulation spirals must comply with the 100mm sphere rule, i.e there must be no gaps greater than 99mm anywhere on the spiral staircase. So if the client is ordering a Scandinavian, Parisienne or a Victoria 1067 or 1194mm it must have riser bars. 1067mm diameter can have 1 extra Victoria or Plain baluster.
How much space do you need for a loft conversion staircase?
Width – There's no minimum width, however for loft conversions the generally accepted minimum is 600mm. Between 700mm and 750mm is recommended though. Headroom – You must have two meters headroom at all points when walking up the staircase from the pitch line.
How much headroom do you need for a loft conversion?
7 feet 6 inchesMost lofts can be converted but what is crucial is that there is enough achievable headroom. Ideally you need a minimum of 2.3m (7 feet 6 inches) to start with from the existing ceiling joists to the apex of the loft.
Do you need a window in a loft conversion?
All loft conversions require a window through which a person could escape if the stairway does not, for some reason, provide a safe escape route. Building Regulations state that window openings must be 450mm or wider to comply with this.
Do you need planning permission to put stairs into loft?
Normally when converting a loft you will not need to obtain planning permission as most loft conversions will be within a home owner's permitted development rights for loft conversions.
Does a loft conversion need permanent stairs?
Building regulations stipulate that if the loft is to be turned into a bedroom, bathroom, study or playroom, it must have a permanent staircase. Thankfully there are plenty of staircase options available to fit whatever space you have, that look great and won't blow your budget.
How do I know if my loft can be converted?
The main 'pinch-point' with loft conversions can be summed up in a single word - headroom. To see whether your loft makes the grade, simply stand under the highest point of the roof, usually in the centre of the loft, and check whether there is at least 2.8m clear vertical space.
Do you need a new roof for loft conversion?
Converting your loft is one of the most straightforward and cost effective ways to add space to your home. This usually depends on using the existing roof structure with minimal modifications, however there can be advantages to replacing your roof entirely when converting your loft.
What is the average cost of a loft conversion?
A loft conversion typically costs between £21,000 to £44,000, but you could easily pay up to £63,000 if you want a particularly large extension. For a conversion including a roof light or Velux window, you can expect to pay between £20,000 to £49,000, with a time duration of between four to seven weeks.
Why is a loft room not a bedroom?
But when it comes to being a bedroom, a converted loft room cannot be called a bedroom merely because it offers enough space to fit a bed in, or because one has been put in there: a loft needs to be converted for the purposes of being a sleeping area, and in accordance with building regulations, in order to be called a ...
Do you need fire doors when you do a loft conversion?
Yes, fire doors are essential in loft conversions. Building Regulations provide that when converting an existing roof space into a room, or rooms, the provisions for escape need to be considered. This often means that additional fire protection will be necessary in the existing parts of the house.
Do loft conversions add value to a house?
A loft conversion is often cited in surveys as the best way to add value to your home. Recent research carried out by the Nationwide Building Society has stated that a loft conversion could add up to 20% to the value of your home.
How much space do you need to add a staircase?
Plan a typical staircase for a house with an 8-foot ceiling at 3 feet wide with between 9 and 10 feet of horizontal floor space. Allocate the 30 square feet above and below the stair for access between floors.
How much space is required for a staircase?
Most staircases require a minimum of 30 square feet at the top and bottom, allowing 3 feet of width with a horizontal run of 10 feet. The required space increases with an increase in length, width, ceiling height, and turns. If you still have some questions about the footprint of a staircase, don't worry.
How much space do you need for a staircase UK?
When it comes to staircase width, there are no restrictions as such, but standard flights measure 860mm, and for a main staircase it is agreed that a width of between 800mm and 900mm works best. A minimum staircase width of 600mm is recommended for secondary staircases.
Where do you put stairs in an attic conversion?
The highest part of the loft, in line with the roof ridge, is an ideal location for a staircase to land, therefore. However, this is also the most useful part of the loft because of the height, and the result of locating the staircase here may not be the most spacious conversion possible.
Staircase Building Regulations UK - What You Need To Know
The document governing spiral staircase building regulations in the UK is British Standard 5395 part 2. This document is summarised in the table below with categories given for each spiral application and the relevant maximum riser heights and minimum widths.
Loft Benefits
Create New Space & Increases Home’s Value An added loft space holds many benefits, two of which go hand in hand. You are creating a new room and increasing the living space. A loft is a little different than a standard addition because not only are you creating a new room, but you are also opening up the space below the loft.
Loft Construction
Loft Conversion Cost As with any home renovation project, your loft conversion cost will be dependent on the scale of your project. Luckily, because a loft is included into the main house, you won’t have as much new construction as a full room addition. You will have no new walls to build and most likely will not have to rewire any electric panels.
Loft Design
Bedroom Loft Loft bedroom designs are the most common use for loft conversions. They gained popularity in urban spaces where square footage is at a premium and studio apartments are common. Homeowners are creating their own bedroom space by raising it above their living room or kitchen.
Where Should Loft Conversion Stairs be Located?
In an ideal situation, your loft conversion stairs would be above the existing stairs as this is the most space efficient solution. "This is the best way to try and make the new stairs look like they have always been there too," says Emma Tucker from Simply Loft. "In short we want the loft stairs to just feel part of the original home."
How Much do Loft Conversion Stairs Cost?
When it comes to stairs, the cost will depend on the type of staircase you choose and the quality specified . You can expect to pay the following, depending on your choice.
What Can I Do if I Have Insufficient Headroom for my Loft Conversion Stairs?
The main challenge when designing loft conversion stairs is that there always seems to be an inconvenient roof slope just at the point where you want them to enter the loft.
What Fire Regulations Apply to Loft Conversion Stairs?
Whatever style your new loft stairs ultimately take, they will need to comply with fire safety regulations.
How much headroom is needed for a loft?
Here the minimum headroom on the low-ceiling side can be as shallow as 1.8m rising to 1.9m in the centre of the staircase width and 2m on the inner side.
How long does it take for stairs to be protected from fire?
In most loft conversions, the stairs form part of the ‘escape corridor’ and need to have a minimum of 30 minutes protection from fire. This can normally be achieved if they are located within a fire-protected zone or by lining with fire-rated plasterboard with a skim plaster finish.
What is the challenge of loft conversion stairs?
The main challenge when designing loft conversion stairs is that there always seems to be an inconvenient roof slope just at the point where you want them to enter the loft.
Can you convert a loft to a staircase?
At Stairplan we manufacture purpose made staircases suitable for loft conversions.
Can you install alternating treads in loft conversions?
2. Alternating Tread staircases sould only be installed in one or more straight flights in a loft conversion and then only when a conventional staircase meeting the general staircase regulations with a 42º pitch. (No Winder of curved sections, only straight runs or with intermediate landings)
What are loft conversion stairs made of?
This loft conversion stairs has actually been made out of copper.
What is the advantage of pull down stairs?
The big advantage of pull down stairs is that they don’t impact the floor space below whereas a non pull down stairs most definitely will.
Do you need to trim out an opening in the ceiling joists?
You will need to trim out an opening in the ceiling joists so you will need to check the structural stability of it.
Do loft stairs matter?
Loft stairs are one thing that need a bit of ingenuity when planning one. And it doesn’t matter if it’s just for a loft for storage or a loft conversion stairs. And this is because they can ruin the footprint of the floor below your loft. In this blog post we’re going to share with you what we consider to be 11 great options for you to consider.
What materials are used for spiral staircases?
Choose from materials such as metal in a variety of colours, and glass, clear or coloured, or from a huge variety of woods and stains. Mix and match materials or go for all steel or all wood. Whether you are looking for a spiral staircase in kit form or a hand made bespoke staircase, these are also available.
Can you use a spiral staircase to access a loft?
You may think that if you have a small space into which you want to place access to a loft, or loft conversion, that you are restricted to a simple loft ladder. This is not the case. Even though the space you may have available is small, a spiral staircase, by far more aesthetically pleasing than a simple loft ladder, or a straight staircase can be found to suit your needs. There are a number of very clever and flexible solutions for allowing you to be creative in choosing the right access to your loft, and these need not be either boring or lacking in aesthetic appeal.
Can you fit a spiral staircase?
But don’t be put off: even though you may have only a small space available, a spiral staircase can still be fitted. Remember a spiral staircase turns around on itself whereas a simple loft ladder or straight staircase needs to be angled, to allow you to climb them. Generally speaking, spiral staircases are also even easier to install than other types of staircase.
How wide should loft stairs be?
There is no minimum width for your loft stairs, but make sure they're wide enough for you to use them comfortably and to be able to escape safely, should you need to. Plus, you need to be able to get whatever furnishings you want up into your loft rooms via the stairs.
What is an alternate tread staircase?
Alternating tread or paddle staircase. This is a staircase where part of the tread is cut away. It relies on being familiar with how to use them. It should only be used for a straight staircase to a single habitable room, where there isn’t enough space for a traditional staircase. In this case, there should be handrails on each side and steps should be uniform, with slip-resistant treads.
How high should a handrail be?
You must include a handrail. This needs to be between 900mm and 1000mm high.
What is the pitch of stairs?
The pitch or angle of your stairs should not be more than 42°.
Where should the landing be on stairs?
There should be a landing at both the bottom and top of the stairs and the width and length of these should at least be the width of the stairs.
Where should the top of stairs be located?
The top of the stairs needs to be positioned at the highest part of the loft.
Can a fixed ladder be a retractable ladder?
Fixed ladder. This cannot be a retractable ladder, must have handrails on both sides and can only be used for a single room conversion.
Do acessing loft conversions save space?
Acessing loft conversions by this style of stair can look good and does seem to save space but quite often this kind of access will use up more room than a traditional flight of stairs. And, actually using them can often pose problems – especially when moving furniture!
Can stairs be made to order?
These type of stairs will be made to order and installed on site by the manufacturers so it will be important to ensure that their delivery and installation is coordinated with the rest of your building work as getting the timing wrong can result in costly, and inconvenient, delays to your buyilding project.
Can you install a spiral staircase in a loft?
Deciding to install a spiral staircase would suggest an individual approach and the specialist loft staircase manufacturers will be able to tailor their designs to fit into your planned loft conversion.
