Grade II Listed - Loft Extension

[Trommel]

Has anyone managed to convert a loft room in a Grade II listed building, and if so what sort of windows or roof lights were approved?

I'm looking at a brick-built two-bed C19 cottage in a semi-rural location which has a large, tall loft space which would be perfect for an extra bedroom or two with minimal structural changes.

I appreciate that there are many variables ...

 

[Jon Maine]

I have seen many done in the past, Clement do some wonderful conservation roof lights.

When you say with minimal structural change you do need to ascertain what value the components of the building have and make an informed decision as to what is appropriate. Check with the local conservation officer first informally about the idea in principle.

Building regs can get stringent on 3 storey properties too.

 

[MattJ]

I converted a loft room in my GII listed house. Luckily it had a dormer left behind from where there was a 2nd floor, so historically it had a room there, but I added two conservation rooflights in too. However I specified two conservation rooflights from the Rooflight Company, as they're just down the road from me, but the builder apparently bought a couple from elsewhere. They're fine windows, and fit flush to the roofline, and look the part compared to the neighbours Velux, but the blinds that the Rooflight Company sell don't fit these windows. Also the builder didn't fit the plywood lining to the rooflights, so there's huge condensation on the cast iron frame of the rooflight. Will remedy that myself by fitting my own lining at some point.

Big sticking point for me was fireproofing of doors on the exit stairway. I faced off my building inspector against my conservation officer and the BI finally agreed to just adding rising butt hinges to auto-close the existing 19th century doors and no other special treatment, but I believe some will force you to convert or modify doors to be extra fire resistant. I had to throw away an old nine-light kitchen door much to the conservation officers disgust as the building inspector wanted a conventional firedoor. Actually I threw it into a far corner of a shed, so it's awaiting resurrection...

One other requirement was chicken wire and rockwool underneath the new timber floor on top of the lath and plaster ceilings as fireproofing.

Cheers
Matt

 

[judrop]

Interesting post, would be good to see what those " in the know " have to say, we have an attic with 3 proper rooms,with lime ash floors, which have the remains of dormers under the present roof, at the rear of the property only, and had wondered if it might be likely we could re instate them at some point, will continue to read with interest Thanks.

 

[Trommel]

Thanks for the responses - food for thought.

 

[Penners]

Trommel - you really should talk to the Conservation Officer. It's reasonably unlikely that conservation roof lights at the back of the building would be too controversial, but once you start talking about modifying the roof structure, together with (as Matt mentions above) whatever requirements the fire regulations might impose on the project, you could be talking about changes to the building that the CO might not like.

That's just worst-case speculation, but if you're considering buying this building, you need to do so in the clear knowledge of what you can and can't do.

 

[Jon Maine]

I added two conservation rooflights there's huge condensation on the cast iron frame of the rooflight

Cheers
Matt

Good point I think the clement are insulated, as maybe the rooflight company ones.