Loft conversion recommendations Post Reply

[k_barney]

Hello all,
We are looking to get our loft converted (with a deadline of the beginning of October as we're expecting baby #1!) and wondered if anyone had any recommendations? Doing online research the following have come up, so any feedback (good & bad) gratefully received, or any other companies you'd recommend going with. Thank you in advance:

South London Lofts
Landmark Lofts
MoreSpace
Skyhigh
Hurlingham Developments
Scott McCabe
SkyLofts
Kantec

[jamali]

Hi there,

Congratulations - how exciting! Most amazing time, waiting for a new baby! Wish I could give you a recommendation but I can only advise against going with A1 lofts who I used and it was a nightmare! Total utter nightmare I have heard some good stuff about Absolute Lofts though - best thing might be to go and check out some friends' places and see if you can get the same team (not just the same company) they had if you like the work.

Good luck!

[supermummy]

I recommend Premier lofts - we just finished ours in the nick of time before baby # 3. They were on time and on budget, no nasty surprises!

http://www.thepremierloftcompany.co.uk/

[Laura35]

I used south london lofts to do mine. They were very quick and professional and good value. You do very much get a package loft (which is how they do it so quick) so if you want something more bespoke I'd recommend going with a smaller building company.

South london lofts gave us a fixed fee which didn't change during the project - there were no hidden extras (although we did pay separately for a new boiler and water tank to provide pressure for the new ensuite).

Do you need planning permission for what you're going to do? Our building work took about 12 weeks plus 2 weeks of decorators (loft and hallway throughout house as it will get trashed during the work), we were told 9 weeks but everyone ive ever spoken to says it always takes longer than they say. Ive also heard bad things about companies who offer "guarantees" that the work will be complete by specific deadlines as the quality of finish is apparently poor. Planning permission takes 8 weeks if you need it. So you're cutting it fine to get the work done by October although it might be just about possible!

[belld]

ask to see a copy of their contracts when you meet with them.
I have seen some shocking contracts re lofts (no fixed end date, payment terms unreasonable etc).
Remember every contract offered by a supplier will be in their favour - you could try to challenge any elements you see as unfair - and the response of the company should allow you to see their approach.
Some of the bigger companies sell their services to you, then ask you to sign another contract with one of their subcontracting builders (ie the big loft companies win the work, then distribute it to other builders - nothing really that shocking, but make sure you know who is building your loft).
There are good and bad architects, builders, footballers, flower arrangers - but doing your own due diligence following any recommendations is essential.

[pettifer01]

Hi,

I would like to introduce our Construction company Xtraspace Construction.
We are based in Wandsworth.

We have completed many local projects, and have recently opened up an office in Garratt Lane - Do feel free to pop in, with any questions

We specialise in Basements but undertake various other projects:
- Full house refurbishments
- Extensions
-Lofts.

We are just completing x2 four bedroom houses in Garratt Lane.
We are holding an Open Day this Saturday 5th July .

Please feel free to contact us to make an appointment.

E mail : enquiries@xtra-space.com
Office : 0208 871 4792
(Please check out or construction time lapse video on our site, where you will be able to see a step by step video of this project)
www.xtra-space.com

Look forward to hearing from you.

Olivia Pettifer

Xtraspace Construction

[Aceit]

Just researching builders. Thought would add to this conversation. Kantec don't have the best reputation locally.

[jamie @ dRAW]

Hi k_barney,

I have just seen your post with regards to converting your loft space.

We are an architecture practice based in Wandsworth on Old York Road.

We offer a full architectural design service and would take you through the whole process or as far as you needed us. We would be able to assist in organising the building works as we have a number of trusted contractors we work with so would be able to get you a competitive price as well.

If you have any questions or wish to go through your project in more detail please feel free to get in touch and one of our architects here can discuss your project further with you.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards
Jamie

[MGMidget]

We had a very bad experience with South London Lofts and were in a similar position to you (timing wise) with expecting a baby when we signed up with them. We ended up in a long running dispute regarding some quite fundamental things (e.g. inserting a different steel beam to that in the plans submitted to building control and then dragging their heels to provide structural calculations restrospectively what they had actually put in). Our baby was a year old when the loft was finished! I would struggle to think of anything positive to say about them apart from the fact that some of the individual tradespeople/labourers they used seemed really nice and conscientious (others though were terrible) but its the overall management of the job and their attitude that is the problem. In your position I would seriously consider using an architect and getting them to do a contract tender for a choice of builders. Then have them or another building professional such as a structural engineer oversee the job and run checks on the work as per contract. Don't use the loft company contracts if you can avoid it as they give you little or no recourse if the builders don't do what they should be doing - you are at their mercy. The contracts tend to look 'consumer friendly' but they are the exact opposite because of the nature of construction work and construction disputes. You are better off with a detailed proper contract.

[SWpoet]

Another one to avoid would be any company involving Ray or Jane Hampshire, who used to trade as Atticus Lofts. They did our loft conversion, and we had such problems that we took them to the small claims court (and won). Atticus has been dissolved, and maybe they've retired, but run a mile if you come across them.

[MGC]

I can recommend Dermarta Ltd

Www.dermarta.co.uk

Great service, great work and great blokes.

Hope that helps.

[MGMidget]

Just to add that Build London were connected with South London Lofts at the time we had our loft done and, although our contract was with South London Lofts, we had Build London guys doing quite a lot of the work.

[pete.freeman]

We are having a kitchen extension and were considering using Kantec. Can you expand what they reputation is like locally and why not good please?

[WhiteKnight]

We used Scott McCabe in the summer of 2015 to do our planning permission. Once that was obtained we asked them when they could start. After delaying us, they told us, via a letter, they were too busy to service SW11. We felt very let down as they had led us to believe they could do the work so do check if you decide on them...

Anyway I'm pleased to say we finished our loft last week! We used Loft King and couldn't be happier. Happy to chat and even show you around ours.
Loft King were recommended by a colleague, they gave us a long list of references of which I randomly called 4 and all were very positive too.

Good luck!

[JB1902]

Following with interest.... We are in the early stages of planning ours and debating whether to go with a 'loft company' or architect and separate building firm.
White Knight - would be interested to have a chat about loft king and the work they did for you...