Weird loft?

[Kitty Cat]

What would you do with this loft? It's a Victorian terrace, I'm not sure what to do with this - should I extend the loft floor? How much would that cost? Most houses have either built a loft floor or a loft extension (that's about 100k which I'll never have). Any advice is most welcome...

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Whilst prices are sky high, £100K is probably double +. Do you need/want to extend upwards?

 

[Kitty Cat]

Whilst prices are sky high, £100K is probably double +. Do you need/want to extend upwards?

No loft extension ever, can't afford it. I've offered on that house, but now I'm worried about that space, will it be freezing in the winter? Should I build an insulated loft for storage? Will even that be superexpensive?

 

[DAZB]

Looks like whoever lived there did the loft conversion but for some unknown reason decided to leave out the staircase and the entire floor. Very strange but maybe they just wanted the height of a vaulted room which is fair enough. Assuming you have loadbearing walls then adding joists and a floor plus staircase will not be hugely expensive and that will give you an additional floor level to use and indeed be much easier to keep warm.

 

[StephenStephen]

It looks like they've effectively added a lightwell.
It would be worth having a good draught seal on the window, and around the vertical loft hatch.
It's likely that there is insulation above the ceiling around the window.
If it did get cold in that space, I'd be tempted to use a horizontal sheet of secondary glazing film in the winter, unless I needed to regularly go in the loft...

 

[Kitty Cat]

Huge thanks to all of you for taking time to share your views

 

[Koolpc]

You could use the area to store helium balloons?

 

[DAZB]

You could use the area to store helium balloons?

Or ladders.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Practicalities and quirky spaces aside, do you know if it's been converted properly as in has the structure of the house been affected etc? I think it's bonkers and I'd buy something else.

 

[Mrs Ten Names]

The minimum I would do is to change that roof window for a modern double-glazed velux-style window.
It might make it impossible to open it when needed.

 

[HERTS P&D]

I do have a remote control velux in a vaulted roof, best thing for easy opening and self closing when it rains.

Andy

 

[RandomGrinch]

What would you do with this loft?

If you have kids, that could be an amazing space for them - add a mezzanine for a den, a climbing wall, a fireman's pole etc.

 

[Koolpc]

You could keep bats up there!

 

[Kitty Cat]

It's actually the original loft from when the house was built around 1900. The window was probably changed later. I saw it in other houses during viewings, although others built a proper loft floor by extending the floor and used it as a walk in closet, storage, play room or an office. Or converted it into a loft room. Great idea to add Velux window with remote control, thanks!