Types of Loft Conversion
This type of conversion is generally very cost effective and does not normally need planning permission.
A typical rooflight conversion involves installing windows in the roof or your loft which sit flush with the existing line of the roof. This method of loft conversion is generally the most subtle as it leaves the roofs structure untouched.
Planning permission is not normally required for this type of conversion although, you should still check with your local planning department before proceeding with any works.
Rooflight conversions work well where there is a good amount of existing headroom in your loft already. If you lack headroom in your loft then a Dormer Loft Conversion or Mansard Loft Conversion may be a better option for you to consider.
Because Rooflights are installed at the same angle as the existing roof unlike traditional windows they can let in a surprising amount of light. Light is great in the day but at night it can be unwanted, one thing to consider if installing rooflights is some well fitted blinds. These can not only used to keep out unwanted lights but some blind manufacturers also sell blinds with a thermal silver backing for retaining heat in the winter and keeping it out in the summer.
A Dormer conversion is a way of freeing up additional floor space and also headroom. You can get dormers in many different styles, but generally speaking, a Dormer is usually used at the rear of the property and projects out from the slope of the roof.
Internally, a dormer will have a horizontal ceiling and vertical walls compared to the normal diagonal sides of a conversion. In lofts that have limited space or headroom a dormer will provide additional space that can make a conversion feasible.
There are different types of dormer:
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Gable fronted dormer - these are sometimes called a dog house dormer
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Hipped roof dormer - a dormer with a hipped roof
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Flat roof dormer - you guessed it - it has a flat roof!
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Shed dormer - a single planed roof that is pitched at a shallower angle to the main roof
Mansards are commonly built by raising the party/gable walls either side of your house to make the profile for the mansard and then creating the timber frame. Although common on older properties, especially in cities like London, Mansards are not often seen in the suburbs.
A hip to gable conversion involves making fairly major changes to the roof. The gable wall is built up to the ridge line and a new section of roof is built to fill in the gap. As a general rule, houses with hip roofs tend to not have enough internal volume for a conversion to be practical so a hip to gable conversion is the best solution.
A new gable wall will be built either in masonary or studwork. There are several options for the finishing of the masonary gable wall, which include brickwork, blockwork with render or tiled. If the gable wall is built from studwork they are normally finished in render or tiled. For most people the preference of for the new gable wall to match the exisiting walls as much as possible. Once the roof has been extended the conversion is normally completed with either rooflights or a dormer.