FAQ's - Fraser Loft Conversions

Fraser Loft Conversions

Frequently Asked Questions

Loft Conversions are a great way to increase your living space and add extra rooms without the expense of moving home or adding an extension, thus taking up outdoor living space.

Our FAQ’s answer the most commonly asked questions to help you decide whether a loft conversion is right for you.

We also answer some common questions regarding our service to you. If you have any further questions, please do get in touch.

General Questions

Why would a loft conversion be a good choice?

A loft conversion is a great way to expand your living space in a way which best suits your needs, a playroom, additional bedroom and shower room, the choice is completely yours. A loft conversion is less disruptive than moving home and less expensive, with no solicitor fees, no stamp duty and all other costs that can be incurred with moving home.

Will a Loft Conversion increase my property's value?

A loft conversion generally adds an additional 50% on top of your initial loft conversion investment. So if you spend £40,000 on your loft conversion, you’ve added £60,000 on to your property’s value.

How can I find out if my loft can be converted?

For your property to be elligable for a loft conversion, you can initially find this out yourself quite easily. If you get yourself a tape measure and measure from the underside of the ridge beam (highest point of your roof inside your loft space) to the top of your ceiling joist your stood on. If the measurement is 2.2 meters or more, your loft has enough inital height for a conversion and it is a good sign it can have a loft conversion.

How much does a loft conversion cost?

Every house and every loft conversion is different and unique to your property, which is why it makes it hard to put a general price on it. Loft conversion costs typically range from £20,000 up to around £60,000, with a bedroom and bathroom addition generally costing around £40,000.

Do I need planning permission?

A loft conversion on your home is considered to be permitted development, not requiring planning permission, but there are limits and conditions to this:

Terraced houses up to an additional 40 cubic mentres of space.
Semi-detached houses up to an additional 50 cubic metres of roof space.
No extension beyond the plane of the existing roof slope the faces the highway.
No part higher than the original height of the roof.
Materials to be similar to the existing property.
No verandas, raised platforms or balconies.
Not permitted in designated areas.

For more information visit the planning portal.

Are there building regulations which need to be adhered to?

All developments must be built to building regulation standards, your local authority or an approved building inspection company can suppkly one. Failiure to have one can devalue your property if you decide to sell.

Do I need to inform my neighbours I'm having a loft conversion?

As part of The Part Wall Act 1996, you must notify your adjoining neighbours if you live in a terraced or semi-detached house before you do any work on your loft.

Do I need an architect?

Which ever loft conversion company you decide on using, the company will usually be able to offer the full service from the inital architects design to completion. You can of course choose your own architect, but this may increase your costs, as a company offering the full service look at making a profit across the whole build, rather than just supplying the plans, and also can be easier for the company as they know how their own architect works and vice versa.

What if I have my heating system or water tank in the loft?

If you do find you have your heating system or water tanks located in the loft space, an initial survey is carried out by a heating engineer to give the best possible solution. Usually we recommend removing the water tanks completely and relocating or replacing the boiler with a pressure cylinder or combination boiler.

How long does a loft conversion take?

An average loft conversion takes around eight weeks, this is from the initial point the scaffolding goes up around your property until it’s fully completed. Don’t forget more time may be required where plans need to be drawn up and if it is a build where planning permission will be required.

Do I need to vacate my house whilst the loft conversion is carried out?

It is very rare for people to move out whilst their loft is converted, there is no requirement to as there is minimal disruption to your original living space whilst the craftsman and builders carry out their work.

WIll the loft conversion require fire doors?

With any three-story or higher home will need to ensure that the doors to the landing and stairs are FD30 fire rated. This means they can withstand 30 minutes of heat and fire, enabling you to evacute in case of a fire. 37mm thick doors that can withstand 20 minutes worth of fire may be acceptable where additional heat detectors are fitted that are wired, linked and with battery backup. This would be down to the building control inspectors to decide.

Will there be a lot of disruption during the conversion?

For the majority of the build, the craftsman and builders will be accessing via the scaffolding, so they will not be entering your existing living space. The only time the builders will need access to your home is when the staircase is being installed and any works required around it (making of corridors and/or splitting rooms to accomodate).

Questions Regarding a Fraser Loft Conversion

What insurances & guarantees do I get?

All our work is warranted and guaranteed for any issues which may arise with the build for up to 2 years, giving you peace of mind. We are also fully insured for any unexpected situations which may arise.

Can I see any completed conversions in my area?

As we carry out loft conversions on private residencies, we cannot guarantee the ability to enter and see the interior of one of our builds. We could possible point you in the direction of one of our completed builds so you can see the qulity of the finish on the exterior of one of the properties with converted, this of course from the road. We are more than happy to share photos and experiences from our customers with you on the builds we have completed.

What areas do you cover?

We are situated in Southampton and cover Southampton, Romsey, Eastleigh, The New Forest, Winchester, Totton, The Waterside and the surrounding areas. It’s always best to contact us with your postcode so we may confirm we can complete your loft conversion for you.

How long is my quotation valid for?

All quotations are valid for 30 days. Due to the fluctuation of building materials and trades, we unfortunately cannot offer a longer period to ensure the best possible price for our customers.

▪️Customer Feedback

See What Our Customers Say

      
   Fraser loft conversions
   15 Google reviews 
  Write a review 
  
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Pippa Baker 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Would highly recommend. This was planned for over a year before and Tom was very polite and not pushy when visiting to do a free quote.

Things were organised through Tom with the architect and building planning completed smoothly. All the tradesmen were scheduled through Tom which reduced the stress no end.

The work took a total of about 6 and half weeks for our dormer loft conversion making a master bedroom and ensuite.  It was a much quicker time compared to other companies that quoted us.

Tom, Pete and Josh were brilliant. Very polite and tidied up after themselves every day ( a great effort with the house being a building site!) Pete and Josh were onsite nearly every day which was very reassuring as previous building works left us with long delays and very poor communication. We had clear communication of what the plan was weekly if not daily and were encouraged to be involved with the renovations.

As a semi detached smaller property than most loft conversions, everyone has been amazed by the large space that was created in our home.

Thanks again
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   fp568 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tom and his team recently completed our loft extension and we couldn’t be happier with the result. From start to finish they were professional, reliable and always punctual. The work was completed on time and to an excellent standard, with real attention to detail throughout.

They were also very accommodating when we requested a few last-minute changes, which made the whole process far less stressful than we expected. The finished space has completely transformed our home. I especially love our bi-fold windows!

Overall, a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend Tom and his team to anyone considering building work.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Robert Motherwell 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We are absolutely thrilled with our new loft conversion.
From start to finish Tom and the team were professional, trustworthy, and a pleasure to have in our home.
Tom and his highly skilled tradesman clearly take pride in their work, and it showed in every detail.
They always tided up behind them, kept disruption to a minimum and communicated brilliantly throughout the build.
The final result has genuinely exceeded our expectations- even better then we imagined.
We couldn't be happier and would highly recommend Fraser loft conversions to anyone considering a loft conversion.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Honorata Honia 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We recently used Fraser Loft Conversion for our loft conversion, and the entire experience was outstanding from start to finish. The team was professional, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable. They took the time to understand exactly what we wanted and offered great design suggestions that really made the most of the space.
Communication throughout the project was excellent — we always knew what stage the work was at and what to expect next. The builders were punctual, tidy, and respectful of our home, and the quality of their workmanship is second to none.
The finished loft has completely transformed our house — it feels spacious, bright, and beautifully finished. Everything was completed on schedule and within the agreed budget, which gave us real peace of mind.
I can’t recommend  Fraser Loft Conversion company highly enough. If you’re thinking about a loft conversion, this is the team you can trust to deliver top-quality results.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Paula Aitken 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really pleased with our 2 bedroom loft conversion with shower room.  Having never undertaken such a big project before, we got a few quotes before we decided to go with Frasers.  It was nice to be able to use a local company and we found Tom to be competitively priced and professional, with good communication throughout, always on hand and happy to answer any queries.  We had a few snags and made some compromises along the way, as you expect with a big project, but still very happy with the end result.

Tom and his team, were always friendly, polite and tidy, making the project as stress free as they could.  Happily trusted Tom with a door key, for the occasions when we were out.

Would use again and recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jon Raney 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. What was once a large, dark, cold place to store our Christmas decorations and other detritus is now a lovely, light filled master bedroom with a wonderful second bathroom.

The project took a few knockbacks early on when our local council took a disliking to the planned front elevation, but Tom and his architect worked quickly to come up with some new plans that would be ‘acceptable’ in the councils view.

He was accommodating when we change things last minute, the build came in on budget, and when we added extras outside of the scope of works he priced these fairly.

Fraser Lofts professionalism and attention to detail were 5 star and yes we highly recommend!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Rob M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tom and his crew took on a large loft conversion project for us
We’re really pleased with the end result and feel we got a high quality job at a fair price.
The whole experience was fairly stress, the team was pleasant and aftercare was good.
Will be continuing to recommend.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Sharon Moody 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tom and his team were very professional, friendly and clean, they turned a 1 bed flat to a 3 bed home for us with an attic conversion, we were very pleased with the work carried out, and if we ever needed another project we would definitely use them again.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ann Waters 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have just had a large loft conversion done by this company. What an enjoyable experience to be dealing with professionals who take great  pride in their work. I was kept well informed throughout the build and found everyone who worked on my house friendly, hardworking and exceptionally tidy as well as being considerate to neighbours. Their finished work was to a very high standard . At the end of each day everything was swept or vacuumed and left tidy. I will definately use them again . I have no hesitation highly recommending Tom and his Team.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Neil Thomas 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Very positive experience.

We were nervous going into this project because of the huge number of bad builders and trades people out there.
This job and the work done by Tom and his team has restored my faith in humanity.  The project came in ahead of schedule and bang on agreed budget.
Was there snags? Yes of course there was. But we were able to discuss them in a calm normal manner and resolve them comfortably without any battles or bad feeling.
Tom worked very hard to give us as little stress as possible.  Everybody that Tom brought to our house treated it like our home not a building site and were very respectful.  We trusted Tom so much that we gave him a key to come and go as he pleased and we even went away on holidays while he was working because of how much we trusted him.  We are very happy, we will and have recommended him to friends and family and I have no reservations.

Please reach out if you want any more information or if you want to ask questions about our experience.

Could Your Loft Become Your Favourite Room In The House?

Whether you’re thinking about an extra bedroom, en-suite, home office or simply need more space, Fraser can help you understand what’s possible with your loft.

Start with a free loft survey and let’s take a look at the possibilities.

▪️How It Works

Your Loft Conversion From Start to Finish

Free Initial Survey

We visit the property, look at the available space and discuss what you want to achieve.

Design & Plans

We turn your ideas into a practical loft design and arrange the plans required for the project.

Planning & Structural

We help manage planning, structural engineering and building control requirements.

Construction

Fraser manages the build and keeps you informed throughout the entire conversion.

The Finished Loft

A professionally completed living space designed around your home and requirements.

▪️Why Choose Us?

Why Homeowners Choose Fraser Loft Conversions

Local Family-Run Business You Can Trust

Proudly operating as a family-run company with a strong focus on honesty, quality workmanship, and customer satisfaction.

Complete Design & Build Service

One company to manage your loft conversion from the first survey through to the finished build. We can take care of the design, plans, structural requirements, building control and construction, making the whole process much simpler for the homeowner.

High-Quality Craftsmanship & Design

Every project is built to the highest standards, ensuring beautiful results while maximising your loft’s potential.

Cost-Effective Alternative to Moving

Save on relocation costs while adding valuable living space tailored to your needs and lifestyle.

Add Valuable Space To Your Home

A well-designed loft conversion can add valuable living space to your property without the cost and disruption of moving home.

Guaranteed Work with Full Insurance

Enjoy peace of mind with fully insured services and workmanship guarantees on every project.

▪️CONTACT US

Build Your Dream Conversion

Fraser Loft Conversions are a local family run business proud of our reputation for build quality, craftsmanship and customer service.