Loft Conversions 20 Great Ideas

Follow our great ideas for converting loft spaces over the coming weeks.

3. Go hip to gable
Where the roof of a property is hipped, e.g sloping on all four sides (three on a semi detached house), there may not be sufficient roof volume with full headroom to make a conversion viable.  However, the roof can be altered from a hip to gable on one or both sides, forming a gable pitched roof with headroom along the full length of the roof.

A hip to gable conversion may not require planning permission providing the design complies with the criteria for Permitted Development (PD).  This allows an increase of 50m to the house (40m on a terraced house), providing no part of the roof is higher than the original.

It is always worth checking with the local authority as to whether or not planning permission is required.  It may be possible to undertake work using PD rights that would not comply with local planning policy were permission required.

Loft Conversions 20 great ideas

2. Add Glazing to Gable Walls - the opportunity to introduce windows in gable walls is often overlooked when designing a loft conversion, yet it is a great way to introduce light.  As with any window the cill must be 800mm above floor level. 

A Gable window can be expanded so that the whole triangular gable wall is glazed, with a structural frame of timber and steel reinforcement where necessary.  This can really add the wow factor to a loft room.

Glazing a gable wall is unlikely to be an issue oin forward or rear facing gable and may be classed as Permitted Developement.

New windows in a side elevation will always need planning permission unless they are obscure glazed with any opening part at least 1.7m above floor level.

Loft Conversions 20 great ideas

Follow our great ideas for converting loft spaces over the coming weeks.

1. Think ahead
Designing a roof with future conversion in mind will allow for the expansion of living space should demand arise.  Specifying either a cut roof or attic trusses will add £1,500 - £2,000 to the average build cost but hugely simplify the conversion process.  In addition, including a plumbing and heating manifold in the roof space, siting soil vent (SVP) pipes where they might be needed, and allowing space on the consumer unit for power, lighting and other circuits, will bring down the cost of a conversion.  Finally, opt for a 'warm roof' design and consider the addition of a full staircase.

Look at our previous work

Take a look around our web site for all your building and renovation needs. 

Our web site has lots of fantastic pictures of previous works undertaken and will give you a comprehensive idea of the care and attention we pay to the work we undertake.

One of our Current Porjects

One of our current projects is a listed farmhouse in St Albans.

This picture is before the works have been started for our clients. 

Extensive works incorporating new roofs, insulations, windows, floors, rewire and the latest technology in heating etc to bring this building back to it's original period features.