Leaders for ten years

Maybe there are only a few basic types of house making up most of the homes in London, but many have already had some modifications, councils have varying ideas, and our clients are certainly individuals.

We believe it is crucial to get the very best from your money and to optimise the extra space you have available. An experienced architect will make the very best of things whilst avoiding those small errors that could irritate you for decades - like that door that would open properly if it had been moved a few inches.

Of course we are very happy to work with your own architect if you have one, but we also have a team of professionals we would be pleased to introduce to you.

The party wall is owned by all those whose house is connected to it. Because you are planning to do a loft conversion, you have to inform the neighbour, who has a total time limit of eight weeks to get the agreement in place with you. It normally only takes two to three weeks if all parties are working together well and good will prevails!

There are two forms. One is the party wall notice form, used to formerly give your neighbour notice. The other is the acknowledgement form, which your neighbour has to sign and return, with their choice of a surveyor or not.

Please click here to download a draft of a Party Wall Notice and acknowledgement.

• The neighbour can't stop you doing the conversion.
• Hopefully your neighbour will sign the form and decide to go ahead with out the need for a surveyor.
• Try to invlove, interest and reassure your neighbour from the outset so that they don't feel the nedd to involve a party wall surveyor. This will save money.

Velux is the brand that has become synonymous with roof lights.

As you can see from their website www.velux.co.uk, they offer a huge range of different designs and finishes.

Usually they are used on the front of your property to complement a mansard or dormer conversions at the rear.

They sit with a low profile, and give the loft a feeling of space and naturally they allow much more sunlight light to the new loft room - and their is a vast range

• Most commonly used in your existing pitched roof at the front with a dormer or mansard at the back.
• Can be pivoted at the top or in the centre of the window.
• Available in almost any finish you could possibly imagine.
• Versions available for skylights located on flat roof conversion.
• Can be used for access to a balcony or even a roof terrace.

French doors can be one of the things that make your new room special.

Typically we are working with older homes which tend to have smaller windows, especially in the upstairs bedrooms, but with most loft extensions there is a wall the entire length of the conversion where the windows can be of almost any dimensions.

Some prefer the intimacy of simple double doors, but many seize the opportunity to have a concertina configuration which can be folded back in the summer for a massive panorama above the rooftops and across the city. If the plan is for this to become your master bedroom it will probably become the favourite room in the whole house.

It is not always appreciated how spectacular a difference a roof terrace can make - or indeed that it is possible at all.

This is a typical L-shaped Edwardian house in Byrne Road Balham which has already been converted into two flats. The owner wanted to take advantage of the existing roof space for a new bedroom - which turned out to be 22 sq metres in area without including the large bathroom/toilet which is easily big enough for a full-size bath.

Of course there is no garden with a top floor flat, so we were particularly pleased to be able to show how a 9 sq metre terrace could be created on the back of the "L". This created a space space amongst the rooftops nearly at nearly the equivalent of three floors high where there is comfortably room for four diners and a view clear across London to the Shard and beyond.

• South London Lofts are specialists in the planning rules of the various councils, can advise what is likely permitted. and can produce plans which we are confident will be accepted if we present them
• In the case of a top floor flat the terrace will typically be half the length of the back "L-shape" so as to protect your downstairs neighbours' privacy.
• You choose from a variety of railings in metal, glass or other materials and the floor can be wooden decking or lightweight"promenade tiles"as in th picture.

The need to re-roof your home is often a prompt to think through the best way to use the precious space that is often going to waste above your head

We are always very pleased to provide an estimate for a loft extension and a whole new roof - which could well be a better option than replacing a damaged roof now and regretting not finding the extra for a full-blown extension

Depending on your requirements we can keep some or all of your existing tiles for re-positioning or can replace all your tiles - perhaps with a new design.

The usual arrangement is for you to choose your shower/bath, sanitary ware and other bathroom furniture which are installed by our plumbers and electricians as part of the contract.

But we understand that you want a finished bathroom with flooring, tiles and other decorating completed.

That's why we have a specialist craftspeople who are ready to provide extra services to the highest possible standard both in the bathroom and wherever else in your home this may be required.

Apart from our specialised loft extension experience, we also provide ground-level extensions such as kitchens and extra rooms.

We also often find that fresh new rooms in the loft tend to show up the rest of the house and we are pleased to attend to your requirements here as well

So, whether its renovating or improving the plumbing, some decorating, or a complete refurbishment of your whole home, we are pleased to undertake the whole job. Just ask!

We understand that you want to deal with as few contractors as possible. And if it's a ground floor extension, chances are you're thinking about a kitchen.

At one time you might have gone to a specialist contractor, but our plumbers, electricians, heating engineers and carpenters will be in your home in any case, so it makes sense for them to complete your kitchen at the same time

So please ask us how we can take the whole project right to the end, including decorating, and you might be surprised at what we can do for you and the price we can offer.