S.T. Unicom :: Wrought Iron Furniture - wrought iron book shelf, wrought iron bracket, wrought iron bracket for sign, wrought iron cabinet hardware, wrought iron candelabra, wrought iron candle holder, wrought iron candle sconces, wrought iron candle stands, wrought iron candle wall sconces, wrought iron canopy bed, wrought iron chair, wrought iron chair cushion, wrought iron chandelier, wrought iron clock, wrought iron coat hooks, wrought iron coat rack, wrought iron cocktail table, wrought iron coffee table, wrought iron console table, wrought iron corner bakers rack, wrought iron corner shelf, wrought iron counter stool, wrought iron curtain bracket, wrought iron curtain rods, wrought iron custom door, wrought iron day bed, wrought iron deck railing, wrought iron decor, wrought iron design, wrought iron dinette set, wrought iron dining chair, wrought iron dining furniture, wrought iron dining room set, wrought iron dining set, wrought iron dining table, wrought iron dog bed, wrought iron door, wrought iron door grill

Company Showroom

            Kolkata :
            86/2E Topsia Road (S)
            (Near Vishwakarma Building, Behind Ganges Ford Car Showroom),
            Kolkata 700 046
            Telphone: +91-33-2285 2606, +91-98300 58311
            Fax: +91-33-22851890
            Email: wroughtiron@stunicom.com

             Click here to see location map

            Siliguri :
            2nd Mile, Sevoke Road
            Opp. DTDS Petrol Pump,
            Siliguri 1
            Telphone: 9932290554
            Email: siliguri@stunicom.com

Call USA
Telphone: 9932290554

            Call Bhutan
            Contact Mr Ashish Bagla
            Address : Thimpu, Bhutan
            Phone : +975-2-333281 / 333282
            Fax : +975-2-333587
            Email: bhutan@stunicom.com

mers at the sacrifice of some space rather than the 'ugly duckling' alternative. However, like all services, many clients do not value the external look as much & they insist on the largest dormer possible especially if it can be constructed under the sites Permitted Development allowances (no planning permission necessary) - Do we still take the job? - yes of course we do its our living but our sign board never goes up during the construction works.

Some people subscribing to our news letter may value our 'design lead' approach so we schedule below some of our assessment criteria relating to loft conversions that you may find useful:-

1. Does it need Planning Permission - If so utilising the councils design guides is a must. Some front or side facing dormers may still be resisted even if they are small. Velux windows often overcome these objections. In most cases, big bulky box dormers will not be allowed.

2. What area of new space does the client require - Many clients have overambitious floor space targets & visualise 3 bedrooms for example (all with ensuite of course). They fail to appreciate the loss of floor space caused by the extensive sloping soffits, & the new stairs.

3. Where can the new stair set go - Many clients fail to realise that their preferred location for the stairs does not achieve the required head room within the new floor for example. In most cases some existing floor space of the bedrooms for example will need to be sacrificed.

4. It is better to achieve one or two good sized functional rooms to compensate for the lack of head room in some areas of the new rooms rather than trying to cram in the bedroom numbers for the sake of it where the new rooms can become nothing more than single bed sleeping podules with very little inbuilt amenity value.

5. If flat roofed dormers can only be achieved due to the low ridge height then split the dormers into 2 or three smaller ones with no more than 1200mm (4') wide windows to break up its bulk. Always, always always recess the dormer into the roof slope to reduce the dormers bulk - DO NOT BUILD THE EXTERNAL FACE OF THE DORMER WALL OFF THE EXISTING EXTERNAL WALL OF THE HOUSE.

6. If a client wants a conversion with only Velux type roof lights then all well & good (much cheaper as well). However an exercise should be completed to explore the possibilities of a strategically located dormer or two that often frees up an extra 30% floor area that the client may not have realised for very little extra money.

7. Dormers are not the only design solution to more light & space - consideration could also be given to a hip to gable conversion of the side roof for example that wont look out of keeping (unless your a semi of course).

8. As a rule of thumb to the practicality of your new room in the roof - if you can already touch the ridge board when standing in the loft (about 2.3M or less), then its normally too small to form useful functioning bedrooms unless a bulky box dormer is constructed (which is what we are trying to avoid) If it is an area just for a play room or a study then all well & good but beware, many people have embarked on tight loft conversions only to realise too late that that they have no where to place the bed or locate a wardrobe.

There are a great many other issues to consider as well when completing loft conversions such as overheating, fire regs, weather protection during the works etc. & these are major discussion topics in themselves that I will leave for another day. However, the points listed above are the main ones relative to the external design & appearance of loft conversions.

About the author:
Our 'Maximum Build Planning Guide' explains further the tactics involved when developing a site with a loft conversion or extension & how to give yourself the best chance of being granted a planning permission or planning approval.

Circulated by Article Emporium