Dormer Loft Conversions London

A loft conversion project continues to be a popular way of maximising space in many homes. The original loft space of a house  – perhaps boarded over for attic storage – typically has the same footprint as the floor beneath. It’s a whole floor waiting to be used and it’s a practical way to ‘find’ an extra room or rooms without the expense of moving house.

The type of loft conversions you choose will be determined in part by the design of the existing house. However, to create the most floor space and standing room, the dormer conversion is often the most effective.

As your loft conversion specialist in London, we’ll look at some key matters, including what is a dormer loft conversion, the cost of a conversion, and whether Planning Permission is required.  

What’s a dormer loft conversion?

Much more than a skylight

A dormer window is one that projects out of an existing pitched roof. It has its own walls (sitting at 900 to the floor) and its own roof too, of course. Dormer windows can be of varying forms, usually depending on what best suits your purposes and the overall shape of the house. 

Dormer loft conversions in London – sometimes called dormer loft extensions – are simply loft conversions that use dormer windows to provide light, rather than using skylight windows, such as Velux or similar.

Are all dormer windows the same?

Like everything else about housing, dormer windows vary. Here are the main types that you will find in and around London: 

• Flat roofed dormer: this is often the most economical design, with a flat roof that is horizontal. Seen from the side, it has a wedge shape.
• Shed dormer: similar to the flat roofed dormer, but this has a sloping roof. This design is often seen on steeper pitched or mansard roofs. It can be aesthetically more pleasing that the flat roof and also provides more headroom inside – or enables a smaller window if that’s a design requirement.
• Gable end or Dog-house dormer: this has a gable and two pitched sides, like a conventional dog house.
• Hipped roof dormer: here the roof on the dormer has three sides instead of two, so there is no gable end. The ridge line of the dormer roof is usually horizontal.
• L-shaped dormer: this can adopt any of the designs above, but will be in two sections forming an L-shape.

What are the benefits of dormer loft conversions?

Advantages of loft conversions

A dormer loft conversion in London comes with a winning combination of benefits,  resulting in more light, more headroom and more floor space.

• Dormer windows let in light to the converted loft. With careful thought and design, it is possible to use full size windows; and even if this is not the case, two or more dormer windows will let in plenty of light.
• Although you won’t get permission for a full balcony, a Juliet balcony is quite acceptable. This means you can use French windows for extra light and a real feeling of space.
• By increasing headroom, a loft or attic conversion also increases the amount of useable space.
• If the dormer or dormers run across one roof slope, they create additional internal areas with a flat ceiling. In turn, this makes it easier to position your new staircase as it can enter the new loft area more easily to one side.
• Much of the work for a dormer extension or dormer conversion can be done externally by using scaffolding, reducing disruption during construction.
• A dormer loft conversion gives you extra useable accommodation without having to extend into your garden – an important point if your garden is already relatively small.
• By creating ‘new’ living spaces, a dormer extension will add to the value of your property when you come to sell.

Feasibility

Check the headroom in the existing loft

Some basics can be checked early on. Remember that is unusual to get permission for your loft conversion to go above the height of the existing roof line. This means your current internal loft space must be high enough to be useful and to comply with building regulations. In most cases that means 2.2m for much of the liveable space, although this can be less for a bathroom or kitchen. If you seem not to have enough headroom, don’t give up. There may be ways around this in the construction process.

Similarly, Building Regulations require at least 2 metres’ headroom above the stairs. 1.8 metres will be accepted at the edge of the staircase ( to accommodate a sloping roof) but you do need 2 metres at the centre.

It’s at this stage that you will benefit from professional advice from architectural designers and Planning Specialists . Specialists in this field and with experience of working in and around London will quickly identify overall feasibility and the best options to get the most out of the space available.

Details matter.

In making a Feasibility Study, your professionals will be able to look at the details of what is required, saving you time and money in the process.

In your feasibility study you should expect

• Advice as to the likely extent and nature of structural work required; as well as architectural designers, you may need to engage a structural engineer. For a semi-detached loft conversion or a loft conversion in a terraced house,  you may also need a party wall agreement.
• Recognition that a dormer loft conversion or dormer extension will cost more than a simple skylight loft conversion, and advice as to how to best keep to your budget.
• Plans, drawings and photo-realistic images to show initial design ideas, in line with Building Regulations.
• Whether or not you will need Planning Permission, or if you can claim Permitted Development Rights – and perhaps how to keep your designs within the latter if you wish to avoid seeking Planning Permission.
• An estimate as to costs.

Once you are happy with the main concepts, your architectural designers can get to work on specific planning and preparation. Most practitioners today will use sophisticated Building Information Modelling (BIM) software to combine 3D modelling and imagery with detailed plans and specifications.

Paperwork, Permissions and Building Regulations

If you qualify for Permitted Development Rights, it is always best to get a Lawful Development Certificate from the local Planning Authority. This is evidence that Planning Permission is not required.

If it looks likely that you’ll need Planning Permission, either consider amending your plans so the project falls within Permitted Development rights or make sure you have the services of a Planning Specialist.

Your local authority may also have pre-application advice service (most London boroughs do this ), and there is usually a charge. This doesn’t mean Planning Permission will always be granted, but the combination of your own specialists and this advice usually leads to your desired outcome.

Whichever route you follow, make sure you commission someone who has experience and expertise in the world of Planning regulations as well as architectural design. Throughout the process, they’ll keep careful track of your application and keep you fully informed as to progress. 

Look for a business that can run the whole project – from architectural designs through to the final Building Regulation inspection and handover – so they are used to preparing  and submitting Applications for Planning Permission as appropriate.

From first drawing to the final dormer

At Divi Design, we have wide and detailed experience of dormer extensions and dormer loft conversions throughout London. 

We pride ourselves on inspired design, practical problems solving and comprehensive project management. As a combined practice of Architectural Designers and Planning Specialists we have an excellent track record for successful applications for Planning Permissions and advising on Permitted Development Rights.

Most of all we take great pleasure in helping our clients transform their homes with dormer loft conversions – we are privileged to enable homeowners to improve their houses and avoid the upheaval of moving home.

We do Dormer loft conversion all over London. Areas include (but are not limited to): Barking & Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Enfield, Greenwich, Hammersmith & Fulham, Havering, Romford, Thurrock, Twickenham, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Walthamstow, Richmond, Bromley, High Wycombe, Harrow, and Ealing.