Elite Cardiff Builder

Stages Of How a Dormer Loft Conversion is Built / Cardiff

On average it takes Elite Builders Cardiff around 6-8 weeks to have you a dormer loft conversion built start to finish. This is all dependent on factors, but when we give you a schedule of works, this will be said in the works document of processes and how long it should take us on average. If our building Contractor team need to take off your roof to make you a new one, please allow extra time as this is not an ideal task for when we do a dormer loft conversion, but maybe the one we have to offer or Architect, Building Control, Structural Engineer and even Planning office offers us to complete your loft conversion.

Documentation For Loft Conversion

As like any other Building works there should be a vast amount of documentation Which more than likely include some or all of the following 

  1. Schedule of Works
  2. Risk Assessment
  3. Planning Permission Dependent if the loft does not fall under Permitted Development.
  4. Building Control / Start Date
  5. Contacts between Customer Client and Building Contractors. 

Start of Loft Conversion 

All Steel beams RSJ are installed firstly this is to give a solid base for the floor or roof to sit on. RSJ's should always be calculated by a structural Enginner to give correct sizes. The Builders or contractors will have to place each end of the RSJ onto Padstones which normally give a span of 100mm or sometimes more dependent on, What the correct profession has stated so. 

Independent Floor Installation

Elite had structural calculations done before the commencement of work on the loft. So, in turn, we knew on the loft floor had to have 8x2 Timber floor Joists with the structural strength of C24. The floor joists in this loft had to be placed no further than 600mm centres away from one another but we chose to put each floor joist at the location of each rafter which was around 450mm centres. This enabled us to connect one end of the floor joist to the existing Roof Rafters using M12 nuts and bolts. The opposite end was hung off an RSJ using Joist Hangers or as some people call Jiffy Hangers. The floor Joist could not run from each end of the wall plate from eave to eave as the span was too great to carry the load for an 8x2 timber. Upping the size of the timbers would have caused us issues in getting the 2-metre head height needed for building regulations. In this case, as there was no load-bearing wall within the house placing an RSJ 4.4 metres away from the eave was in our opinion the best option. After all floor joists were down Noggins was placed to strengthen the floor up with 400mm Rockwool insulation placed into void Cavity then covered over with 19mm weyroc floorboards. 

Dormer Walls and Roof

Time had come to the most demanding part of the Dormer Loft Conversion. This would entail our team of expert builders, Carpenters, and Roofers to have the roof off and the dormer walls built and roof on, in just one day. As the difference being of Scallfold with going over the entire roof would cost an additional £4000, Which was in our opinion not viable or cost-effective for the client. Having Scallfold over the roof would offer our builders to commence the work over a few days as the house would be watertight and we needed the build to be watertight in just one day as unsure of weather conditions for the following day. 

Asbestos Slates were on the roof from when the house was built in the 1950s. Elite had to get a specialist company who deal with asbestos removal to remove the backside of the house slates. These slates had to be removed to current and correct times of waste and asbestos removal. 

Once the slates were removed our team then cut away all Rafters and joists which were to be in the way of the new walls and roof. We then started to build the 3 partitions walls which included one at the front which would have a bathroom and bedroom window space then 1 wall on either side which would attach to the rafters. The calculation was given for all the timbers from a structural engineer. in this case, it consisted of 5x2 c16. 

The Flat roof timbers which were to be used were 6x2 c24 at 600mm c/c centers. They sat on the Ridge steel which was placed at the beginning of the Loft Conversion and then the other end of the timber on the Double Wallplate stud partition wall. All Rafters were fixed with joist hangers and lateral restraint straps to withstand any movement and make the Loft walls and Roof structural Sound.  

3/4 Sterling Board was to be cut and fixed to all the new walls and on top of the new roof, this would enable a flat roof to be added onto the new loft roof and to make the walls solid as well as another barrier between inside and the elements. The final thing for this very long day was to make it watertight which would be done by adding a breathable membrane felt around the entire dormer from the walls to the roof.  On this Loft conversion, there was no rain the following day but if there had been we know everything would have been okay due to it be water-tight. 

Finishing Dormer Walls and Roof

As the loft was watertight Elite your builder's Contractors Cardiff had still not completed the outside or finishing to any of the roof or the walls. Getting the room watertight from the outside elements was just a quick method to get the room enclosed for the dormer Build. As this had to be built in one day. 

 

Walls, New Dormer Water Tight

The walls firstly had to be covered with 3/4 ply or sterling board in this situation we chose Sterling, board, for none apparent reason. Then with Breathable Felt or a membrane, this was done on the initial day of the dormer loft build to ensure coverage from the outside elements. After this, we had to fix battens at each stud running vertically. This was to allow a 25mm air gap between the outside and the inside of the room and to stop any damp. Lead flashing had to be installed between the valleys of the dormer walls and the pitched roof. We chose code 3 lead due to being soakers for the roof to dormer. 

 

 

Roof Water Tight With EPDM Rubber Roof

An accredited EPDM installer was chosen to fit the rubber roof. We chose someone who does it for a living who is accredited rather than doing it ourselves as an accredited person offers a much longer guarantee than we can offer. The EPDM installer took an average of half a day to install the roof and fit all the weather trims overriding the ridge and on each edge of the flat roof. 

Our team of builders in Cardiff had to replace all the ridge tiles on the front part of the ridgeline. As all the Ridge tiles had weathered badly while scaffold was in place it was a good time to change these. 

Insulation Installation 

The building Inspector had specified certain criteria for which installation he had wanted on the loft which had to meet his ideal UV value and his requirements. All Insulation was cut into place Neatly with no gaps this was to give the best chance of being fully insulated and not to lose any heat through loft space. 

  • Thinsulux With Celotex Insulation into the pitched Rafters with a 25mm air gap between the Celotex 
  • 150mm Rigid Kingspan Insulation in the Flat Roof Rafters 
  • 100mm Rigid Kingspan Insulation into the Dormer Walls 
  • 200mm Rockwool Insulation was also given an option from the Building Inspector instead of the 100mm Kingspan but due to the Studs being 125mm wide the ideal choice was the Kingspan as the Rockwool, would not have fitted into the size of the studs.  

Having good adequate Insulation makes a room hold in heat in the Winter when having the heating on and then in the summer keep the room warm but not too hot due to not having the heating on. 

First Fix 

All First Fix works and Services which included New Electrical cables run into place and all Plumbing services. The plumbing First Fix was done near on the same time as the Electrical Fix this was because the Job of the Loft Conversion could not have moved on any further without completion of all the first fix works from both Plumbing and Electrical. 

 

Electrical First Fix 

Cables had to be run in place ready to take all the new spotlights which adequately lighted up the room of the new loft bedroom. The hallway leading from the first floor to the second floor being the loft bedroom. Sockets throughout the loft bedroom which had to be overestimated, rather than not having enough sockets. Spotlights in the en-suite toilet of the bedroom with a timer fan. All smoke alarms throughout the entire house had to be interlinked. So cables had to be run from new smoke alarms to existing ones so if one smoke had gone off then all would go off. All these things had to be carefully thought of as not having every cable in the correct location would have been severe when the electrician doing their second fix works. 

Plumbing First Fix 

The plumbing First Fix consisted of running in a hot and cold service from the house main bathroom which was beneath, into the newly desire Ensuite. As well as a hot and cold feed there needed to be a waste removal linked in. This was linked from the new bathroom area into the house soil pipe which was not far away from the En-suite which worked really lucky in this case of the loft Conversion. 

Flooring, Plasterboard, Plaster

 

Flooring 

As the floor Joists were spaced less than 600mm apart we decided on using 19mm Weyroc rather than the 22mm Weyroc Flooring. The flooring was fixed using 2inch wood screws which gave sufficient fixing pressure from moving when being stood on. 

 

Plasterboard

The Entire Loft was ready for Plasterboarding this took our team roughly 3-5 days to complete this Task. Steels had to be plasterboard and also the party wall due to fire risks. Partition Walls were placed were needed to be then plasterboarded such as the bathroom wall in the loft and also the Stairway Wall which separated the upstairs loft bedroom from the downstairs landing.  

 

Plastering 

The complete Loft could now be Plastered. As one of our team was a certified plaster there was no waiting around for this nearly finished loft conversion be ready for the decoration. Our plasterer had everything plastered within a couple of days. The Client had decided to keep two of the main building walls brick effect so we had to cover these up with polythene to keep them clean and tidy. 

Second Fix Works 

Coming up to the end of the project the most important part was upon our team of builders in Cardiff. The second fix works is always classed as the finished project due to everything wanting to look really good. We had to take our time with all finishing touches due to this is what is being looked upon. We serve all our customers in our building works the same where we want each and every client to be happy with our work. 

 

Carpentry Second Fix 

The second fix carpentry was, without doubt, the most time-consuming part we had to do as this is probably the image of the whole project which included:-

  • Fire Check door to Loft / New door to the bathroom 
  • Skirting and Architrave to all new door linings 
  • Readjust downstairs Doors 
  • Box in Pipes in Toilet 
  • Flooring in Bathroom (laminate)
  • Window Sills to new windows
  • Handrail, Base Rail to stairs. 

 

Electrical Second Fix

Our qualified Electrician had good ideas on how to light the loft up with inspirational lighting. We always take advice from people who know their job better than us this is what makes our Building Company one of the best in Cardiff.  Our Electrician had chosen Warm White Spotlights around the entire loft space which definitely gave the entire room a nice relaxing Warmth feeling. 

The Electrician had to second fix the following things:-

  • Double Plug Sockets 
  • Spotlights
  • Electric heater 
  • 2 Way Switch on the landings
  • Drop downlight in the hallway
  • Smoke Alarms with interlink

 

Plumbing Second Fix

The Plumbing Second Fix was fitted in within a few hours as just 1 basin with 2 taps (Hot and Cold) had to be fitted along with a toilet. All the Pipework was already present due to the first fix works and was connected up in very little time. All Services was checked for leaks before commissioning of the works. Due to this being one of the smaller loft conversions buildings we had done. We talked to the client in regards to not putting a walk-in Shower into the bathroom due to it taking up space withing the loft bedroom. 

Fitting Of The Stairs 

The Stairs were ordered very early on in the project, in fact as we had just installed the independent floor. As with any Stair or Joinery company stairs can take up to several weeks to be made and to be delivered on-site. The stairwell we had chosen for this project included of a right had winder at the bottom then a winder right hand at the top. This was so it sat on the existing landing with very little alterations to the first-floor hallway layout. Which one wall had to be moved back 500mm and one door had to be placed on a 35-degree angle. At the top of the new stairwell, we had to make a landing of 900mm this was so anyone walking out of the loft bedroom would not walk directly onto the stairs which could be a drastic health and safety Risk. The 900mm landing would ideally make you open the door then be able to find the light switch before taking any steps onto the stairwell. 

 

Balustrades And Handrail

The client had opted for softwood square with a slight chamfer balustrade look this made the stairwell look very elegant and modern. Spindles were placed at 90mm apart due to current building regulations. Which acted on a small child not being able to fit through the gap and risk of falling. The handrail was placed at the correct location to each Newel Post giving ease of Ability for the Client to be able to climb up and down the stairwell safely and comfortable. 

Finishing The Loft Conversion With Dormer

Final Checks were done before the hand over of the Loft back to the customer. All decoration was completed as well as all snagging work is done. Which included little alterations such as easing the bottom of the some of the doors after the carpet had been fitted. The client was more than happy with the finish of the loft. One thing which was brought up as they had wished for inward opening patio doors into loft space with a Juliet balcony instead of a window. As no planning was needed we advised the client that this task would not be that hard of a job and they decided if they still felt this would be a good idea come a little time later they would get our team of Cardiff Builders back in to make the alteration.  

Signed Of Certificate

Building Control had come to check work progress through the entire build and had no comments to not sign this build off at its end. All documentation was in place which only included showing of a minor works certificate to prove electrics in loft met current legislation from a certified Electrician. Another job well done from Elite Cardiff Builders, A Cardiff Constructions Firm.