Building a loft conversion presents a creative and affordable solution when you need to add an extra bedroom to your London or Hertfordshire home. There are many possibilities when it comes to extending lofts. This guide will show you how to choose the best loft conversions for different types of properties.
Convert your unused attic into a spare bedroom or a playroom for the children.
Create an additional room as well as extra floor space and height.
More extensive than Velux or Dormer, Mansard gives you the most headroom.
Also referred to as a Velux loft conversion since these are the type of windows commonly used in this type of home renovation project, Roof Light design is the simplest type of loft conversion. As a result, it’s also the least expensive. It involves reconstructing the pitched roof and adding a couple of skylight windows. The existing structure and size of the roof itself don’t change.
Good for:
No need to apply for planning permission
Listed properties and homes in conservation areas
Bathrooms with windows above the shower for ventilation
Bad for:
An attic with a low ceiling (you need at least 2m head height)
Design limitation - stairs will have to be in the centre of the loft
Dormer conversions are prevalent amongst home-owners in London as they don't require a great deal of change. They can be added either to the back or the front of the house and involve removing a part of the roof and erecting vertical walls a small distance away from the original roof edge. A flat roof is then constructed, giving the conversion a box-like shape. It is also possible to build an L-shaped dormer on an older Victorian or Edwardian property with a rear extension.
Good for:
All types of properties - terraced, semi-detached and detached
Less expensive than a Mansard loft extension
Possibility of having a Juliet balcony added
Bad for:
Its shape isn’t particularly appealing in an aesthetic sense
A Mansard extension involves removing most of the roof and adding a vertical wall that rises from the original roof edge at around 70 degrees (rather than the 90 degrees typical for a flat dormer conversion). A slightly sloped horizontal wall is then constructed to connect the top of the roof and the vertical wall. The result is a roof design that has three sides instead of two.
Good for:
Being slightly sloped it looks better than a dormer
Providing the most headroom in a conversion
You can add windows on both the vertical and the horizontal part of the roof to bring in more natural light
Bad for:
Being the most expensive type of loft conversion
You will need to get planning permission from the local authority
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