Loft Conversions
North London

A dormer loft conversion is the best option for a London homeowner who wants to create additional space in the house. The dormer loft is built vertically on top of an existing sloping roof and will require planning permission. It will also require relatively simple building works. With vertical walls and a horizontal ceiling, the extension provides extra floor space and headroom, immersed in natural light from the dormer windows.

Mansard loft gets its name from the famous French Architect Francois Mansard. These lofts are usually located on the backside of the home with a flat roof type. They have a steep inward sloping angle of 72 degrees (may be curved) with small dormer windows. Mansards loft conversion became very popular in London due to maximising the attic space and the ability to use all roof space. These types of loft conversion could be the preferred option in sensitive areas where the original framework of the property is available to maintain the property's character. Generally, Mansard owners prefer a flat room Mansard style because it is the most cost-effective. However, most mansard loft conversion in London will require planning permission because it involves structural work, and the roof shape will be reconstructed.

The space inside the loft and resale value of the house can be increased considerably by implementing L shaped mansard. This type of loft conversion is very suitable if you want to convert the attic into an open-plan bedroom with an en suite.

A double mansard loft conversion is quite similar to a standard mansard conversion, except that it also features a mansard to the front side of the house. This loft conversion will significantly increase the space by adding a mansard to both the rear and front sides of the house, and both sides of the roof will be kept open. Since in this conversion, changes will be made to the front design of the roof, too; therefore, it might be challenging to carry out this type of loft conversion in some cases even if you have the planning permission.

For the Hipped roof type, a hip end is a sloping end to a roof, and a gable is the triangular section of wall which stands between two sloping roofs. Keeping this in mind, you could consider various types of hipped roof loft conversion.

Hybrid of a hipped and a gable roof.

This type of hip roof loft conversion option is preferred for houses with a reasonably small internal volume using an intelligent solution to maximise their space. This conversion increases the attic space's size by changing the property's sloping side to a flat gable end and allowing room for the staircase. It extends the roof's ridge line from the existing hips to the furthest vertical wall. Similarly to the double mansard loft conversion types that change the roof’s outline, planning permission could be required.

A hipped roof is sloped in two pairs of directions, contrasting with the one approach for a gable roof type.

This roof is quite similar to a mansard top except that it has a symmetrical two-sided roof with each side containing two slopes and vertical gable ends. Of the two slopes, the upper one has a shallow angle, and the lower one has a steep curve. Gambrel roof provides the advantage of a sloped roof while maximising headroom inside the building’s upper level. In most cases, gambrel loft will require planning permission.

The reverse hybrid of a hipped and a gable roof.

Joining two or more hip roof sections together results in an L or T shape formation or any other number of different and more complex formations. The most common hipped roof type is the hip to gable loft conversion, which gives you a much larger living space in the existing attic area, allows you to gain the best staircase positioning, and could even accommodate a shower room and increase standing space.

As Velux is the leading window brand and manufacturer of the types of windows used in this loft conversion, Velux loft conversions were named after them. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to convert a loft, and it involves creating a roof with sloping window(s) pointing towards the sky, fitting the existing roof line and leaving the original roof structure untouched. Therefore, planning permission is not generally required. In this type of loft conversion, Velux windows are installed to the existing roof line; hence, no extensive alterations need to be made to the roof while lowering the conversion costs.