Yoop Architects

Working with people you trust to do a great job, who respect your budget means you can enjoy seeing your project come to life. A home is a feeling. From extensions, loft conversions, renovations and eco-refits, be inspired to create a home you can fall in love with.

Design your home such be a joyful and rewarding experience. Here at Yoop Architects we can guide you every step of the way. We have put some resources together to inspire you to think about the design and build process of your new home improvement.

A basement or garage conversion/remodel can be a great way to add extra living space to your home if your options for a rear/side/loft extension are limited or if you don't want to drastically change the exterior appearance of your home. Do I need planning permission for a basement/garage conversion? Converting an existing basement/garage into a usable living space does not require planning permission. This will be covered by permitted development (unless your home is in a conservation area or is a listed building).

You can achieve almost full width and depth, but no higher than the existing roof. The best roof type for the loft extension is a gabled roof (2 sides slope) rather than a hipped roof (all 4 sides slope). Always remember, you may lose a bit of space on the floor below when installing the staircase. Loft conversions are great for creating an extra bedroom, maybe with an ensuite. If the head height is not enough, altering the roof can be achieved via planning permission but can be difficult. The planners may suggest it will be incongruous to the original house as it may look different to the adjacent housing.

4. Do some background research - If the builder claims to be a member of a trade association, contact the trade association and check that this is true. Is the builder insured? They should have cover to protect themselves against property damage and personal and public liability to protect you and the general public in the event of an accident or injury. For expert advise on this and any other insurance exposures, please contact Gary Philip at GPS Insurance Brokers on 020 8207 7385. After decades in the construction industry, Yoop Architects have worked with some great builders and can help you find someone who you can trust with your home.

Extending a home is a great way to add extra space to your home without having to move but can seem a bit daunting when you first start looking into it! Do you know what type of extension will be the best for what you want to achieve with your home? There are lots of ways to extend a home - rear extension, double rear extension, side extension, double side extension, different types of loft conversions. A good architect will go through what you're looking to achieve in the house and craft the minimum amount of extension required to achieve that goal - you don't want to build just for the sake of building.

Where to find an architect? You can search the Architects Registration Board (ARB) via region/borough to find a local architect and then you can use their contact details/website to find out more information about the type of work they do.