Attic Conversion On New Build Three Bed Semi EA Says It Can't Be Done

[meathman2014]

Hi

I am looking at a new build 3 bed semi - d house in Dublin 15, due to go on sale within the next 4-6 weeks. I can't afford the 4 bed semi's, but need to stick an attic conversion into the attic to use as a 4th kids bedroom. The houses are already built and look completely conventional from the outside

Estate agent has told me that an attic conversion cannot be put into these houses as he says that upstairs they have a higher than normal ceiling that extends into attic space, and he phoned and checked this with the builder. I have seen the house plans in Fingal CC, and they show a conventional house design with an internal max attic space height of over 7 feet which an attic conversion guy has told me is perfectly adequate.

Anyone heard of houses having higher than average ceilings that extend into the attic space preventing a conversion?. Wonder if they are getting confused with technical "habitable space" that an attic conversion in a modern semi-d never provides?

 

[DB74]

Can you go and visit the showhouse with a potential builder and see what he says.

I know when I lived in Dublin 15 (Beechfield estate) I had a couple of builders in and they both said that we couldn't convert the attic because of the way the roof beams were structured or the way they criss-crossed or something like that.

 

[Leo]

Have you been in the attic to take measurements?

Unless it's a very large height, then with that design, you're unlikely to get very much in the way of usable space without a lot of compromise. You might struggle to meet building regs in relation to insulation in particular.

The attic conversion guys are likely out to make money, so don't trust their opinion. If the conversion doesn't meet the requirements for habitable space, then you're likely looking at insurance issues also if you do use it as a bedroom due to fire/safety issues.