Putting floor in loft - to building regs - costs

[405 TD Estate]

I was thinking about s l o w l y converting my loft - trying to keep costs to a minimum - first stage would be to get a proper floor in there - i assume the only way is move some tiles and get a crane to hoist some beams in from the front? i also assume you pay hansomely to have these delivered (and the costs of the beams) any ideas on costs and is there any other way to do it?

[Doctor Drivel]

Firstly you do not have to crane in steel beams at all. Secondly, get some books on loft conversions and read them before doing anything. Fully understand what has to be done, and that includes getting a mains pressure water system too. If you need to have one of these, it may be worth your while doing this first and leave pipes available in the correct locations ready for the loft extension.

[sm_jamieson]

See

lots of info on this newsgroup. There is no magic requirement for steels. It depends on the design of your house and the spans involved. If you have a central structural spine wall (e.g. between front/back sitting rooms and bedrooms), you can use this to support joists. However, if you have a modern terraced house with no structural walls upstairs, steels may be the only practical way of building the loft floor. Also, no time limit (AFAIK) on finishing a building controlled job, so you could start it, do the floor and finish it s l o w l y ! Simon.

[405 TD Estate]

Any recommendation on books?

[meow2222]

I dont know if beefing up whats already there might be an option, using shorter pieces jointed after theyre in the loft. No crane then.

NT

[manatbandq]

messagenews: [e-mail]...

What utter bollocks. Doing a loft in a way that satisfies building regs does not require a mains pressure water system. You've really lost it this time.

MBQ

[Tony Bryer]

One option with steel beams is to have them cut and spliced, typically three pieces. As the splice fabrication isn't cheap, most contractors I have dealt with in the past prefer the crane option but sometimes - trees, telephone wires etc - it's not possible.

[Doctor Drivel]

Or he can fit tanks in the eves and have pumps - duh!!

[Doctor Drivel]

TGI "I" beams will do (Masonite). No need for over engineering a loft conversion. TJI's are very light and one man can lift into place.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Utter bollocks as usual. You don't *have* to convert to mains pressure if doing a loft conversion.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Across the road where the builders have been in for months they didn't bother with a crane. Just plenty of Polish labour. ;-)

[Doctor Drivel]

Please eff off you are total idiot!

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Please stop polluting newsgroups with your stupid views and get back into treatment. It's not the end of the world that Dolphin sacked you for incompetence. Just rare.

[Doctor Drivel]

Please eff off you are total idiot!

[meow2222]

I wonder if this character could be a turing test.

NT

[Dave Baker]

Or a Tourette's Test ?

[Doctor Drivel]

If he is, he failed.

[manatbandq]

What doe he need a pump for, FFS? Hint: He has said nothing about wanting a water supply in the converted loft so gravity will work just fine, like it always has.

MBQ

[manatbandq]

LOL! So what's changing all the plumbing unneccessarily, if not over- engineering?

MBQ

[Doctor Drivel]

You really don't know, do you?