If you are planning to undertake some DIY work in your home, you may need to do a bit of research when it comes to building regulations.
Projects such as loft conversions, boiler repairs and installations, fitting your home with a biomass fuelled appliance or installing a ground or water source heat pump may require planning permission or special certification. It is important you are aware of this before you begin – for your own safety and to avoid getting caught by surprise mid-project.
Eco-friendly home improvements are growing in popularity and biomass appliances are one way to make your home greener. Most biomass installations that need a flue outside are not required to be approved, however there may be some circumstances where you need to contact your local planning authority.
Those who live in listed buildings or on a World Heritage Site must abide by special rules – in some cases the flue must not be visible from the highway. If the flue is on the rear or side elevation of the house, it cannot extend more than one metre higher than the roof’s highest point. And if your new biomass appliance needs a separate outbuilding, you’ll need to double check your local authority’s regulations on this type of structure.
If you are considering a loft conversion, there are a number of conditions and limits your project must meet before it can go ahead. As with biomass appliances, special rules apply if you live in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or any other conservation region.
There are different volume allowances for loft conversions in terraced and semi-detached houses – double check these with your local authority and consult with a recommended tradesman before you draw up your plans. You’ll also want to make sure that your improvement uses materials similar to those in your existing property and that your loft is no higher than the tallest point of the existing roof.
Plans involving major structural changes – including extending or altering your roof space by adding a balcony or raised platform – must be approved and you will need to allow several weeks for this to be granted before you begin your DIY project.
In addition to building regulations, you’ll also want to make sure your home improvements are carried out safely – repairs to appliances such as gas boilers must be made by registered engineers.
These individuals should be called in to install, check or service any gas appliance – make sure you ask to see their Gas Safe Register credentials before they get to work on your boiler. This type of appliance requires regular maintenance – make sure you get it checked annually.
Your gas safety certificate – which should be supplied by the engineer – will tell you when your boiler needs to be serviced next. If you are a tenant, it is essential that your landlord provides this certificate. If you’ve recently moved into a home of your own, you should have all your appliances checked as soon as possible.
At the very least, your certificate should contain information including the address of your property, the name of the engineer who carried out the checks, the date the checks were made and descriptions of each appliance that was examined.
For your own safety, you’ll probably want to leave electrical repairs to the pros as well. These individuals can help with re-wiring or any other electrical maintenance work you need.
Rated People can help you find recommended electricians in your local area – you’ll even be able to read reviews from other residents on their past work. It’s wise to get in touch with a few different professionals to get a competitive quote before you confirm the job.
Whether you’re planning a loft conversion, fitting a new boiler or making an eco-friendly repair, you’ll save yourself time and money by doing careful research at the beginning of your project. And once you’ve found a recommended tradesman to help with the job, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that your improvement will meet important building regulations.
