Loft Conversion

Brown Construction have recently seen a huge increase in loft conversions throughout the whole of Greater London, Hertfordshire & Essex, along with the whole of the M25. We think part of the reason for this increase in loft conversions is that house prices are so unpredictable at present people are opting to remain in a home that they have paid for and want to utilise space that they already own.

A loft conversion means that you can create space in your home without purchasing extra land or increasing the footprint of your property. Loft conversions are regularly used to add office space, a playroom, an additional living room and sometimes a luxury en-suite bedroom in the unused space that exists at the top of your house.

What are the types of loft conversion?

There are four main types of loft conversion – Velux, Dormer, Mansard and Hip to Gable conversions. Velux is the simplest which can be carried out without changing the shape of your roof, a Hip to Gable is used where you need greater height in the conversion and a dormer conversion consists of building out from the roof to give even more space. Our team are highly experienced in all areas and will be able to offer advice as to which is best for your property and requirements.

At Brown Construction we have more than 25 years’ experience in the building trades and have built an enviable reputation throughout the southeast for the high standard of our work and level of service we provide.

Velux loft conversion

Velux Loft Conversions are also known as rooflight loft conversions. Velux is the leading manufacturer of roof windows so hence the name.

With this type of project, the roofline is unaltered, as the velux windows are installed fitting flush to the roofline, leaving the original roof structure untouched. Therefore, planning permission is not generally required, making it an attractive option for many. Also, due to the fact that no large alterations need to be made to the roof, the cost of the conversion generally remains lower.

Dormer loft conversion

A dormer loft conversion is an extension to the existing roof that projects vertically from a sloping roof, creating additional floor space and headroom within the property. Internally, a dormer has vertical walls and a horizontal ceiling. It is the most common type of loft conversion, as the flat roof dormers often add the maximum amount of additional space. In addition, it is possible to create a gable front and a hipped roof dormer to make it look more attractive, however these types of dormers do not offer as much internal space. Additionally, due to the added complexity, a gable front and hipped roof dormer will cost more to build. The l-shaped dormer loft conversion is also very popular and is often considered the best way to extend a mid-terrace period property to maximize space as it can give around 40m3 of space or slightly more under planning.

Advantage: Normally a dormer loft conversion can be constructed without gaining planning permission, although planning permission may be required depending on the specifications.

Mansard loft conversion

A mansard loft conversion, named after the 17th-century French Architect Francois Mansard, is situated to the rear of the property. This type of conversion has a flat roof, with the back wall sloping inwards at an angle of 72 degrees. Windows are usually housed within small dormers.

Mansard loft conversions normally require planning permissions, due to the large changes to the roof shape and structure.

In addition, we specialise in l-shaped mansard loft conversions, which can really open up the space and add even more value to your property. The l-shaped mansard loft conversion works particularly well if you are converting the loft into an open-plan bedroom with en-suite.

Hip to gable loft conversion

The majority of houses that are hip roofed in style tend to have a reasonably small internal volume, so for a conversion to be practical, a hip-to-gable conversion is a smart solution. This type of conversion involves changing the sloping side of the property to a flat gable end. This increases the size of the loft space, often creating extra space for the staircase.

As this type of loft conversion changes the outline of the roof, planning permissions may well be required. We also specialize in l-shaped hip-to-gable loft conversions.

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