How Long Does a Loft Conversion Take?
A loft conversion should take four to 12 weeks
Highlights
Most loft conversions take four to 12 weeks.
The design of the loft conversion greatly affects the timeline.
An attic space that’s in poor condition takes longer to convert.
Weather problems could affect how long a loft conversion takes.
Remodeling an attic as a loft for a bedroom, home office, or workout space is a fantastic way to increase your home’s living space without adding to its footprint. But if you’re considering this home remodeling project, you’re probably wondering: how long does a loft conversion take? Most loft conversions can be finished in four to eight weeks, but complex jobs in larger spaces could take 12 weeks or more. Learn more about the factors that will affect your loft conversion timeline.
Common Factors That Affect How Long a Loft Conversion Takes
When trying to estimate how long your loft conversion will take, pay attention to the following factors.
Design of the Loft
The design you incorporate in your loft plays a significant role in the length of the job.
Roof Light Conversion: A roof light conversion involves installing a skylight or another type of roof light into the loft space. This work often takes four to six weeks and is the easiest way to add natural light to a loft space that’s already large enough to fulfill the desired use case.
Dormer Conversion: A dormer loft conversion adds a box-shaped structure that extends out of the loft and through the roof. This creates extra headroom space in the loft. A dormer nearly always includes adding windows for natural light, too. You could select from multiple types of dormers. Installing a dormer will take five to eight weeks.
Hip-to-Gable Conversion: A hip-to-gable loft conversion involves removing an angled wall in a loft and making it vertical. This process changes a hip-style roof into a gable-style roof. This is a significant structural change to the roof and attic space, meaning this loft conversion could take six to 10 weeks.
Mansard Conversion: A mansard loft conversion involves renovating the entire roof over the attic space, creating a nearly vertical slope for the roof. This yields quite a bit of livable space inside the attic for the loft conversion. Because of the significant amount of work required, expect this type of loft conversion to take eight to 12 weeks or more.
Condition of the Loft
A loft space that’s in poor shape may require extensive repairs before the actual conversion can begin. If you have old electrical wiring in the space, you may first need to bring everything up to your local building codes, for example. Such repairs would lengthen the timeline for the job. If you hire a home inspector, they will complete an attic inspection checklist to determine the condition of the space before any work begins.
Size of the Loft
If you are converting a large space, the loft conversion timeline will require more time than a small space. Finishing touches often take longer in a larger space simply because there is more square footage to cover.
Mother Nature
Because your loft conversion work likely involves removing part or most of the roof over the attic space, stormy weather could lengthen the timeline. Contractors may need to delay roof work until they have at least a few days of clear weather in a row.
Contractor Availability
If your local home remodeling contractor can work every day on the job and has no problem obtaining permits and materials, your timeline will be shorter. If your contractor runs into any snags or can only devote a few days a week to your job, the loft conversion timeline will lengthen.
Finishing Touches
If you choose custom fixtures for finishing the loft space or if your attic flooring ideas require skilled pros to do the installation, your timeline will be longer. Using certain types of attic insulation may lengthen the timeline as well because your contractor may have to hire a third-party installer to do the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
During a loft conversion at your home, you’ll turn an attic space into a livable space, like a home office or bedroom. This may involve adding a dormer and windows, running electrical, tying the space into your home’s HVAC system, or changing the ceiling angle in the attic.
Most people do not need to leave the property during a loft conversion. The work occurs on the upper floor, causing less disruption in other parts of the home. You typically won’t lose access to utilities for more than a few hours at a time during the work.
The primary disadvantage of converting a loft is that the shape and slope of the roof could affect the livable space. A tight, low ceiling in the loft may limit the activities you can do in the converted space. To avoid this problem, you may need a loft design that involves significant roof construction, lengthening the timeline for the work.
Hiring a professional to do a loft conversion will certainly speed up the process. The construction steps required to change the slope of the roof can be quite difficult to do as a DIY job. Should the project run into any snags, like rot in the joists, frayed wiring, or roof leaks, hiring a local home remodeling professional makes it far easier to handle these issues safely.