Existing property · Agreed design · Controlled construction
Kensington Loft Conversion
We build loft conversions in Kensington from the drawings and specifications supplied by your architect and engineer. The first conversation is about the existing house, the proposed room and the information needed before construction starts.
- Review the roof, supporting walls and stair route against the drawings
- Plan roof, structural and specialist work in an agreed sequence
- Finish the new room and its connection to the existing home
Build from the client’s design
Structural details checked before installation
Specialist work sequenced before enclosure
Final room reviewed against the scope
Agree the conversion as a construction project
The proposed use of a loft determines the work below and above the roofline. A bedroom, office or bathroom places different demands on access, ventilation, services and internal layout. We review the client’s architect’s plans alongside the visible condition of the property, then set out what we will construct: the supporting floor, any approved roof alteration, the staircase, service routes and the interior finish. The quotation should identify products and trade responsibilities rather than leave a vague promise to "convert the loft".
Construction stages and hold points
| Stage | Our work | Decision before progress |
|---|---|---|
| Survey | Compare roof, supports and stair route with drawings | Refer unknown conditions to designer |
| Structure | Form specified bearings, floor and opening | Inspect before coverings hide supports |
| Roof | Build approved alteration and weather junctions | Confirm frame and external details |
| First fix | Make space for specialist service routes | Trade tests and relevant inspections |
| Finish | Line, fit, decorate and clean | Check against written scope |
Read the roof and the rooms beneath it
At the visit we measure accessible spaces and look at the roof form, visible timbers, signs of moisture, existing openings and the route from the landing. We also examine where the drawings place new loads on the house. A finished ceiling is not evidence of a floor capable of supporting a habitable room, and a clear loft footprint does not guarantee space for a safe stair. We record inaccessible areas for later investigation rather than assuming they are sound.
What each interior surface needs
| Element | Preparation | Completion check |
|---|---|---|
| Sloping roof | Verify insulation and lining detail | Continuous finish at eaves and reveals |
| New floor | Confirm designed substrate and dryness | Level transitions and secure covering |
| Stair enclosure | Set out guarding and door junctions | Fit, alignment and finished edges |
| Joinery | Measure against built walls | Doors, storage and ironmongery operate |
| Decoration | Fill, sand and prime as specified | Coverage under daylight and room lighting |
Set the information and inspection sequence
Before work is booked, the client’s design team provides the current drawings, structural information and the applicable approval route. We check that the elements we need to build are specified: bearings, floor joists, roof opening, weathering, stair dimensions and any fire or acoustic details that affect the construction. Open queries are listed and resolved with the responsible designer.
Protect the route through the home
We agree how people, materials and waste will move between the street, the house and the loft. Floors and corners on the access route are protected, and the working area is separated from occupied rooms where the layout allows. The team confirms which existing electrical, water or heating services may be affected before any opening-up. Materials are delivered in a sequence that fits the available space rather than stacked in a landing needed by the household.
Construct the floor and roof to the supplied design
The new floor is set out from the engineer’s information. We prepare the specified bearing points, place the designed supports and form the joist arrangement with the stair opening allowed for. Positions are checked against walls and services before the floor is covered. If opening-up reveals a condition not represented in the drawings, work at that interface pauses for a design decision; we do not substitute a beam or shift a bearing by guesswork.
For a rooflight or dormer shown on the plans, the roof operation follows the approved geometry and construction details. The sequence must keep the retained roof stable, form the new opening, build its framing and complete weathering, flashings and rainwater junctions. We coordinate roof covering and internal insulation so a dry exterior is established before sensitive interior finishes are installed. The exact form depends on the property and its approved scheme.
Make the staircase fit the existing landing
A new room must connect properly with the house below. We set the stair opening against the designed flight, the actual landing and the positions of nearby doors. The build sequence protects headroom and usable circulation while the floor structure is formed. The final stair, guarding and handrail are fitted to the project drawings, then checked for alignment and secure fixing.
The junction around the stair is also a finishing task. We agree where new plaster, skirtings and floor coverings stop against retained surfaces so the new level does not look like a separate add-on. Any proposed change to a structural opening or designed stair geometry goes back to the relevant designer for approval before installation.
Coordinate specialist work before lining
Electrical circuits, heating, plumbing or ventilation must be planned before the new roof slopes and partitions are closed. The relevant trades check routes against the structure and insulation design, then mark first-fix positions for sockets, lights, emitters, extractors and any bathroom fixtures. We provide access in the build sequence and keep drawings of agreed changes with the project record.
The specialists complete and test their own work and provide the records required for that installation. We do not describe a new en-suite as a simple finishing task: drainage, ventilation, hot water and waterproofing all affect the specification and the order of trades. Closing the lining waits until the relevant service and inspection points have been dealt with.
Build the room from the shell inward
After the structural and roof stages are ready, we install the insulation and linings required by the design. Sloping ceilings, eaves, roof windows and dormer cheeks create tight junctions; each needs the specified layers to continue without gaps that would be hidden later. We then board and plaster the surfaces, checking corners and reveals before decorating begins.
Flooring is laid over the prepared new floor system after the relevant moisture and substrate checks. Joinery can include doors, skirtings and fitted storage where it is in the agreed scope. We set these components out to the room’s actual dimensions, especially at low eaves where a drawing may need a final site measurement. Decoration follows preparation, priming and agreed coats, with fresh finishes protected while remaining fittings are installed.
Responsibilities recorded for the project
| Requirement | Our construction role | Other appointed responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural scheme | Build agreed drawings | Client architect prepares and revises design |
| Structural design | Install specified supports | Engineer calculates and resolves changes |
| Roof consent | Build approved external form | Designer/client establish approval route |
| Services | Coordinate safe sequence and access | Qualified trades install and record work |
| Building control | Expose stages for inspection | Inspection and completion process assigned in scope |
Review the room and the route back downstairs
The final walk-through is based on the written scope and the approved design information. We inspect the visible roof and window junctions, stair and guarding, doors, flooring transitions, joinery, plaster and paint. Specialists provide their relevant test or installation records, and the project file identifies any outstanding inspection or completion documentation assigned to the client’s team.
The access route through the existing house is checked for damage and cleared of work materials. We list adjustments openly, agree who completes them and revisit the finished items. Handover is a practical check of the built room and its connection to the home, not an unsupported blanket claim that every regulatory matter has been discharged.
A Kensington address needs its own checks
A postcode cannot tell us whether a roof alteration is acceptable, what the existing structure can bear or whether a house has a designation. The client’s architect checks the planning and property-consent position for the actual address, including any conservation or listed-building constraints. We price construction only after the drawings and site conditions are sufficiently clear.
Questions about loft construction in Kensington
What documents should we bring to a Kensington loft survey?
Share the architect’s current plans, any engineer’s information and the intended room use. We compare them with the property and list missing dimensions or design decisions. A sketch alone may be useful for an initial conversation but is not a construction specification.
Who decides whether a roof change is acceptable at our address?
Your appointed designer should check the planning position, property designation and any consent affecting the proposed roof form. We build the agreed alteration after that route and the construction details are clear; we do not assume every Kensington roof has the same permissions.
Will you design the new beams and floor joists?
No. The structural engineer specifies the load path, support sizes and details for the existing house. We install the agreed construction and raise site differences for a design response before altering a structural detail.
When is the staircase measured for final fitting?
We compare the designed stair with the existing landing at survey stage, then confirm critical dimensions as the opening and new floor are formed. A final order or fitting decision should use the built conditions and the approved geometry.
How are electrical and plumbing works fitted into the build?
Specialist trades review their routes before linings are closed. We sequence their first fix after the relevant structure is ready, protect the work during boarding and leave required tests and records with the responsible installer.
Can fitted storage be included under the eaves?
Yes, if the design and quotation include it. Low eaves need accurate measurement after lining, allowance for access to any necessary services and a finish that suits the rest of the room.
What happens if opening the roof reveals a different condition?
We protect the exposed area and refer the difference to the client’s architect or engineer. Construction at the affected junction resumes when the necessary detail is agreed. We do not improvise a hidden structural or weathering change.
What is checked at completion?
We review the visible roof and window details, staircase, floors, doors, joinery, plaster, paint and the access route through the home. Specialist installation records and building-control responsibilities are checked against the agreed project file.
Review your Kensington loft drawings
Bring the architect’s current roof, stair and structural plans. We will compare them with the house and price the agreed construction package.