The demand for loft conversions is growing across the whole country as people are not moving in the same numbers that they were during the housing boom. A great many general builders are happy to carry out loft conversions as part of their varied work but specialising in loft conversion requires commitment. Gallery Lofts of Cardiff have made a considerable investment in a new showroom close to Cardiff City Centre. They believe that allowing people to see and walk around in the real thing is the best way to sell loft conversions and to that end they have built several loft conversions inside a warehouse. It is an impressive undertaking but MD Mike Reardon has every confidence that it will pay off.

His company has been carrying out loft conversions across South and Central Wales for years and they have recently opened a branch in Reading. Having several teams to keep busy requires good organisational skills and a key component in this is having his own in-house plan drawing service, which allows him to keep tabs on the progress of the building control applications and approvals as well as any planning regs. The company also prides itself on having a very fast turn around and recently completed a loft conversion for DIY SOS in just six days. If you thought that Nick Knowles and his merry band actually carried out the work then we are sorry to disillusion you. It took two teams from Gallery to meet the deadline.

In pursuit of the real story, Professional Builder magazine visited the Gallery teams on various jobs and also checked out the progress on the Cardiff showroom, which will be open by the time we go to press. A key part of the increased speed and efficiency of the job is the introduction of engineered timber joists. Using Finnforest joists allows them to cover greater spans and eliminate many steel joists.


I joists are a lot stronger than natural timber joists and also provide a firmer platform with reduced impact noise transmission. It is not until you walk around on an I joist floor that you fully appreciate just how much better it is. Gone are all the squeaks and bounce usually associated with timber. The increased confidence in the structure is immediate and adds considerable value to the house.

For further information on Gallery Lofts of Cardiff visit:
www.galleryloftconversions.co.uk