Stairs for attic conversion only - cost?

Scienceless

Looking for a ballpark figure for the cost of having a stairs fitted to allow access to an attic.
It’s a 3 bed semi that had a 2 storey extension added, which doubled the size of the house (corner site).
The ‘new’ attic was left as a room effectively, but is currently accessed by a stira type folding ladder.
It is already wired, floored, well insulated underfloor and between rafters, and has a large velux window.

But, this attic is between the old, original gable wall and the new gable wall of the extension, so when extending the stairs up to give access to this attic, cutting the old gable wall will be required to create the doorway.

The old attic has the water tanks etc and no work is required re plumbing, in old or new attics.

Just looking to get the stairs and doorway in place. No actual work needed in the attic itself.

Hope this makes sense, would like to get the stairs and doorway completed, all opinions on cost welcome.

TIA.

Calahonda52

It may be all set up but does it meet the fire requirements
http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/category/housing/type/publications?query=loft%20conversion

Gumbo

Scienceless wrote: »

Looking for a ballpark figure for the cost of having a stairs fitted to allow access to an attic.
It’s a 3 bed semi that had a 2 storey extension added, which doubled the size of the house (corner site).
The ‘new’ attic was left as a room effectively, but is currently accessed by a stira type folding ladder.
It is already wired, floored, well insulated underfloor and between rafters, and has a large velux window.

But, this attic is between the old, original gable wall and the new gable wall of the extension, so when extending the stairs up to give access to this attic, cutting the old gable wall will be required to create the doorway.

The old attic has the water tanks etc and no work is required re plumbing, in old or new attics.

Just looking to get the stairs and doorway in place. No actual work needed in the attic itself.

Hope this makes sense, would like to get the stairs and doorway completed, all opinions on cost welcome.

TIA.

Is the floor structurally capable of taking traffic on it.

Scienceless

kceire wrote: »

Is the floor structurally capable of taking traffic on it.

It’s in regular use as is, been using it as a work space for some things I do in my own time, never had any reason to think the floor couldn’t take traffic. At times there would be three people there.
It was constructed with this in mind anyway.

Scienceless

Calahonda52 wrote: »

It may be all set up but does it meet the fire requirements
http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/category/housing/type/publications?query=loft%20conversion

I can’t answer that. What type of person would I need to assess it first?
Thanks for the link, raised some big questions especially re fire resistant floor materials.

Rows Grower

kceire wrote: »

Is the floor structurally capable of taking traffic on it.

Why would you even think it is not?

Gumbo

Rows Grower wrote: »

Why would you even think it is not?

Why would you even think it is?

Rows Grower

kceire wrote: »

Why would you even think it is?

Because it has been floored and there is a large velux window installed.

Gumbo

Rows Grower wrote: »

Because it has been floored and there is a large velux window installed.

Perfect, in your case then plough ahead.
Ive seen hundreds of attics floored over the existing 100mm joists. None of them are capable of taking traffic and loading for everyday use, especially with cutting a large ope out for a new fixed staircase.

In the OP's case, get an Engineer or somebody with experience to take a look. There's ope's to be cut in the gable wall, ope's to be cut in the floor to allow the staircase entry. Fire doors, alarm and a modified 30 minute fire resistant floor to be installed.

Also, the OP said the new floor is in the new extension between the new gable and the old gable, which means there may be significant works to both sides of the gable. Is the old attic floor structurally ok for the traffic or is it still the original joists?

Better to ask loads of questions rather then jump straight in and say, yeah its fine which is the point of your nit picking post.

Rows Grower

kceire wrote: »

Perfect, in your case then plough ahead.
Ive seen hundreds of attics floored over the existing 100mm joists. None of them are capable of taking traffic and loading for everyday use, especially with cutting a large ope out for a new fixed staircase.

In the OP's case, get an Engineer or somebody with experience to take a look. There's ope's to be cut in the gable wall, ope's to be cut in the floor to allow the staircase entry. Fire doors, alarm and a modified 30 minute fire resistant floor to be installed.

Also, the OP said the new floor is in the new extension between the new gable and the old gable, which means there may be significant works to both sides of the gable. Is the old attic floor structurally ok for the traffic or is it still the original joists?

Better to ask loads of questions rather then jump straight in and say, yeah its fine which is the point of your nit picking post.

Really?

Did many of them have a large velux window fitted?

What are you on about with "nit picking"?

I asked you a simple question.

Gumbo

Rows Grower wrote: »

Really?

Did many of them have a large velux window fitted?

What are you on about with "nit picking"?

I asked you a simple question.

Yes many of them had Velux roof lights fitted, including my own 1995 built house with truss roof. 100mm members.

Not picking by posting “why would you even think it’s not” as a response to my simple question about the floor being capable of supporting the loads for everyday use. It was a simple question and the thread could have progressed from there depending on the answer.

Further reinforcement for my question was the fact that the stairs opening will be in the old ceiling joists so most likely the original joists from the main house. You then have to enter the new attic space through a new opening in the original gable wall.

BryanF

Rows Grower wrote: »

Really?

Did many of them have a large velux window fitted?

What are you on about with "nit picking"?

I asked you a simple question.

Are you a structural engineer? If you’d like to share your PI insurance details by PM thanks ?

Scienceless

Thanks for the advice here and the heads up re fire regulations etc. Lots to think about...

Am I still bound by fire regulations if I go ahead and have the stairs and entrance door installed, but only to use the attic room as storage / work space and not as a bedroom?

Gumbo

Scienceless wrote: »

Thanks for the advice here and the heads up re fire regulations etc. Lots to think about...

Am I still bound by fire regulations if I go ahead and have the stairs and entrance door installed, but only to use the attic room as storage / work space and not as a bedroom?

Yes, in my opinion.
It’s the creation of the additional accessible storey that brings in the fire regs.