Loft Conversions Bournemouth

Loft Conversions Bournemouth

A loft conversion or an attic conversion as it’s sometimes known is a perfect way to add space to your home without increasing the footprint. Maybe you were looking to add an extra bedroom for your growing family or needed to have a home office. Whatever your needs, here at Bournemouth Builders will can manage your exciting new project from start to finish ensuring you achieve the best possible space for your budget.

As a general rule a loft conversion does not require planning permission although there are certain guidelines that will need adhering to, which of course we will talk through with you before any building work has started. Sometimes depending where you live, an extension may not always pass through the planning stage or there is just not enough space to have one which is why a loft conversion can be an ideal solution.

There are four main types of loft conversions and the one that is suitable for your home depends on the type of roof structure you have, your budget, and sometimes whether planning permission is required.

Roof Light Loft Conversion

A roof light loft conversion is an affordable option for homeowners on a smaller budget as it is less disruptive to the roof itself as you will not need to change the shape or the pitch. You will however need to have enough roof space for this and then you would simply add in some roof lights, lay down a suitable floor, and you are good to go.

Mansard Loft Conversion

A mansard loft conversion will change the angle of your roof to almost a vertical and will stretch across the whole length of your roof. By doing this you will create lots of space and is suitable for most types of properties. Due to the amount of work required these types of conversions do tend to be the most expensive but you will gain probably the most usable space.

Dormer Loft Conversion

A dormer loft conversion is a suitable option for most houses with a sloping roof. It is basically an extension that protrudes out from the slope of the roof and is a popular choice for many homeowners. Less expensive than a hip-to-gable or mansard conversion, these will still add a good amount of floor space and headroom to your home.

Hip-To-Gable Loft Conversion

A hip-to-gable loft conversion is where you extend the sloping ‘hip’ roof at the side of the property upwards to create a vertical ‘gable’ wall therefore creating more loft space. This type of conversion is only suitable for semi-detached or detached properties as it would require a free sloping side roof. 

Loft conversions generally do not take as long as extensions to build but the timescales for each type can vary due to the amount of work required. These are just guidelines but you should expect a mansard conversion to take about eight weeks as these require the most amount of work. A hip-to-gable conversion you would be looking at 6-8 weeks while a dormer and roof light conversion you should expect to take 4-5 weeks.

As mentioned previously, loft conversions do not tend to require planning permission as they fall under permitted development. If however your home is in a conservation area or in an area of outstanding natural beauty you will require planning permission.

If you think a loft conversion is just the thing for you or if you would like to discuss your options, please get in contact with us today and we will be more than happy to go through anything with you.