12 Ideas for Loft Conversions to Suit Your Budget
Check out these ideas for converting your loft in (roughly) ascending price order
Michael Schienke
18 October 2016
RIBA Architect of the Month, February 2022. Houzz UK Contributor. Chartered Architect, director and founder at Vorbild Architecture Limited. The company was established in 2010 and specialises in a "one-stop-shop" services including land search, budget advice, planning application in the UK and France / Monaco, interior design, tender package, site supervision, contract management and full architectural and interior design services, as well as specialist services like : site and property search, feng shui consultation, presenting our projects with 3D and VR designs - inside and outside, client supply sourcing, furniture design and sourcing and landscape design.
RIBA Architect of the Month, February 2022. Houzz UK Contributor. Chartered Architect,... More
Apart from extensions, loft conversions are the best way to gain another bedroom, or bedroom and en suite, or even two bedrooms in your property. But which is the right type of conversion for you – and your budget? Arranged loosely in cost order, from cheapest to most expensive, here are some of the things you might be able to do with your roof space.
Be aware that if your loft is currently not used as habitable space, you will need to increase the floor thickness and also the depth of rafters to comply with Building Regulations.
Be aware that if your loft is currently not used as habitable space, you will need to increase the floor thickness and also the depth of rafters to comply with Building Regulations.
Simple loft conversion with roof lights
If, due to Planning Permission or financial constraints, it’s not possible to create dormers in a tall, narrow loft like this, consider leaving the available roof space as one, open-plan room, rather than dividing it with walls, which could make for a cramped feeling.
All you need here (after installing the stairs) is to insulate, refurbish and purchase your roof lights to give yourself a very pleasing room.
Where headroom is concerned, every loft will be different, but you’ll probably have good head height in the area along the ridge line in which to walk, and the rest of the space can be used for storage.
The costs here are relatively small, as there are no external works required – unless you have to fix a leaking roof, too.
10 key things you might not know about Planning Permission
If, due to Planning Permission or financial constraints, it’s not possible to create dormers in a tall, narrow loft like this, consider leaving the available roof space as one, open-plan room, rather than dividing it with walls, which could make for a cramped feeling.
All you need here (after installing the stairs) is to insulate, refurbish and purchase your roof lights to give yourself a very pleasing room.
Where headroom is concerned, every loft will be different, but you’ll probably have good head height in the area along the ridge line in which to walk, and the rest of the space can be used for storage.
The costs here are relatively small, as there are no external works required – unless you have to fix a leaking roof, too.
10 key things you might not know about Planning Permission
Roof light conversion with bathroom
If your roof space is large enough, you might consider adding a bathroom to your simple loft conversion. Imagine having a very private, roomy and light-filled bathing space with a freestanding tub, as in this gorgeous example.
Another trick here is to have low-level storage in the eaves wherever possible.
Discover how the right stairs could be key to your loft conversion
If your roof space is large enough, you might consider adding a bathroom to your simple loft conversion. Imagine having a very private, roomy and light-filled bathing space with a freestanding tub, as in this gorgeous example.
Another trick here is to have low-level storage in the eaves wherever possible.
Discover how the right stairs could be key to your loft conversion
Part-width dormer conversion
Sometimes, full-width dormers are not practical or desired. It could be that the appropriate Planning Permission may not be achievable, or simply that the homeowner doesn’t like larger dormers and prefers them smaller, the width of a window or perhaps French windows.
So if a full-width dormer is not possible, but more headroom is needed, why not create a dormer around a window? As you can see here, you’ll gain a full-height space across the width of the window.
This style will retain most of the roof’s original shape, inside and out. However, this kind of dormer will add the least amount of additional full-height floor space.
See 10 ways to make the most of those tricky spaces in your loft
Sometimes, full-width dormers are not practical or desired. It could be that the appropriate Planning Permission may not be achievable, or simply that the homeowner doesn’t like larger dormers and prefers them smaller, the width of a window or perhaps French windows.
So if a full-width dormer is not possible, but more headroom is needed, why not create a dormer around a window? As you can see here, you’ll gain a full-height space across the width of the window.
This style will retain most of the roof’s original shape, inside and out. However, this kind of dormer will add the least amount of additional full-height floor space.
See 10 ways to make the most of those tricky spaces in your loft
Double-sided part-width dormers
If there’s space on the other side of the roof, you could create a pleasingly symmetrical double dormer room.
If there’s space on the other side of the roof, you could create a pleasingly symmetrical double dormer room.
Loft conversion with low-level roof lights
When you look at this picture, it seems crazy that the space below this lovely set of roof lights is often dead space, either entirely unused or, at best, filled with storages for suitcases and bulky household items.
If you can find somewhere else to store your things, it’s surely worth the effort to create an expanse of glass like this one, from where you can enjoy the view and abundant light.
When you look at this picture, it seems crazy that the space below this lovely set of roof lights is often dead space, either entirely unused or, at best, filled with storages for suitcases and bulky household items.
If you can find somewhere else to store your things, it’s surely worth the effort to create an expanse of glass like this one, from where you can enjoy the view and abundant light.
Mezzanine space
Opening up the ceiling to create a double-height space always has a dramatic effect, and brings more light into the new areas. Dormers are also an option here, or simple skylights, as in this example.
The scale of a renovation like this will depend on your original ceiling height. If you have a very tall room and are simply making use of the already-visible eaves, the job will be structurally simpler. If you need to remove the ceiling to expose the roof space, of course this is a bigger – and more expensive – project.
The reasons for creating a mezzanine are twofold: either the floor-to-ceiling height in the roof space is not sufficient to create a loft space – without raising the roof, of course – or the property is an end-of-terrace or semi-detached house with a three-sided sloping roof.
As with any significant renovation, there are Building Regulations with which you’ll need to comply. Consult your local authority well before any work starts.
Opening up the ceiling to create a double-height space always has a dramatic effect, and brings more light into the new areas. Dormers are also an option here, or simple skylights, as in this example.
The scale of a renovation like this will depend on your original ceiling height. If you have a very tall room and are simply making use of the already-visible eaves, the job will be structurally simpler. If you need to remove the ceiling to expose the roof space, of course this is a bigger – and more expensive – project.
The reasons for creating a mezzanine are twofold: either the floor-to-ceiling height in the roof space is not sufficient to create a loft space – without raising the roof, of course – or the property is an end-of-terrace or semi-detached house with a three-sided sloping roof.
As with any significant renovation, there are Building Regulations with which you’ll need to comply. Consult your local authority well before any work starts.
Small en suite with roof light and adjacent bedroom
If there’s not enough space for two bedrooms in your conversion, and part of the footprint is taken up by the necessary stairs to the loft, the remaining area can be used for a little en suite. If space is tight, sliding doors between the bedroom and bathroom can be a good solution.
In terms of costs, be aware that, by adding a bathroom on a higher level, you might need to upgrade your existing boiler, as the water pressure drops when it has to go up to the loft space.
If there’s not enough space for two bedrooms in your conversion, and part of the footprint is taken up by the necessary stairs to the loft, the remaining area can be used for a little en suite. If space is tight, sliding doors between the bedroom and bathroom can be a good solution.
In terms of costs, be aware that, by adding a bathroom on a higher level, you might need to upgrade your existing boiler, as the water pressure drops when it has to go up to the loft space.
Rear dormer conversion
This is probably the most popular way to increase the usability and head height in your loft space. Rear dormers generally fall under Permitted Development and, since the front slope of the roof doesn’t change, your property remains largely unaltered from the street. (There are quite specific exceptions for loft conversions in terms of the Permitted Development parameters. Read more about them on the loft conversion page of the Government’s Planning Portal.)
The standard footprint of a Victorian house gives you enough space – with a rear dormer conversion like this – for a master suite, comprising a bedroom, en suite, plenty of storage, and space for the staircase. Another great option is to have an office rather than a bedroom – or why not have both, as in this scheme?
This is probably the most popular way to increase the usability and head height in your loft space. Rear dormers generally fall under Permitted Development and, since the front slope of the roof doesn’t change, your property remains largely unaltered from the street. (There are quite specific exceptions for loft conversions in terms of the Permitted Development parameters. Read more about them on the loft conversion page of the Government’s Planning Portal.)
The standard footprint of a Victorian house gives you enough space – with a rear dormer conversion like this – for a master suite, comprising a bedroom, en suite, plenty of storage, and space for the staircase. Another great option is to have an office rather than a bedroom – or why not have both, as in this scheme?
Open-plan loft conversion
In this example, the owner of the house was blessed with a very spacious loft and has turned it into an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room.
If you, too, have a large roof space, this could be worth considering if you don’t have an obvious way to create a kitchen/living space on the floor below, which is often the case in top-floor terraced flats. It’ll also give you the luxury of having a huge room.
In this example, the owner of the house was blessed with a very spacious loft and has turned it into an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room.
If you, too, have a large roof space, this could be worth considering if you don’t have an obvious way to create a kitchen/living space on the floor below, which is often the case in top-floor terraced flats. It’ll also give you the luxury of having a huge room.
Rear dormer with full-height glazing
This house demonstrates both a rear extension to the ground floor and one to the rear of the main roof. Both have full-height glazing, allowing maximum light and views for the owners.
Note how the rear dormer is slightly set away from the edge of the roof: this is a planning requirement, at least for most London councils, as it helps to distinguish the extension from the main building.
This house demonstrates both a rear extension to the ground floor and one to the rear of the main roof. Both have full-height glazing, allowing maximum light and views for the owners.
Note how the rear dormer is slightly set away from the edge of the roof: this is a planning requirement, at least for most London councils, as it helps to distinguish the extension from the main building.
Rear full-width dormer with folding doors and Juliet balcony
Bifold doors like these were once only used on the ground floor, where they would connect the inside of the new rear extension with the garden. However, there’s no reason why you should only have a window facing your garden in your new rear dormer, when you could have a full-width opening.
When you install bifold doors, remember to add the cost of a balustrade to your budget – preferably a frameless glass one, like this practically invisible example, for uninterrupted views like these.
Bifold doors like these were once only used on the ground floor, where they would connect the inside of the new rear extension with the garden. However, there’s no reason why you should only have a window facing your garden in your new rear dormer, when you could have a full-width opening.
When you install bifold doors, remember to add the cost of a balustrade to your budget – preferably a frameless glass one, like this practically invisible example, for uninterrupted views like these.
Double-sided dormer conversion
If you can get permission for a full-width front and rear dormer, as seen here, you’ve hit the jackpot! This will give you double the full-height area a conventional, rear-facing dormer would.
The final result of this will look as if you’ve extended a full storey, so it might not work for all residential areas in terms of Planning Permission.
Although many of the examples here may require a structural engineer’s fees to be factored into the cost (bar those without dormers), a structure as complex as this will most certainly require this expertise, so definitely add this into your budget.
Looking for a structural engineer? Let us help match you with the right professional.
Are you thinking of extending into your loft? Or have you already done so? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments below.
If you can get permission for a full-width front and rear dormer, as seen here, you’ve hit the jackpot! This will give you double the full-height area a conventional, rear-facing dormer would.
The final result of this will look as if you’ve extended a full storey, so it might not work for all residential areas in terms of Planning Permission.
Although many of the examples here may require a structural engineer’s fees to be factored into the cost (bar those without dormers), a structure as complex as this will most certainly require this expertise, so definitely add this into your budget.
Looking for a structural engineer? Let us help match you with the right professional.
Are you thinking of extending into your loft? Or have you already done so? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments below.
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I still might of thought you would include the costs for what was shown to give some idea. I understand it could depend on different things but there was a cost for doing what was shown which would still have been useful.
I agree with most if the comments.The cost of a project..a ball park figure..would be really helpful,also I love how the the rooms look afterward,there are some very talented people out there who know how to dress a room,I am not one of them!!! Would love to know where items are purchased i.e lamps,cushions bedspreads etc and their cost.
Sufficient thought will need to be given to ACCESS to any new loft room(s) that is/are to be created when previously there was just a loft (insulated or otherwise), e.g. :