Barn Conversions
A barn conversion can be a fantastic way of having your own home at an affordable price, whether you decide to take the conversion on yourself or to buy one that has already been built. One of the advantages of converting a barn is that in many cases you are not required to have full planning permission, provided that certain conditions are met. They also allow you to have a home that combines authentic rural charm with modern comfort, elegance, and style.
One of the most important things to bear in mind if you would like to carry out a barn conversion is to make sure that the structure is sound. Since these buildings can sometimes be very old, or not have been carefully constructed originally, it is paramount to have an architect or surveyor look over the building thoroughly. This is particularly the case for any external walls, as well as the roof. An architect is also very highly recommended in order to plan out the best way to optimise the interior space; since the building was not originally designed as a dwelling. There are some architects that specialise in this. For example, in some barn conversions, the kitchen and living areas are on the top floor, rather than the bottom, in order to maximise the amount of headroom available.
Barn conversions are usually packed with charming, rustic features such as exposed timbers and traditional stonework. In fact, one of the advantages of a barn conversion is that the inside is something of a blank canvas, ready for you to design as you see fit, or you can ask an architect to help you with this. One of the important considerations is how to increase the amount of natural light entering the property, since barns were not originally designed with luminosity in mind. This can be solved in a number of ways, including having new windows installed. A popular option is to have a skylight installed in the roof, which will allow in plenty of light and can transform the space on its own. Lighting can even be improved by fitting stunning glazed gables, consisting of glass from floor to ceiling.
Another thing to bear in mind is insulation. Again, barns would not originally have been constructed with heat-retention in mind, and therefore will normally require extra insulation. This is normally placed on the inside of the structure, in order to preserve the character of the external walls. You will also need to have the barn conversion connected to the water and electricity supply networks, which varies in cost depending on the location of the project. You may decide that you would like to add another floor to your structure to increase the amount of floor space available. This is often possible, but will normally require extra underpinning to be done to the structure, and may require permission from the local council.
A barn conversion can make a charming, elegant home and can also have excellent resale value, as well as allowing you to create almost any kind of space you can think of. Get in contact today with one of our architects at find-my-architect.com and start bringing your barn conversion idea to life!