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The previous owners of our house created an upstairs shower/bathroom by stealing the space from a large bedroom it looks like. There's a shower, sink and toilet. I went in the roof void a while ago and noticed there's a huge void behind this wall:
We're planning on knocking down that lath and plaster wall and moving it about 3' into the void.
It means we'll have a slight pitched roof in the extension part but are happy with that and plan to put a velux in as there's no natual light in this room currently.
Given this is a small extension to an existing room, I assume I need to meet build reg's for insulating the pitch roof ceiling and new stud walls?
Also, does anyone know if there's any rules on whether you can fit a Velux underneath a chimney? The brick wall on the left extends above the pitch roof and has a chimeny a top it.
Another problem is the two valves to the brick wall feed an en-suite on the other side. I'd be looking at taking a new hot and cold feed from the floor rather than maintain from the roof (long old run from other side of house that isn't optimal now we've changed boiler). I guess I'd need to build some sort of access hatch into the new stud wall.
And lastly, what's this white insulation they've thrown in there? Doesn't really seem like insulation to me?
looks like recycled plastic insulation, its like non-itchy fibreglass.
What will you do with the extra space? Looks like you could do a lot of work and not get much back in return. Natural light could be done with a sun tunnel?
We’ve got some of that insulation in our loft. Made from recycled plastic bottles. Not sure how it sits with fire regs but I guess it must be ok or they wouldn’t produce it. Can’t help with the other questions.
Don't know much (anything, in fact) about the bldg regs question, but it would surely be sensible to get some light in there with a Velux. And more importantly, some air and ventilation, I hate having a shower room walls running with condensation when I'm finished. It cant possibly be good for the place.
The extra space would be used to move the toilet from it's current position and give more room for the sink and shower. Everything drains through a macerator currently and so we'd hide this in the void to reduce the noise (access is still easy enough).
Yes, extra light and extra ventilation would definitely be a bonus. Currently just has a small extractor but we don't shower in there as we have an en-suite and the main bathroom (with bath) is downstairs. This is more for guests staying and I guess the kids will use it when they're older and take more showers than baths.
As you can see from the first picture, it all needs re-doing, so the cost of a stud wall, a bit of insulation and a velux seems worth while. Family home, so likely here for 20yrs unless circumstances take a dramatic turn.
If you can DIY it it would be worth doing. You do seem to have some floor hangers in there tho - the straps from roof timbers to floor timbers. You need to be careful with them and are the joists under the big yo want to extend into big enough to support the weight?
I have done this in several places in my attic flat to create more space
Its a filth messy business to do.
Yeah, I'm confident with the plumbing, stud wall building, insulating etc. Will need someone to do the Velux & skim the plasterboards.
Yeah, need to check where the roof hangers fall in relation to how far in we want to go. I assumed I could just move these further down the rafter if required but need to do my research in this area.