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The architects are telling me that what they did is not possible
Hi everyone! I would like to ask for some advice from the community please.
We have asked architects to create plans for a loft conversion and I shared with them plans from a nearby house of the same type where they did a loft conversion around 5-6 years ago and they have a staircase design that I really like. The architects are telling me that what they did is not possible to do in my house because it would not comply with regulations.
Since they did it in the other house, I’m struggling to accept it. Essentially that hallway / landing area is eliminated allowing more space for the bedroom area.
Attaching here some screenshots for reference.
The neighbours house is the first one and the proposed for our house is the second one.
Any ideas how/if this can be done while complying with regs?
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10 Replies
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Are you still using the current architect’s
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Architect is right, landing length and width needs to match width of stairs. Unless you’ve been in the neighbours loft it may have changed on site.
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Difficult to tell why without the rest of the plans. I notice though that your neighbours stairs have 7 parallel treads where your drawing show 5, this would account for the extra winders at the top of your flight.
I don’t think the neighbours stairs strictly comply with regulations at the top but I guess building control have taken a view on them and deemed them to be ‘safe’ which I agree with.
Certainly a better arrangement without the ‘ lobby’ at the top.
I would talk to Building Control
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Yeah, I wanted to “lose” that lobby, although I now tend to prefer a second drawing proposed by the architects where they create an even longer hallway, but in the process they create a wall to place the TV. I like that idea as otherwise it’s challenging to find a good place to put the TV. I would like to use the space as a playroom with a sofa bed and guest room when needed.
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It’s a bit hard to tell from the snippet of drawing you give but I’d suggest you call the bedroom a landing on the plans and make it part of the escape route. It will need fire proofing but it allows you to have the stairs come down into the room with no enclosure or doors at all.
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Architect has provided sound professional advice. If your dentist advised you had gum disease but you went ahead with veneers in any case
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It’s tempting to try and maximise the room space, but the landing being smaller makes everything feel cramped. Opening up the landing makes everything feel more in proportion. We actually changed ours from the plan, which was similar to yours, to be a rectangle landing. It now feels so spacious and you don’t notice that you’ve lost a little bit of bedroom.
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I wanted to “lose” that landing/hallway entirely, although I now tend to prefer a second drawing proposed by the architects where they create an even longer hallway, but in the process they create a wall to place the TV. I like that idea, as otherwise it’s challenging to find a good place to put the TV. I would like to use the space as a playroom with a sofa bed and guest room when needed.
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that’s a much better plan imo you’ve got a good size room plus a spacious landing area. TV wall is a bonus too
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Building regs do change from time to time. We have had to have a whole redesign on our loft since we originally got it planned as the regs changed while sitting out finances…..
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