FAQs

Here are some short answers to many loft conversion questions that have been provided by our visiting consultants and the phone calls we take daily. Please call the office if there is anything else you need help on.

Can my loft be converted?
What areas do you cover?
Do you charge for a quote?
How long is the quote valid for?
What insurance and Guarantees do you offer?
Can you convert Trussed Roofs into lofts?
Do I need to move out?
How long do loft conversions take?
What is the level of disruption?
Do I need a Party Wall Agreement?
How much do Loft conversions cost?
Where do the stairs go?
Do I need to change my doors?
Can you Prepare plans do I need an Architect?
Can you apply for Planning permission?
I live in a flat, can I convert my loft?
How quickly can you start?
What is Permitted developments?
What type of loft conversion are there?
What happens to the tanks in loft?
Can you change my boiler?
Can you extend my kitchen?
Can you do other works around the home?

Can my loft be converted?
Most loft spaces can be converted, if you have ahead height of 2m we can normally make convert that to living space.

What areas do you cover?
We cover the whole of Oxfordshire and surrounding areas.

Do you charge for a quote?
No our quotes for loft conversions and kitchen extensions are free.

How long is the quote valid for?
Normally our quotes are valid for 3 months.

What insurance and Guarantees do you offer?
We offer a full 12 year guarantee for the structure, and we are fully insured for Public liability, documents available upon request.

Can you convert Trussed Roofs into lofts?
Yes these are easily converted into loft space. There is no added cost or complication for us for this type of loft conversion.

Do I need to move out?
A loft conversion in Oxford does not require anyone to move out of the home, if there are other works like a kitchen extension this needs to be looked at in detail. If you have small children care must be taken during the build.

How long do loft conversions take?
Most our loft conversion take around 6-8 working weeks. Smaller lofts can be shorter with bigger projects taking longer.

What is the level of disruption?
We build big scaffolds so most of the building materials and works remain at high level. There is some noise when the floor is being built. There are a couple of days of dust around where the stairs go. All materials and entry to works is kept from the scaffold where possible.

Do I need a Party Wall Agreement?
If you are carrying out any building works 1m from your neighbour’s boundary you have to get a party wall notice. We can provide you with a party wall letter and a party walls surveyor if required.

How much do Loft conversions cost?
On average loft conversions cost £30,000 to £45,000.

Where do the stairs go?
Normally the new loft conversions stairs in Oxford go over the existing stairs so that there is little loss of space for your home.

Do I need to change my existing doors?
No your existing doors can remain, we fitted a smoke detection system so the doors can remain.

Can you Prepare plans do I need an Architect?
No, we can prepare all the plans and apply for planning permission if required. If you have architects plans and wish to use your own architect, we can works with them.

Can you apply for Planning permission?
Yes if required we can apply for planning permission for you loft conversion or extension in Oxford.

I live in a flat, can I convert my loft?
If you have a loft conversion space we can convert it, planning permission will be required for the loft conversion for a flat in Oxford.

How quickly can you start?
We can normally start with 2 to 3 months of contract being signed, if we are very busy it may be longer.

What are Permitted developments?
A permitted development is a building development that does not require planning permission. There are strict guideline to follow so that the works are regarded as a "Permitted Development." A "Letter of Lawful Development" can be applied for to ratify the decision in writing from the local planning department by Touchstone Lofts.

What type of loft conversion are there?
Generally speaking there are roof-light conversions, that require no roof extensions and Dormer Loft conversions that require roof extensions.

What happens to the tanks in loft?
These are removed and either a new boiler is fitted or an unvented cylinder is fitted. We are Gas Registered so we are qualified to do all the Gas and plumbing works.

Can you change my boiler?
We are Gas Registered so we are fully qualified to offer you the best advice for the plumbing an d heating in your home.

Can you extend my kitchen?
Yes we are very experienced builders and can tackle any size of project from a loft conversion to a complete home refurbishment, extension or even new build.

Can you do other works around the home?
Yes we can do any other building works including kitchen and home extensions in Oxford.
We can change your existing bathroom and any other major or minor works.