In the UK we are all eager to have more space in our homes. Without undertaking the stress and cost of moving, the options for expanding your home fall into two categories – loft conversions and outward house extensions.
Generally, loft conversions are falling into favor more than outward extensions because they provide a range of benefits, including:
- No need to take away precious garden space which 1 in 8 British gardens don’t have, and if they do, can be worth around 5% of the property or more
- A range of different options to suit different budgets and needs (see below)
- Sometimes no need to get Planning Permission depending on the style
- Often much quicker than an outward extension because there is no need for foundations to be laid etc
- Sometimes opens up previously inaccessible views around your home
- Generally very energy efficient because of the latest construction standards and the position at the top of the home where heat rises to
- Could increase the value of the home by up to 20% which has the potential to cover the cost of the extension (depending on your house value, market conditions, and the cost of your extension)
- Avoid the cost of a house move which is around £10,000 in the UK on average, and closer to £25,000 if you are moving to London
Of course, many conversions offer individual benefits to different families, such as families who are growing and need extra bedroom space, and people who work from home who are able to create a stunning loft office from their extension.
Transform Your Home With The Right Loft Extension Style For Your Needs
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When you are considering a loft extension, there are multiple options to consider to ensure you get the perfect renovation to suit your individual needs. It’s important to consider each option and talk them through with your chosen professional loft construction company. They will be able to shed light on any restrictions your home and personal situation may place on the choice of lofts available to you.
First, though, it’s a great idea to get an idea of what is available in general, when it comes to loft conversions. To help you, here’s a guide to different types of loft conversions:
1. Hip to Gable
A Hip To Gable loft extension is suitable for semi-detached, detached, and end of terraced houses that have something called a hipped roof. A hipped roof is where the whole roof slants on all sides and has no vertical ends and the hips, which support the roof, sit at 45 degrees meeting in a ridge in the middle.
This kind of hipped roof is used because it is strong and robust, but it does naturally limit the loft space because it has four sloping sides. To expand that space and make it usable, a hip to gable conversion replaces at least one side of the roof with something called a gable roof. A gable roof slopes in different directions and on only two sides with the other two sides having vertical walls going all the way to the central ridge.
This kind of conversion creates lots of extra floor space and height in a space that is otherwise tricky to utilize because of the hipped roof. You can have a hip to gable and rear dormer (a dormer towards the rear of the property) together which creates an L-shaped loft conversion.
2. Dormer Conversions
Image source: https://mymmanews.com/
Roof Dormers are a popular option for homeowners looking to expand their property with a loft extension. This is because they are often suitable for most types of homes, and they bring a lot of extra light and space into the new extension area.
They work by adding 90-degree vertical walls and windows onto an existing roofline, creating a section of flat roofs. Dormers can also protrude from a property for further added space to utilize.
Dormers come in a range of different sizes and styles, so there’s something to suit most homes. In fact, dormers can have a bit of a reputation for being eyesores if not properly designed or chosen, so it is important to think through the details and see different examples of aesthetics before you make a final decision. A professional and experienced loft construction company will know to explain this to you and they will also have an extensive range of examples in their portfolio for you to take a look at.
3. L – Shaped Dormer
An L-shaped Dormer is the addition of two dormers onto the property. One is on the main house roof and the second would sit on a rear extension of the property, so the two together form an L shape. This kind of dormer is commonly seen on certain property types, namely Victorian terraces.
4. L – Shaped Mansard Dormer
The L-Shaped Mansard Dormer is fitted onto the main roof and rear of the property as per the L-Shaped Dormer we describe above, only the Mansard Conversion aspect of it means that the walls at the side are around 70 degrees and the space added is often considerable.
5. Mansard Conversion
A Mansard loft conversion has a central section of flat roof and sides that are around 70 degrees. They extend the natural headroom and space of the loft hugely, and so, are popular in London, particularly with the addition of Juliette balconies and similarly aesthetically pleasing features.
6. Skylight Conversion
A skylight conversion is also known as a roof light conversion. It is commonly cheaper than other loft conversion types and quicker to install. Skylight conversions are also popular with people who live in a property with restrictions to building renovation because of historical listed status or conservation orders.
To add a skylight conversion the loft space itself would need to already be reinforced, insulated, and safe in order to be considered usable, or those alterations would form part of the conversion. Then, beautiful windows are added to the existing roof on one or more sides, bringing light and better aesthetics to the space overall.
These kinds of conversions can sometimes require Permitted Development only (without Planning Permission as well) if they are placed at the back of the property where they are not visible from the street. However, it depends on the property and its individual restrictions.
The Next Step To A Beautiful Renovation…
If you would love to discuss loft conversion types with experts who can offer exceptional design, planning, and results, speak to a company like Clapham Construction. For such a valuable, transformative home improvement, you owe it to yourself to choose only the best, so you can enjoy phenomenal results without compromise.
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