The type of loft conversion you can have depends on the type of property you live in.
Dormer
The dormer is a structure projecting from the roof slope, which lets in additional light and ventilation to the loft conversion. A dormer will also give additional headroom.
Rear Dormer
A rear dormer creates a square end to the back of your house and has a flat roof. This creates a substantial amount of extra floor space and height. It is possible on most terraced and semi detached properties, and allows a greater choice of rooms within the loft space. It is often possible to construct a dormer without gaining planning permission. It will be constructed to the rear of your loft room. The cheeks, together with the front panel around the windows of the dormer will be clad in tile or slate, the choice being dependent on how best to retain the character of your home. The roof, although appearing flat, will slope to the edge of the dormer to allow rainwater to flow away freely.
Front Dormer — Side Dormer
These are smaller dormers constructed to be in-keeping with your property. A side dormer is used to replace a hip to gable construction when planning is required.
Dormer
The dormer is a structure projecting from the roof slope, which lets in additional light and ventilation to the loft conversion. A dormer will also give additional headroom.
Rear Dormer
A rear dormer creates a square end to the back of your house and has a flat roof. This creates a substantial amount of extra floor space and height. It is possible on most terraced and semi detached properties, and allows a greater choice of rooms within the loft space. It is often possible to construct a dormer without gaining planning permission. It will be constructed to the rear of your loft room. The cheeks, together with the front panel around the windows of the dormer will be clad in tile or slate, the choice being dependent on how best to retain the character of your home. The roof, although appearing flat, will slope to the edge of the dormer to allow rainwater to flow away freely.
Front Dormer — Side Dormer
These are smaller dormers constructed to be in-keeping with your property. A side dormer is used to replace a hip to gable construction when planning is required.
Hip to Gable
This involves changing the sloping side of your property, to a flat, gable end, creating a much bigger loft room and often creating space for the staircase.
Mansard
This is another construction to the rear of your property which has a flat roof, however, the back wall slopes inwards at an angle of 72 degrees and windows are housed in small dormers. Normally constructed where planning permission is required or your property falls into a conservation area. On certain types of property, a mansard can give a more pleasing aesthetic to the exterior, integrating the loft conversion into the existing architecture.
Velux
With this type of construction the roof line is unaltered and a room is simply created in your existing loft space. This type of conversion lends itself to Victorian style houses and is often used if Planning Permission is required.
This involves changing the sloping side of your property, to a flat, gable end, creating a much bigger loft room and often creating space for the staircase.
Mansard
This is another construction to the rear of your property which has a flat roof, however, the back wall slopes inwards at an angle of 72 degrees and windows are housed in small dormers. Normally constructed where planning permission is required or your property falls into a conservation area. On certain types of property, a mansard can give a more pleasing aesthetic to the exterior, integrating the loft conversion into the existing architecture.
Velux
With this type of construction the roof line is unaltered and a room is simply created in your existing loft space. This type of conversion lends itself to Victorian style houses and is often used if Planning Permission is required.