Loft conversions are an incredible way to extend your home and turn the loft space into the much-desired living space without using any extra space from the garden. Dormer extensions are an affordable way to extend your home’s space with minimal disruption. Do you have some unused attic space and want to turn it into stylish and spacious living areas? Dormer loft conversion is your ultimate pick. Here’s everything you need to know about dormer loft conversion.
What is a Dormer Loft Conversion?
In a dormer loft conversion, a box-shaped structure is added to the pitched roof where the walls make an angle of 90 degrees with the floor. This extended structure, also known as dormer, protrudes from the sloping roof resulting in a larger, airy, and liveable room. The right-angled wall of the dormer turns the roof flat, thereby increasing the headroom and making it look like a classic room. This type of loft conversion is best-suitable for terraced, semi-detached, and detached homes.
Types of dormer loft conversion
Depending on the available space, your requirements and preferred style, dormer loft extensions can be of many types. Have a look:
1. Flat Roof Dormer
This type of dormer sits horizontally and has a flat roof. It is usually built to the rear of the property or home. Dormer lofts expand the width of your home and are indeed a perfect option to extend your space, and head height as well as boost plenty of natural light. This is one of the most popular and cheapest loft conversions to add more space to the home. As a citizen of the UK, this is the most common type of loft conversion that you can witness in your neighbourhood. A flat dormer can offer you maximum space that you can make use of. However, many of you may feel that a flat dormer doesn’t look very attractive from the outside. It’s ultimately your decision if you want to make your property look more appealing or you want to make the most of your attic. The extra internal space that you can uncover surely makes up for the less attractive part. Commonly known as flat roof dormer loft conversion, it not only adds space and appeal to the property but also increases the resale value of the same. It’s a simple box shaped structure having flat roof that can be added either to the rear or front of the property. Indeed, one of the best ways to boost the liveable area, more height and make the most of available space brightly lit by sunshine that is possible by adding dormer windows.
2. Gable Roof Dormer
This dormer loft conversion is inspired by your classic doghouse as the dormer roof has two pitched sides. If you’re planning for conversion of your terrace, gable roof conversion will fit your property the most. It is also known as gable dormer, dog-house dormer or gable frontend dormer loft conversion and consists of a gable wall extension. For constructing a gable roof dormer, the gable wall should be extended in the upward direction to connect the ridgeline of your property. Also, a sloping roof area must be built in the route of the new gable end. The good thing about constructing a gable roof dormer is that one does not need separate planning permission. These triangular shaped dormers have two pitched planes (slopes). This is one of the best gable end extension that add space, shed rainwater easily and eliminate any chances of water leakage. Thereby, making them water resistant. Anybody can work on their gable roof for enhancing space to the property. Also, in gable roof dormer there’re vertical windows and that’s an advantage because you get better sunlight.
3. Hip Roof Dormer / Hipped Roof Dormer
There’s not much difference between a hip roof dormer and a gable roof dormer, except for the fact that roof layouts are different in these two cases. In this type of dormer structure, you can observe three different slopes. Just like the dog-house dormer has two sides, a hipped roof dormer has three sides. People living in homes with a stylish build, often prefer this type of conversion. A hip roof dormer may be tempting from the outside, but the available space is much lesser than flat or gable roof dormer structure. However, some regions of the UK are prone to high winds in all seasons. For people living in such areas, the hip roof dormer is a better option. Though little expensive, opt this for one the best dormer concept UK for a striking and compelling look to the property.
4. Shed Roof Dormer
Shed roof dormer is much similar to flat dormers. Here, the roof of the dormer slops down at a slight angle and consists of a single pane roof. However, a shed roof dormer allows easy draining of rain water or snow. Most of the properties of the UK that were built in the Victorian era follow this structure. Incorporating these shed dormer extension allow easy accommodation of large or small sized windows. This is best suitable for homes having gable roofs.
5. Arched Dormer
Arched roof dormer or Barrel Dormer was also very common in the Victorian era. Here you can observe loft conversion in an arched format. These inspiring dormer roofs designs may not offer much of a space but make the property appear aesthetically more appealing. It may be small in size but offers plenty of sunlight to lit the interiors with its vertical and larger windows.
6. Pedimented Dormer
These dormer roof designs are similar to gable dormers having triangular shape with two slopes. The key difference that separates these loft conversion layouts from gable end extension is that these typically appear in a row and extend outwards from the roof. Pediment dormers drain the rain water and can be used in doorways as well.
7. Eyebrow Dormer
Looking for best dormer loft conversion ideas that not only add to the habitable space but also boost the kerb appeal of the property? Eyebrow dormers are an ideal pick for enhancing the x-factor of the property. Though the space offered is less but they do bring a lot of natural light to the room. These dormer roofs designs are usually custom-made but are worth every penny spent.
8. L-shaped Dormer
These dormer extensions are commonly applicable and feasible to properties from Edwardian and Victorian era. Here two dormers are built and are connected together at a right-angle, thereby forming an L-shape. Both the walls or parts of the dormer form an L-shape and give the appearance of a box. The first dormer is built on the main part and the other one on the rear end of the property. Depending on the building regulations or planning guidelines, the head height can be the same or slightly reduced but it adds an ample amount of living space. To select the best-suited dormer conversion for your property, you must consider the roof type you currently have, the purpose of using the loft, and your budget for the conversion.
Is planning permission required for dormer loft conversion?
The best part regarding dormer loft conversions is that they fall under the category of permitted development rights or PD. These rights permit the homeowners to extend their loft without the need for any permission if strict guidelines related to loft expansion are followed. Most of the dormers are found on the rear or side of the home, leaving the front part intact. But, yes in some cases extending the loft and creating a dormer in the front do require certain permissions such as when the home overlooks the main road.
Let’s look at a few situations that are not covered under permitted developments, and you may need to seek planning permissions:
Does a dormer need building regulations?
Yes, you need to comply with all the building regulations for any type of dormer loft extension. A building control approval is necessary before commencing your construction work. In the case of semi-detached and terraced properties, you may need to get a Party Wall agreement signed if the shared wall requires any structural changes. It’s important to avoid any future disputes. You need to make sure that your drawings cover all the regulations set for headroom, fire safety, staircase design, insulation, electricals and more. It’s always recommended to consult a professional developer or construction expert to gauge the feasibility scenarios and other requirements for your home.
How much does a dormer loft conversion cost?
The cost of Dormer loft conversion in and around the UK depends on a lot of factors such as:
But still, calculating rough estimates, a standard dormer loft conversion starts from £35,000. The cost depends on area to area as well. In London, the dormer loft conversion cost for a 20 sq. m. area with a bathroom and basic finishing will cost around £50,000 to £55,000 including all VAT and other finishing charges. Call a loft extension expert today to get your space analysed and a perfect quote as per your needs and requirements.
How long will it take to complete a dormer loft conversion?
Assuming that everything goes as per the blueprints, layouts, and timelines, you can expect your dormer loft conversion structure to be completed in around 4 – 6 weeks. Followed by a couple of weeks for finishing work, this means that you will be able to start using your dormer in less than 2 months.
What do you require to start a dormer loft conversion
Let’s look at the requirements for a dormer loft extension. Ideally, a home with a pitched roof and a good attic space would be a suitable thing for dormer extension. Anyhow, the main requirements are:
What must be the minimum height for loft conversion with dormer?
Who doesn’t love to have an extra room with an attached bathroom that is too constructed in the existing space? Most of the homes in the UK have a roof height of around 2.2 m to 4 m but for a trussed roof, the height is usually between 2.4m and 2.6 m. Most of the loft conversion experts just hung up the phone if the ceiling height is less than 2m. But many professionals offer wonderful dormer solutions even for heights less than 2 m with complete safety measures intact. This can be by rebuilding the roof or lowering the ceiling of the floor or rooms below the loft to make a good space.
Dormer loft conversion design considerations
Some design considerations that you need to consider before going for loft conversion with a dormer are:
The Pros and Cons of Dormer Loft Conversion
The real estate market is notorious for its uncertainty. Some people don’t want or don’t have the budget to move into a new home due to the increasing space demands of the family. Amongst this getting an extra room by dormer loft conversion would sound like a blessing. Wouldn’t it? Here are the pros of getting a loft conversion with a dormer:
The Cons
Is my home suitable for a dormer loft conversion?
In general, any home having a pitched roof and a good loft space can undergo dormer loft conversion. You can even have a dormer for a flat roof. But that wouldn’t be categorised as a dormer loft conversion. Living in a semi-detached, detached, or terraced home with loft space and pitched roof? You are a perfect candidate for a dormer loft conversion. There are multiple options available that help you create extra living space in your home using loft conversion services.
Connect with home renovation and loft conversion experts near you to find out more. They will give you the right estimates as well as the best loft conversion ideas that are best suitable for your home and enable you to gain maximum from home extension.
What all living spaces can I create with a dormer loft conversion?
On average, you can expect an addition of 40-50 cu. m. of new space with dormer loft conversion. This newly created loft space can be used for various purposes including:
Bottom Line
All set to get an additional space up to 50 cubic meters in your existing home? Gone are the days when ‘moving’ was considered the best option. Things have undergone a drastic shift, now upgrading, and improving are the buzzwords of today! If you are considering having your own loft conversion done, why not do it the professional way! Our expert designers and loft professionals help you get the best out of your home with transparent pricing options and the most innovative concepts ever. Book a free consultation today!
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the size of the home. In general, a dormer loft conversion offers you a space of around 50 cubic meters for semi-detached and detached properties and 40 cu. m. for terraced properties.
The life and durability of a dormer depend on the materials used for covering (roofing) it. Materials such as asphalt shingles can last for 20-30 years while slate shingles offer a life of up to two hundred years to the dormer. The metal roofs add a life of around 50 years. Using thinner metal sheets will also affect the longevity of the dormer. Using EPDM as a roofing material will give a life of over 50 years as it protects it from extreme temperatures.
The average cost of a small dormer loft conversion of size 20 sq. m. will start around £30,000. The cost also depends on various factors such as quality of finish, size of property and complexity of project, ease of access, customizations, location, and type of installation.
Loft conversion is a process where the unused loft or attic space is used to create new liveable space. A dormer is a box-type structure that is added to the pitched roof of the house. This process of adding a dormer to the roof is known as dormer loft conversion.
Traditionally the word “dormer” was used in reference to provide natural light to loft or attic bedrooms through vertical windows that projected from the pitched roof. But gradually this word evolved to new terminology and now extends beyond just bedrooms or sleeping spaces.
No, the dormer cannot have a height higher than the ridge line of the roof. The dormer should appear subservient to the existing roof. Also, dormers should not be excessively bulky. They should be proportionate with respect to the roof.
If your loft conversion comes under the permitted development, it is always recommended to apply for a Lawful Development Certificate. This will ensure that your loft conversion is lawful and does not require planning permission. This will not only save you from any legal disputes/issues in the future but will help to sell your property faster and at the best rates.
You can add skylights or dormer windows to ensure natural light flooding in your dormer space. In case you have side windows that are overlooking your neighbour’s property, then you need to make sure they are made of obscured glass. This will ensure that your loft conversion falls in permitted development. If you don’t want skylights, then Juliet balconies could be applicable in certain cases. Reach out to a loft conversion company near you for more appropriate guidance.
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