Lofts

What are the different types of loft conversion?

A1 Loft Conversions offer Loft Conversions in Surrey, London & surrounding areas. There are a number of types of loft conversion. Which type you have for your home will be dependent on a number of factors such as planning permission, house type, conservation areas, roof height and available space. The main types of loft conversion are below, it is important to consider that these can then be adapted and made bespoke to suit your home:

Rear Dormer

A dormer loft conversion is an extension to the existing roof, creating additional floor space and headroom within the loft conversion. Dormers can be built in various styles, but all extend from the roof slope, usually in a box shape.

Mansard

A mansard loft conversion has two slopes with the top section of the roof being almost horizontal. A mansard roof has the advantage of maximizing the available space within your loft.

Hip To Gable

A hip to gable loft conversion involves making fairly major changes to the roof. As a general rule, houses with a hip roof tend to not have enough internal space to be a loft conversion to be practical, making a hip to gable conversion the perfect solution.

Velux

Velux loft conversions very rarely require planning permission. Velux are the leading manufacturer of roof windows with over 60 years experience, and A1 are the largest independent client of VELUX products. This type of conversion is generally very cost effective.

Eco solutions have made a big impact in the construction industry and are now more affordable and produce more energy, even during the winter months! We have a wide range of products available to choose from, designed to start saving energy, reduce your bills and your carbon footprint. If you’re looking to ‘go green’ – consider an eco-loft.

All our loft conversions are built with an exceptional standard of insulation. We receive a growing number of clients showing interest in the benefits of an eco loft conversion. These benefits include:

Reducing energy bills (utility rates are continuing to rise)
Increasing the value of your home. A well thought out and high quality loft conversion may add up to 26% to the value of your home.
Decreasing your carbon footprint

There are many things to take into consideration when selecting an eco-loft. Regardless of your choice, the most important decision you make is selecting the right partner to work with. A partner who understands eco solutions is essential, especially when it comes to installing them correctly. It is fundamental you work with someone who understands which products are the most effective and efficient, as well as which products are accredited.

If your eco loft is built by experts, you will start seeing the difference in your monthly bills and begin to recoup your investment immediately.

Under-floor Heating

Under-floor heating is the best form of economical heating and saves wall space that would be taken up by heating solutions such as radiators, leaving more room and freedom to arrange furniture. Heat rises and so it makes sense to install it in the floor. Under-floor heating also covers the whole floor and so heats the whole room evenly.

As under-floor heating is economical with the most efficient types being water and electrical, it can easily be linked into a solar panel if you wish. Reports have suggested that under-floor heating can reduce your energy bills by 15 to 50%.

Mesh Under-floor Heating

For use under Tiles, Vinyl and Amtico

16 year manufacturers warranty
Ultra thin heating cable with fast warm-up time
Double earthed shielded
Double conducter cabling
Digital touch screen thermostat

Carbon Electric Under-floor Heating

For use under laminate or engineered wood – not in wet areas.

10 year manufacturers warranty
Super thin – less than 0.5mm thick
Simple installation process
Bespoke room sets for projects
Digital touch screen thermostat

Solar Panels

With solar panels used today, you can lower or even eliminate your monthly electricity bills. We are able to provide solar panels that will fit into the design of your roof and appear like darkened windows – maintaining an aesthetically pleasing look to your home.

Insulation & Ventilation

Simply converting your loft can increase the insulation of your property. We use a high standard of insulation in the roof and walls as standard, however, for our eco-lofts we provide the options of ‘Vacuum Insulation Panels’ and ‘Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery’.

Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR)

Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) transform the principle of a thermos bottle to a flat panel shape.

The air quality in sealed buildings can rapidly fall to an unacceptable level, leading to health hazards due to contaminants in the air. MVHR systems provide warmer, drier, safer and more comfortable buildings.

MVHR units solve these problems in three ways:

Firstly, the extraction of pollutants and simultaneous intake of fresh air balances the air movement.
Secondly, up to 90% of the heat energy in the extracted air that otherwise could be wasted is transferred to the incoming air thereby warming the room.
Thirdly, heat recovery ventilation will dry the excessive airborne moisture, greatly reducing the humidity of moist rooms like bathrooms or laundries.

There are many advantages to MVHR units, including:

Warmer, drier, safer more comfortable buildings with uncontrolled condensation eliminated.
MVHR can reduce relative humidity to below 70% which inhibits the ideal living and breeding conditions of the house dust mite and benefiting sufferers of asthma, rhinitis, bronchial and other allergic problems.
Reduce your energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Controlled heat recovery meets the demands of today’s life style, and sets the trend for the future of ventilation.

Roofing & Water

Green Roofs

Green/Living roofs have the capability of introducing a whole range of plant species from mosses, ferns, orchids, tropical plant species, sedums, herbs and edible plants grown organically. They provide:

Reduction of Heat Urban Island – Research suggests we need a 10% increase in green space in our cities to help combat climate change. Green roofs are recognized to have a positive effect on this.
Biodiversity – Green roofs can provide important refuges for wildlife in urban areas.
Water – Green roofs can significantly reduce the surface run-off volumes and rates of rainfall leaving roofs. Green roofs can help reduce flash floods as a consequence of intense rainfall events and improves the quality of water which can be harvested.
Thermal Performance – Green roofs have been shown to significantly reduce the need for air conditioning in summer and can provide a degree of insulation in winter.
Sound Insulation – The combination of soil, plants and trapped layers of air within green roof systems can act as a sound insulation barrier. Sound waves are absorbed, reflected or deflected.
Protection of Waterproofing – Green roofs can double if not triple the life of waterproofing membranes beneath the green roof.
Air Quality – airborne particles and pollutants are filtered from the atmosphere by the substrates and vegetation on a green roof.

Water Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting can cut the amount of water that a home uses from their water supplier by up to 50%. They can be below ground or above ground and can be used for a variety of purposes.

Some of the reasons for rainwater harvesting are:

Rainwater harvesting displaces a large proportion of the water that would otherwise be provided by the mains supply.
A rainwater harvesting system can provide off-mains supply for remote areas.
Rainwater harvesting systems enhance a property and can completely satisfy the water requirements of the various levels of the code for sustainable homes.
A rainwater harvesting system can reduce the risk of flooding by reducing storm-water runoff and controlling the flow-rate off site.

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