Loft boarding

[Maggie-Mae]

Hello - Im considering boarding out my loft so my teenagers can have a pool table etc up there as we dont have a very big house and no other spare space to use. I dont want to put in a window or anything. Has anyone done anything similar (not a professional loft conversion though) and could offer advice - is this a straight forward job or more complicated than it looks. It would also be nice if they could use it all year round so advice on whether it would be ok to have maybe a free standing electric heater or other ideas. Thanks

[RATTER15]

If you are talking about a real full size pool table, you will almost definitely need to to strengthen the floor joists or the table will come through the floor!!

[Ethel]

And then you might need to look at the foundations to see if they can take the extra weight.

And if your house is terraced or semi-detached you may have to alert your neighbours:

http://www.sprattendicott.co.uk/news/PartyWall Act1996.html

Your council would never agree to this use of the loft - it can be boarded out for storage only.

[buildersmate]

All of the above is true. Except that suitably strengthened to take the weight you can get away with it IF you do not fit a staircase up there but work off a loft ladder. That makes it the space non-habitable and Building Regs do not apply. Others may take the view it is not a good idea because of the small risk in the event of a fire, but technically its allowed.

[Matheous]

If I may ask a further question- assuming you are still using the loft for storage. Is it permitted to add a skylight window or windows ?