The different types of loft conversions

Which one is right for you?

Choose the right loft for your home

There are four major types of loft conversions. At Unique Build, we’ve completed all of them many, many times and have plenty of expertise with designing and building each type. When you get in touch with us and book us in for a quote, we’ll run you through the type (or types) of loft conversion that we think are most suitable for you and your home.

There are many different factors that can help you decide which type of loft conversion to go for. Some of these necessitate a specific type loft, whilst others are more dependent on personal circumstances and choice. Before we take a look at the four types of loft conversion here are a few considerations which may guide your choice for which type of loft conversion to get for your home.

What type of loft conversion can I get?

The key issues that will affect which type of loft conversion you proceed to build are…

Price

As a general principle, the more a loft conversion alters the space and layout of the upper areas of your house, the more it’s going to cost. Some types of loft conversion are far less disruptive in this respect, and therefore limit keep costs lower.

Terraced or detached

Depending on whether or home is detached, semi-detached or terraced can dictate the types of loft conversion that you’ll be able to get. We’ll guide through this when we visit.

Age of your house

The foundation and structure of older houses is different from newer ones, which essentially means that certain loft conversions work better with houses of different ages. We’ll be to thoroughly assess the age of your house and design the loft conversion we fit for you accordingly.

Want to know which kind of loft best suits your home?

The easiest way to find out is to book us in for a free consultation. We'll visit your home, advise on the type of build that should be undertaken, and provide you with a quote in just one week so that you know where you stand.

Contact

Types of loft conversion

Here’s a brief bit of info about each different type of loft conversion. You can find more about them on their respective pages.

Rooflight loft conversions

Also commonly known as Velux conversions, these are the least impactful and also cheapest option available. It effectively involves adding windows to the roof itself, adding flooring to your existing loft, and including a staircase. The big caveat is that few people’s lofts are ready as standard, and most lofts need an increase in space before they can be adequately turned into a living area.

Rooflight Loft Conversion

Dormer loft conversions

A dormer loft conversion involves adding a box-like structure to the top of a sloping roof. These boxes themselves can often vary in width and space depending on the size and shape of your roof. They conveniently add plenty of headroom, whilst commonly expanding the amount of floor space available out to the edges of the house. Dormer loft conversions are the most common type of loft conversion to be added to a house, and with good reason: they’re the cheapest aside from roof light conversions, and they’re suitable for nearly all types of houses.

Dormer Loft Conversion

Hip-to-gable loft conversions

On a detached or semi-detached house, a hip-to-gable loft conversion extends the roof by turning the sloping roof into a vertical face. Whilst your loft will still have sloping ceilings, it extends the room inside significantly by effectively eliminating one of the sloping areas. In a fully detached house, this can be done on two sides of the building, providing a vastly increased size of the space within. We’ve already alluded to the main challenge here though – you need to live in a detached or at least semi-detached property to be eligible for a hip-to-gable loft conversion.

Hip-to-Gable Loft Conversion

Mansard loft conversions

Mansard loft conversions are the most effective for increasing space in your house. By turning the slopes of your roof almost vertical, you can effectively add a full floor to your house with no major decrease in space. Mansard loft conversion can only be performed on detached and semi-detached houses, and the main downside is that they are typically the most expensive types of loft conversion to undertake and bring with them the most disruption.

Mansard Loft Conversion

Choosing your loft conversion

At Unique Build, we are here to offer expertise and guidance as well as build an excellent loft. Book us in for a free quote, and during our visit to your home we’ll run through the types of loft conversions that we feel are most suitable for your home and would be the most fitting for your needs. We can provide you with information on how the costs would differ between different types of loft conversion, as well as any important processes (like planning permission) you need to undergo for the specific type of loft conversion you’re looking to have built.