A tell-tale sign from street level that a house has recently had a loft conversion added is a newly tiled roof. But is this always a necessity, or just a nicety as part of the overall construction of a new loft room?
Whilst some houses will already be equipped with the type of roof which is prime for conversion, others may need some work doing, or the roof replacing, in order to make the loft suitable for conversion.
Create more Space
One of the main reasons for replacing your roof as part of a loft conversion is to gain more space. Lofts weren’t originally designed to be habitable rooms, and so the pitch of the roof may not allow for much space, or your floor space may be too narrow.
Hipped roof ends – where either end of your roof is also pitched rather than a flat wall or ‘gable’ – can further compound the problem.
By replacing your roof, you can often create a more usable pitch, gain a larger floor area and add gables at either end of the room so that your floor space runs from end to end of the room. Similarly, you may wish to incorporate dormer windows, which help increase head height and maximise natural light.
Improve the Structure
As a general rule, houses built before 1950 have framed roofing, which uses strong timber supports. More modern houses tend to be built with factory-produced truss roof sections, which are made from thinner materials and require additional bracing to provide support.
If you have a truss roof, replacing it may be your best option, as it will give you a stronger, safer and generally more suitable roof space for conversion. Of course, you don’t always have to replace a truss roof, but you may need to modify it heavily by adding extra Reinforced Steel Joists (RSJs) to support and replace the original bracing.
A good loft conversion company will be able to advise whether it’s worth keeping your original truss roof, or whether to cut your losses and replace your roof entirely.
Add Internal Comfort
You may not realise it, but by improving the exterior of your roof, you’ll likely improve the interior comfort of your loft conversion. New roof tiles will reduce the chance of leakages, and may also add to the insulation of your new loft room for the winter months.
Increase Kerb Appeal!
A simple reason for replacing and retiling your roof is aesthetics! Just think about how smart those newly tiled houses look when you see them from street level. If you’re already taking on a project as large as a loft conversion, you may as well go the whole hog and replace your roof tiles to improve your home’s kerb appeal at the same time!
Whether you need to replace your roof or not, it’s important to consult a company that specialises in attic conversions and loft extensions. North London homes can benefit from the advantages that a new roof can bring, as well as the joy of the added space created by a new loft conversion.