About our loft conversions
A loft conversion gives you an extra bedroom, office or bathroom without making the house any bigger on the ground.
Most of the work is structural. Existing ceiling joists aren't strong enough to be a floor, and the timbers holding the roof up are usually in the way, so we put in a new floor and steels before building the room itself.
Types of loft conversion
Rooflight conversions keep the roof shape as it is, with rooflights added to the slope. It's the simplest option, but the loft needs good headroom to start with.
Dormer conversions add a box-shaped section, usually on the rear slope, giving full-height space and room for a proper window.
Hip-to-gable conversions build the sloping end of a hipped roof up into a vertical gable wall. They're common on semi-detached houses and are often combined with a rear dormer.
Which one suits your house depends on the shape and pitch of the roof, the height at the ridge and whether the house is terraced, semi-detached or detached.
What's involved
- New floor
- New joists sized to carry a room, separate from the existing ceiling below.
- Steels and roof alterations
- Where purlins, struts or ties are removed to open up the space, steel beams take the load back down to walls that can carry it.
- Dormers and gables
- Built and tied into the existing roof, with leadwork and flashings at every join.
- Windows and rooflights
- Fitted into properly framed openings and sized for escape where building regulations require it.
- Staircase
- A permanent staircase to the new floor, positioned so it works for the rooms below as well.
- Fire protection and insulation
- A protected escape route through the house, insulation to the roof and walls, then plastering and finishing.
Loft conversion questions
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Many loft conversions fall under permitted development, especially rear dormers and rooflight conversions. Front dormers, conservation areas, flats and houses that have already been extended may need permission, so check with Leeds City Council. You'll need building regulations approval in any case.
Is my loft suitable for converting?
The main thing is headroom, measured from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge. The pitch of the roof, how it's framed and where a staircase can go also matter. We can measure up and tell you when we visit.
Can we stay in the house during the work?
Usually, yes. Most of the work happens up in the roof. The most disruptive part is when the staircase goes in and the new floor is opened up to the landing below.