Look to your roof for some extra living space!
The Coronavirus Lockdown hasn’t been easy for any of us. Suddenly we have all had to adjust to a completely different way of life, where we are forced to stay at home whether we want to or not. You may love your family dearly, but all of you together, 24/7, in your home, getting under each other’s feet, is no joke.
It’s at times like this that you start to crave more space. Wouldn’t it be great to have a little bolt hole, where you could escape from the madding crowd and just get your breath back? Perhaps you crave an extra outside area and are eyeing up that wasted flat roof or need a little studio space where you could lose yourself in your art or your other creative talents? Or perhaps somewhere where you could stick the drum set so that you didn’t have to cover your ears when your son or daughter attacked it with ferocity.
It’s nice to dream, isn’t it? But - wait - it doesn’t need to be a dream. It could become a reality, without building an extension (after all, your garden space is equally important for your sanity) or without turning your home inside out. How? By changing how you use your roof space - inside or out.
Look beyond the cobwebs
Pull down the roof ladder and pop your head up into the roof. Now take a good look at what’s up there. Ignore the Christmas decorations and the boxes of kids toys, and even the cobwebs and the other creepy crawlies. Instead, just look at the space right above your head. Yes, ok, right now, it’s dark and dank and dusty, lit only by its meagre swinging bulb, bare and uninviting, but close your eyes and imagine for a moment….
Your roof space re-imagined
With some imagination, some structural work and a couple of roofing experts, this sad and forgotten about area could be transformed into your penthouse. Perhaps you need a playroom where you can install the games console, the TV that constantly plays CBBC, as well as the numerous lego sets that you are constantly standing on. Your living room could become your own little oasis again, where cushions are not constantly being piled into makeshift tents and the news is allowed to air.
Or maybe it’s big enough to convert into a new master bedroom with en-suite so that the children no longer have to share a bedroom and you can be spared the arguments and having to act as an intermediary. Imagine escaping to your own hideaway, where the morning sun seeps through the roof lights, happy in the knowledge that your brood all have their own special places too.
Venture high outside
If you are lucky enough to have a flat roof, think of that beautiful outdoor space you could have. Somewhere you can enjoy fresh air and views, and a little bit of peace and quiet from all those around you. Flat roofs can easily be converted into a safe and strong area by a roofing specialist, allowing you to add your bistro set up above the world. Create a special place where you can enjoy that chilled drink and watch the sun dip below the horizon, without worrying about the realities of life.
Extra greenery
If the children have monopolised your garden, perhaps your flat roof area could accommodate some raised herb beds or some potted strawberry plants, or a row of runner beans. Again, speak to the roofing experts who can advise what you can do to adapt your flat roof, but the possibilities fare endless.
Turn dreams into reality
Of course, with any building work, there are many factors to be taken into consideration. One of the advantages of a roof conversion is that you might not need planning unless you are changing the external appearance dramatically. The first thing to do is to check with your local planning office.
The next step is to call in the experts. Define what you want, what your budget is and get the specialist advice you need.
If that all goes to plan, as soon as you give the go-ahead you can start the process of creating that much-needed space. Its unlikely life is going to go back fully to how it was before the pandemic, so it’s not too late to get the room you crave.
The next time you want to yell because you’ve stood on yet another toy car, take a deep breath and think of the haven in your roof. It’s closer than you think.
If you need some advice, or to arrange a free, no obligation site visit please get in touch with our expert team today.