Loft conversions in Herefordshire & Monmouthshire
Dormer, hip-to-gable, Velux and L-shaped conversions — with the staircase, fire safety and Building Control side handled properly, not bodged in afterwards.
The cheapest square metres in the house
A loft conversion uses space you already own, sits on foundations that already exist and takes up none of your garden. That's why, square metre for square metre, it's usually the least expensive way to add a proper room to a house — and why it tends to give a strong return when you come to sell.
The catch is that lofts are unforgiving. Head height, roof structure and the staircase route decide what's possible, and no amount of enthusiasm changes them. We'd rather tell you at the site visit that a full dormer won't work than sell you drawings for something that was never going to happen.
Types of loft conversion
Velux / rooflight conversions
No change to the roof shape — insulation, a structural floor, a staircase and roof windows. The cheapest and least disruptive option, and the one most likely to be permitted development. Needs good existing head height.
Dormer conversions
A box built out from the rear roof slope to create full standing height and usable floor area. The most common conversion in the UK, and usually the best balance of cost and useful space.
Hip-to-gable conversions
For semi-detached and detached houses with a hipped roof: the sloping end is rebuilt as a vertical gable, creating substantially more volume. Often combined with a rear dormer.
L-shaped dormers
Where a property has a rear outrigger, two dormers can be joined into an L to give a bedroom plus en-suite. More work, considerably more space.
What a properly built conversion includes
Plenty of "loft rooms" out there are a boarded floor, a bit of insulation and a pull-down ladder. They aren't habitable rooms, they don't meet Building Regulations, and they show up as a problem during a sale.
A conversion done correctly involves a new structural floor independent of the existing ceiling joists, fire-rated construction and a protected escape route, mains-linked smoke detection, insulation meeting current thermal standards, a compliant staircase, and Building Control inspections through to a completion certificate.
If it hasn't been signed off by Building Control, it isn't a bedroom.
We also think about the room below. Where the staircase lands, how much of a landing it takes, and what happens to the bedroom it comes out of are decisions worth making at the start.
Included as standard
Loft conversion questions
Is my loft suitable for a conversion?
The quick test is head height: you generally need about 2.2–2.4m from the top of the existing ceiling joists to the ridge, over a usable area. Roof type matters too — traditional cut roofs with purlins are usually straightforward, while modern trussed roofs need structural work to open up. Full suitability guide.
How much does a loft conversion cost?
A Velux (rooflight) conversion is the cheapest option and typically starts around £25,000–£40,000. Dormer conversions usually run £40,000–£65,000, and hip-to-gable work more again. An en-suite, a steel-supported floor or an awkward staircase route all add cost. We quote after seeing the roof space.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Many rear dormer conversions fall under permitted development, subject to volume limits and the rule that a dormer can't sit forward of the roof slope on the principal elevation. Conservation areas and listed buildings are the common exception. Building Regulations approval is always required.
Where will the stairs go?
This is usually the real constraint, not the roof. The staircase has to land somewhere with head height, meet Building Regulations for rise, going and escape, and not eat the room below. We'll work it out at the site visit — it often decides which type of conversion makes sense.
Can the new room be called a bedroom?
Only if it meets Building Regulations, including fire escape and protected stair requirements. Rooms sold as 'loft rooms' that never went through Building Control cause problems when the house is sold. Every conversion we do goes through Building Control and gets a completion certificate.