Dormer · Hip to gable · Mansard · Roof-light
Loft conversions in Ilford & Essex
A loft conversion is often the quickest way to add a bedroom and bathroom without losing garden. We convert lofts across Ilford, Redbridge, Romford, Barking and Essex, from simple roof-light lofts to full dormers and hip to gable conversions.
Prices
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Velux (roof-light) loft conversion | from £32,000 | No change to the roof shape; good where there is enough head height. |
| Rear dormer loft conversion | from £55,000 | The most common loft in Redbridge terraces and semis. |
| Hip-to-gable with rear dormer | from £68,000 | For semis and end-of-terrace houses with a sloping side roof. |
| Mansard loft conversion | from £75,000 | Usually needs planning permission. |
Starting prices. The final price depends on size and condition; we measure for free and quote in writing. We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added to our labour; where a price says “+ VAT”, that is the VAT our supplier charges on the materials, passed on at cost.
Types of loft conversion
- Roof-light (Velux-style): windows in the existing roof slope; least structural change.
- Rear dormer: a box dormer that gives full head height across the back of the house.
- Hip to gable: straightens a sloping side roof on semi-detached and end-of-terrace houses, often with a rear dormer.
- Mansard: a steep-sided rebuild of the roof, usually needing planning permission.
How much does a loft conversion cost?
The cost depends mainly on the type of conversion, the size of the loft and its head height, the steelwork and floor strengthening needed, a new staircase, whether you add an en-suite, and the finish. Drawings, structural calculations, Building Control and any party wall costs are separate. We survey your loft for free and give a written, itemised quote.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Many loft conversions on houses are permitted development within volume limits (in England, 40 m³ of extra roof space for terraced houses and 50 m³ for semi-detached and detached houses), as long as they don't extend beyond the front roof slope. Flats, conservation areas and mansards usually need planning permission. Every loft conversion needs Building Regulations approval, including fire safety for the new stairs.
Planning rules change and depend on your property, so we always check with your council before work starts. Building Regulations approval is needed whether or not planning permission is.
Is my loft suitable?
Measure from the top of a ceiling joist to the underside of the ridge timber. If you have about 2.2 m or more, a conversion is usually worth looking at. Lower lofts can still work with a dormer or by lowering the ceiling below, but that costs more. Older houses with traditional rafters convert more easily than 1960s onwards houses with W-shaped trussed rafters, which need more steel. Water tanks in the loft usually have to go, which can mean changing the hot water system.
Fire safety and the new stairs
Adding a floor changes how you escape in a fire. In a typical two storey house becoming three storeys, Building Regulations usually ask for a protected stair route from the loft down to the front door, fire-resisting doors onto that route, and mains-powered, linked smoke alarms. Open-plan ground floors may need extra measures. The new staircase also needs enough head height over each step. Your designer and Building Control agree the details before work starts.
Party walls on terraces and semis
Most loft conversions in Ilford are on terraced or semi-detached houses. Steel beams usually rest on the shared wall, and a hip to gable rebuild can raise it. That is party wall work, so notices go to the neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 before work starts.
How the build runs
Most of the work happens from scaffolding outside, so you can usually stay in the house. The roof is opened and the dormer framed, then made weathertight. Floor joists, steels and insulation go in, then electrics and plumbing, plaster and the en-suite. The new staircase is usually one of the last structural jobs, which is when the loft joins the rest of the house.
Areas we cover
Ilford, Gants Hill, Barkingside, Seven Kings, Goodmayes, Chadwell Heath, Hainault, Woodford, Wanstead, Redbridge, Romford, Barking, Dagenham, Chigwell, Loughton, Newham and the rest of East London and Essex.
Questions people ask
How much does a dormer loft conversion cost?
It depends on loft size, head height, steelwork, stairs, en-suite and finish. We survey for free and give an itemised written quote.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Many house loft conversions are permitted development within volume limits, but flats, conservation areas and mansards usually need permission. All loft conversions need Building Regulations approval.
Can you add a bathroom in the loft?
Yes. Most of our loft conversions include an en-suite shower room, planned with the plumbing and drainage at survey stage.
How much head height do I need for a loft conversion?
About 2.2 m from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge is a useful starting point. A dormer can add usable height over part of the floor.
Can I live at home during a loft conversion?
Usually yes. Most of the work is done from scaffolding, and the loft is only opened to the house near the end, when the staircase goes in.
Visit or contact us
SK Design & Construct Ltd, 6 Spurway Parade, Woodford Avenue, Ilford IG2 6UU. Call or WhatsApp 07774 944042 or email info@skdesignconstructltd.com. Registered in England and Wales, company number 16582978.