DIY attic conversion

Hello all I have a tiny 2 up 2 dawn mid terrace house I want to do a simple attic conversion to add a room. With just a velux window and that's it. Haw hard would this be to carry the work out myself. I want to do this as cheap as possible and want it to be done on the down low if u no what I mean lol

 

To be classified as a habitable room, certain rules must be followed.
Your first floor ceiling won't be strong enough for use as a floor support and fire escape will need to be thought through.
But you could use it as an office.
Depending on what you do, the resale value will be greater or less

 

I toataly get what your saying. but I just want to add a simple bedroom to the house and nothing special. And of course want it to be safe but want to do it without notifing enyone as it's a council house. Hence on the quiet side. So really just looking for abit of advice.

 

Ok. If it is a council house then you're breaking your tenancy agreement by carrying out structural alterations. If they find out (when they find out) you will be charged the full cost of restoring the house back to normal.
Someone's going to notice a velux suddenly appearing.

 

Yes I get what your saying. And willing to take that risk.

 

Ladder, few sheets of chipboard flooring, light bulb, mattress, smoke alarm and bucket of water to tip on fire.

 

Thanks I will start in the morning

 

So an unotharised attic conversion can't be done then no???????

 

You can do what you want and however you want to do it if it’s unauthorised. I’ve done it myself a couple of times but the last time I did it properly with permission and refs.

In your mid terrace i’d be thinking a steel across the front and 1 accross the back right under where the roof touches your shoulder.

8x2 joists running steel to steel.

Chipboard floor on the joists.

Celotex between and under the rafters, plasterboard under that.

 

Hello e

Hi Ian when you say a steel at back and front right under your shoulder. And then 8x2 front to back from steels am I right saying the new flow will bee at shoulder hight sorry but bit confused lol

 

No, I meant down directly below your shoulder like this:

 

Yes that's what I was thinking then a perlin wall to saport the roof off the steels

 

How will you fix the steels to the party walls ? Could you do this without your two neighbours hearing the bricks in their lofts being drilled or chopped ?.

Breaking you tenancy agreement is not the only action that would be bought against you when the council discover what you have done. OK so maybe they do not discover it until after you have left the house. They will still hold you responsible for the costs of repairing the damage, tracking you down if necessary. It might make it impossible for you to ever have council housing ever again.

Or is this just a wind up post

 

No not a windup mate. I personally was going to do a timber job. With no steels so no party agreement. And I will be hiding the convention for a few years till can buy it so not looking to go anywhere. I was thinking 8x2s from front wall plate to centrel load bearing wall same from back to centrel load bearing wall. Then overlapped through the middle then bolted and all tied in. The a perlin wall off if new 8x2 floor to support roof.