Those who are interested in converting a barn have the unrivalled opportunity to construct a one-of-a-kind home that is already brimming with personality and has a generous amount of living space.
Converting a barn into a house is a common project for homeowners looking for something out of the ordinary. The time and money spent on such projects are well worth it in the end, but only if the necessary preparation, research, design, and patience are exercised.
However, where do you even begin? Here, with the expertise of barn conversion contractors, we will walk you through each step of the process.
Where to Start With a Barn Conversion?
1. Find a Barn you Want to Convert
To begin the process of converting a barn, you must first locate a suitable building.
If your interactions with real estate brokers and the local authorities have not yielded any fruitful results, the internet is a fantastic resource for locating possible barn sites.
2. Have a Building Survey Conducted Before Purchasing
Before exchanging contracts on a building, it is crucial to do a survey. Most surveys are conducted by RICS-qualified building surveyors, though architects and structural engineers are also viable options.
Once you’ve done this, you’ll have a better idea of how long the project will take, how much it will cost, and what challenges you could encounter. However, you should keep in mind that you won’t know what you’ll discover until you start working on the conversion.
3. Obtain Planning Approval For Barn Conversions
Have you stumbled upon a promising conversion opportunity? Or maybe you’ve passed by a disused agricultural building that seems to have been abandoned.
The good news is that most barn conversion projects fall under permitted development rights. Therefore, you won’t have to apply for full planning permission.
However, you will still need to submit a Prior Approval application to the council. This will allow your local authority to consider the potential impacts of your planned barn conversion on local transport, noise, contamination, and flood risk.
If you don’t obtain consent from the council for your barn conversion, you may run into trouble if you want to sell your property in the future.
4. Cost Estimation of Barn Renovation
Since no two conversion projects are the same and the state of the building is a major factor in overall costs, accurate cost estimates may be difficult to come by.
Checkatrade estimates that the average cost to convert a barn is roughly £1,700 per square meter, however, this may vary greatly depending on factors such as the area, state of the barn, quality of materials chosen, and the level of DIY effort put into the project.
5. Hire Barn Conversion Contractors
Converting a barn is a process with multiple steps. To complete a barn conversion, it is essential to choose a barn conversion contractor that has extensive expertise with barn conversions and a full understanding of planning requirements and building regulations.
With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry and a constant drive to learn and improve, we are confident that we have the know-how for any barn conversion project.
From the initial design and conversion planning to the final installation of lighting controls and smart home technology, we can help you every step of the way.
The environmental effects of the building are of great concern to us. In our opinion, the greatest barn conversions are also environmentally friendly.
We advocate for recycling or reusing already present components wherever possible. This makes homes built from barns or barn lofts a viable and environmentally conscious alternative for homebuyers.
Conclusion
Here at Astrum Construction, we offer a turnkey service. Instead of liasing between multiple barn conversion contractors, why not just work with one? We can assist you with every step of the process, from concept to completion.
Contact us today to get started on your barn conversion.
Did you find this blog helpful? There’s more where that came from. Check out our ultimate guide to barn conversions.