Moving Out vs Staying In During a Loft Conversion: What Most Homeowners Do?

The first practical question homeowners ask after deciding on a loft conversion is whether they will have to move out during the build or they can stay in the house. The short answer is that the majority of people remain in their homes through and get on just fine. But the right decision depends on your particular situation, the length of the build and the amount of disruption you can realistically deal with on a day to day basis.

This guide will give you a realistic view of what life is like during a loft conversion so you can make the right decision for your stay plans before the build starts.

What Most Homeowners Actually Do

Most of UK home owners will remain in their property during a loft conversion. This is partly practical as moving out temporarily is expensive and disruptive in itself but also because a loft conversion is usually manageable to live around for most people once you know what to expect during the actual build phase.

The builders are working above you and not through the middle of your home. Most of the project can be done while your kitchen, living room and main bedrooms are usable. Life goes on more or less normally, with some noise, some dust and some inconvenience at certain times during the build.

However, there are times when it makes sense to move out temporarily and we will cover those below.

The Stages of a Loft Conversion and How Invasive They Are

Understanding what happens at each stage of the build helps you to plan ahead and spot when disruption is at its greatest.

Week 1 to 2 – Structural & Roofing works

This is the loudest, most disruptive piece of the entire project. Scaffolding goes up, the roof is opened up for the steelwork to be installed and the structural work is done. There will be a lot of noise from cutting, drilling and hammering and depending on the season the house can feel cold if the roof is open for a time.

At this point, some homeowners think about moving out at least for a while. The hardest period to manage is the first couple of weeks if you have very young children, babies or anyone in the house who is sensitive to noise.

Week 3 to 4 — Roofing completion and structural close up

The roof has been made watertight and the structural work signed off. From here the noise levels decrease significantly. The house is beginning to feel normal again although there is still a building site above you.

Week 5+ — Internal work

Joinery and finishing, plastering, electrical. This is far less noisy and much easier to live with. Most households barely notice the difference at this point, apart from a bit of dust and the occasional early morning start.

Staircase installation

It’s worth mentioning separately as this is the one point during the build where the work comes down into your living space rather than staying above it. The opening in the staircase is through the landing ceiling which means a day or two of more intrusive work on the floor below the loft. Usually this is manageable but it is a good thing to know in advance so it does not catch you unawares.

The Case for Staying In

Cost

Temporary housing is expensive. Even a small rental or long stay in a hotel for 8 to 10 weeks, can add up to thousands of pounds on top of your loft conversion cost. Most homeowners would rather put up with some inconvenience than add that kind of cost to the project.

Security

An unoccupied property during a building project is more vulnerable than an occupied property. It also makes sense from a security perspective * * to have someone in the house at night.

Project Management

Being on site you can see the progress, answer builder questions quickly and spot anything that does not look right before it becomes a bigger problem. Homeowners who are not there during the build sometimes miss things that are easier to fix early rather than after the project is finished.

It’s easier than you think

Most people who were anxious about living through a loft conversion, say afterwards it was easier than they thought it would be. The first couple of weeks are all noise, and then it settles down quite a bit.

The Case for Moving Out

Children and babies

If you have babies or toddlers that need to have a daytime nap, the noise from the structural phase can be really hard to cope with. It is reasonable to ask families to be put in temporary accommodation for a fortnight during the noisiest phase.

Work from home

If you work from home and need to take calls, or just concentrate during the day, the first two weeks of the build can be very challenging. If you are staying in the property during the build, it’s worth considering moving out temporarily during the structural phase if your work requires quiet atmosphere.

Medical condition or anxiety

If there is anyone in the household with a condition which makes sustained noise or disruption particularly difficult then moving out for the noisiest phase temporarily is the sensible option. No prize for toughing it out if it is truly affecting your health or wellbeing.

Very small properties

In a small two bedroom terraced house where the loft is directly above the only bedroom, proximity to the work can make sleeping difficult during the structural phase. This is less of a problem on larger properties with more distance between the work and main living areas.

Practical Tips to Keep Comfortable

The things that make the most difference to how manageable the experience feels if you want to stay in all the way through.

Set clear working hours with your contractor beforehand

Agree on starting and finishing times before the project begins. Most contractors work from around 7.30 or 8.00 in the morning and are finished by 5.00 or 5.30 in the evenings. Knowing when your day starts and ends makes it much easier to plan for the noise created during the build.

Keep your things free from dust

The worst thing about converting a loft is dust. No matter how careful the builders are, it gets everywhere. Before you start, move any valuables or fragile items out of the rooms beneath the loft and consider covering furniture in adjoining rooms with dust sheets.

Clear the loft completely before work starts

Everything in the loft has to come out before the builders arrive. Do this well in advance and arrange storage if necessary. Leaving things to the last minute is stressful at the best of times.

Make a quiet corner in the house

Choose one room that will be as far away from the noise as possible and retreat there during the noisiest phases. As a rule, in a standard two storey property the front room on the ground floor will be the furthest away from the loft work and the quietest option.

Clear the loft completely before work starts

Your neighbours will hear the noise too, particularly if you are in a terraced or semi detached property. Letting them know the start date and how long it should take is good for relationships and stops complaints to the builder which can slow things down.

Prepare your ear plugs

Seems obvious but a good pair of earplugs makes the first couple of weeks considerably more tolerable if you’re a light sleeper and the noise starts early.

What About Putting in the Staircase?

The staircase is where the build resembles your everyday living space the most. The builder will cut an opening through the landing ceiling and install the staircase up through it. This generally takes between one and two days and involves cutting, drilling and a certain amount of mess on the landing.

Most households cope with this without moving out but it is useful to clear the landing and any adjoining areas beforehand and lay down dust sheets. At this point the builder should also close off the opening at the end of each working day to prevent the dust spreading throughout the house overnight.

The Honest Bottom Line

Most homeowners stay and they are glad they did. There are plenty of reasons to stay put and saving money on temporary accommodation is a good one. For most households the disruption is manageable if you know what to expect and prepare properly.

If you have babies, work from home or have particular sensitivities to noise then moving out for the first two weeks of the structural phase is a reasonable compromise. You bear the worst of the disruption in temporary accommodation then have a quieter build for the remaining weeks.

The best approach is to decide before the project begins and not to react to the noise once it starts. At the quoting stage, talk to your contractor and ask them specifically when the noisiest phases will be and how long they are likely to last. A good specialist will tell you the truth and help you plan for it.