Why Are Loft Conversions Expensive Compared To Rebuild Costs

[DeludedAussie]

I have seen here that the cost or rebuilding a house is approx 100K.

Therefore I do not understand why a loft conversion to an existing house can come in at 40K.

That seems disproportional high to me - Also single storey extensions are often quoted as 1,000 a square metre which again seems high given that a two storey house of 100SQUARE metres from sratch will cost 100K

If anyone has a breakdown on where the loft extension costs go that would be most helpful. I know you have to use steel and that can be expensive but dont know much more then that

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

How many quotes did you get?

 

[noseall]

I have seen here that the cost or rebuilding a house is approx 100K.

Would that re-building mean that the foundations and drains and everything up to say dpc already exists?

Lofty's are a pain logistically as are adding extensions to existing properties. There is also the headache of adding to existing drains, knock-thro', breaking into an existing roof and weathering etc.

There are many things that make the job more difficult when extending an existing home rather than the freedom of building from scratch, i.e. no electrics, water, rain, occupants etc.

 

[DeludedAussie]

How many quotes did you get?

A few - And its a big loft

 

[DeludedAussie]

I have seen here that the cost or rebuilding a house is approx 100K.

Would that re-building mean that the foundations and drains and everything up to say dpc already exists?

Lofty's are a pain logistically as are adding extensions to existing properties. There is also the headache of adding to existing drains, knock-thro', breaking into an existing roof and weathering etc.

There are many things that make the job more difficult when extending an existing home rather than the freedom of building from scratch, i.e. no electrics, water, rain, occupants etc.

Thanks - Do you have a breakdown on where the loft installation costs go?

I am trying to udnerstand how much of it is structual and how much could be done myself

 

[noseall]

Whilst I admire your enthusiasm you must consider how fragmenting the job is likely to effect the overall risk element of the build.

 

[garyo]

Having built a small front extension (8 m^2) and a larger two story rear extension (40 m^2 with roof) the amount of time and cost put in to both are surprisingly disproportionate.

There are large number of fixed costs (in both time and monetary terms) and massive economies of scale in most things you do. I'd say building a new house on a green field site wouldn't be much more effort than the two story rear extension I've just completed.... perhaps 50% more.

To try to answer your question more specifically, a loft conversion involves bespoke carpentry and engineering. An new-build roof will be a case of buying some off-the-shelf trusses that come with some photocopied structural engineering statements.

Gary

 

[fmck]

I did an extension to my house and a loft conversion. I told the mrs it won't take as long as the extension as the building is already there this time. How wrong I was, it was torture.

The confined space working, dust, heat, cramming things in. Out in the eaves with room enough only to drag yourself on your belly to set packers etc. impossible to wear a mask without feeling I was suffocating and making you hotter still. Feck that for a living! I would build a house rather than a single room loft conversion. Never again.

 

[indus]

Imho your rebuild costs (if I understand what you mean) are too low and your loft extension costs a little high.

If you were to build a new house on a plot of land in London you would be looking at over £1000/sqm2. Probably more like £1300/sqm2.

I had a loft conversion done last year with rear dormer and hip to gable. Two bedrooms with en suites were created. Gross finished area about 24ft by 21ft. It cost me £34k. Personally I think that was a bargain when I saw how much work went into the project.

Most of the roof was removed



Loads of steel put in

 

[indus]

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[indus]

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[indus]

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[indus]

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[limerockconstruction]

The thing with the figures being mentioned is they are very much guide prices and do not apply to every mans situation. Every single job comes with its own complexities and issues.

Working on existing properties as noseall suggests, is a fussy and messy thing to do, most people like to stay in occupation adding considerable time and effort to every job.

New build costs can rise or fall dramatically based on a number of reasons, so please take your £1,000 with a pinch of salt.

A number of your previous posts seem to focus on why things are so expensive, as FMT suggests if you got a few price and they come in at about the same figure then you have to accept that this is what the price is based on opinions of industry professionals.

However, if your line of questioning is around how you can save money, this will largely depend on your DIY skills. Even basic plaster boarding can be trying at times, fixing skirtings in a box room can throw up its challenges if the boardings isn't done right etc....so I guess it depends on really how good you are at DIY before you can make a judgement on the parts you can do. (I've also noticed that people who do a lot of DIY type work on their own properties have a lot less of a tolerance when doing their own work, so if you are really fussy about the finish get the pro's in!).

 

[indus]

Lime rock is correct. Going by your previous posts Aussie you seem to be surprised and shocked by building costs.

That's one of the reasons I put up all those photos. Look at all the work and materials that go into these jobs, and my pics don't even show the plumbing and electrics. The builder needs to nake a living and he lives in London just like you.

As Lime said unless you are skilled and can do a lot of this stuff yourself then you will have to pay roughly the sort of figures we have mentioned and you have been quoted.