Variations of Loft Conversions for Your House

There are lots of articles about the way in which homes are evolving in line with changes in technology.

16:41 17 November 2020

Today though, we are digging deep into a home improvement method tried and tested through time: the loft conversion. Loft conversions might seem like a simple thing to get your head around. Somebody just extends or converts your loft space, right? Well, sort of right – these days, loft conversions come in all shapes and sizes to fit your property and budget. Here are some of the most widely employed loft conversions today:

 

Dormer

 

A Dormer is a box-shaped structure. During a Dormer loft conversion, this box-like construction is transplanted onto your home. It is one of the most popular types of loft conversions for adding space (and value) to small homes. The dormer style loft can be further subdivided into variations. For example, the Mansard Dormer named after the well-known French baroque architect Francois Mansart is a popular option as it can almost create a new floor. As you might expect, this style of loft conversion evokes the famous Parisian skyline.

 

Hip To Gable

 

The ‘hip’ of a house is the slope that angles down from the peak or ‘hip end’ of the roof. By ‘gabling,’ or building into this hip, an architect can enclose a completely new area. This style of loft conversion is useful for situations where you do not want to compromise the original architecture of the house. Hip to Gable conversions are unobtrusive while creating lots of extra room.

 

Roof light or Velux

 

Light can certainly make a room feel bigger. Installing roof lights is the cheapest and least intrusive way to convert your loft into a livable space. While Velux is the most recognized brand, there are several companies that make roof lights. Bespoke roof lights are also an option for those with a larger budget.

 

Trussed Roof

 

One of the more labor-intensive kinds of loft extension, this method involves the removal of the truss structure that holds up your roof, replacing it with a new and more spacious extended section.

 

Low Pitch

 

Many homes can’t be altered too drastically because of structural weaknesses or planning restrictions. Choosing a Low Pitch loft conversion won’t add an extra room to your house, but it will increase the space you have in an existing loft space. Want an extra snug or more storage space? This is the solution for you.

 

What house can make use of loft conversions?

 

With so many different loft conversion options available, which one you choose will depend on which type of house you have. It might surprise you at just how many different styles of houses can make use of loft conversions, though, including:

 

• Semi-Detached or End of Terrace
  
  

There has been increased interest in creating extra space in small city homes during lockdown with families finding themselves succumbing to more than a little cabin fever.

 

• Bungalow
  
  

Bungalows are a blank canvas! Because of the way in which many bungalows are constructed it is possible to build completely new fleers onto the top of single-story homes using loft conversion techniques. Their large roof spaces, alongside the fact that they are often detached, make bungalows perfect for extensive conversion.

 

• Mansion Apartment
  
  

Mansion apartments are often luxurious Georgian affairs, but they tend to be rather small. Thankfully, many buildings of this kind were designed with large (and often unused) loft spaces. There are challenges common to any plan for altering a historic building, but with a considerate and bespoke conversion, great things can be achieved.