Advice on changing loft space for storage

[andemz]

Hi all, i am posting this on behalf of a friend, who i am going to see at 9pm tonight.

He has a semi detached property with a traditional roof. He wishes to utilise this space as storage but when i have spoken to him, he wants to put his small studio, keyboard, mic and computer in the loft, as opposed to the bedroom that it is currently in at the moment.

He has had somebody in who has suggested that they create a suspended floor using wall braces 6" x 3" and then board it out. he wishes to put a sky light in, a fire alarm and he wants to insulate and plasterboard it out, potentially with a view to plaster and paint it. he wants to maintain the loft ladder that he has and will be making no alterations to where the loft hatch is situated, which is on the landing. he isn't planning on having a radiator but he will be having four double sockets.

Questions:
1) if he is thinking of insulating this and then plaster boarding over it, doesn't he need to be careful about ventilation and damp
2) Should he have air vents fitted into the soffits, if he is doing this
3) are those joists big enough, i know it isn't a big load but i think it would be more appropriate to put in RSJ's as opposed to wall braces
4) I thought he may need building regs, he will certainly need a fully qualified electrician but do you think he will need regs for this.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Regards

Andrew

 

[AdrianMealing]

1. Yes
2. If the roof has traditional felt and no ventilation, this could be a problem,
3. Seek advice from an Architect or structural engineer, don't want to come through the ceiling playing the keyboard
4. Will need regs as far as i can tell, have a look here http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/loftconversion

I am sure someone with more knowledge than me can help, but that's my two cents worth for starters, hope it helps.

 

[andemz]

Thanks for the reply, that was the first place i went to.

As anybody else got any other comments on the other points raised

 

[andemz]

Thanks for the reply, that was the first place i went to.

As anybody else got any other comments on the other points raised

 

[Alastairreid]

With no fixed staircase it is and always will be classed as a floored loft.

 

[big-all]

With no fixed staircase it is and always will be classed as a floored loft.

whilst in general its the golden rule about stairs
things like sockets insulation flooring and windows usually a combination off 2 may also be considered as the start off a loft conversion so be carefull

 

[andemz]

As it happens when i went to visit him last night, there is a wasps nest which needs to be sorted but more concerning, there is existing dry rot to some of the woodwork up in the loft, so i have advised him to get a specialist in, with a view to getting this treated before he attempts any work.

Thanks for your responses.

Andemz