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Undertaking a home improvement project, such as a loft conversion, can involve many design elements. Like any significant change to your property, you want to ensure that it’s completed to the highest standard possible.
Unbeknownst to novice home renovators, loft conversions can come in many different shapes, sizes, and designs, making them appealing to homeowners as they can be customised. Generally, there are four different types of loft conversions for homeowners to choose between, all of which we outline in this article so that you can draw the best loft conversion floor plans for your needs.
Roof Light Conversion
Generally, the most popular option for homeowners, roof light conversions, is the most cost-effective option for those embarking on a conversion project.
Roof light conversions are considered more budget-friendly as they don’t require any alterations to the pitch or shape of the roof; instead, the process involves adding skylight windows, laying the floor, and adding a staircase.
However, the downsides are that you’ll need to have existing roof space for this type of conversion to be feasible, and it offers less space than some of the other types of loft conversions.
Hip-To-Gable Conversion
A hip-to-gable conversion is considered more natural-looking than other types of loft conversions and saves funds on expanding outwards. They work by extending free, sloping roofs outwards to create a vertical ‘gable’ wall, increasing the amount of internal loft space, and if you have a house with two free, sloping walls, you could build on top of both to create a more extensive hip-to-gable extension.
However, this type of loft conversion is only suitable for homeowners with detached or semi-detached houses as it requires a free, sloping roof. If you’re unsure, you could always consider contacting design, drawing, and planning companies such as Fast Plans, which can help you customise your loft conversion floor plans and see whether your goals are feasible. Browse their website for a complete list of their services, or contact a team member directly to see how enlisting their services could help your loft conversion project today.
Mansard Conversion
Considered the costliest type of loft conversion, Mansard conversions run along the whole expanse of your roof and work by altering the shape or pitch so that it is almost vertical. Doing so can be a considerable expense, but it will result in a significant amount of extra space and is suitable for all property types. The only downside to Mansard conversions, aside from the cost of the build, is that the change in the roof slope can make it look unnatural.
Dormer Conversion
Dormer conversions are a viable option for most homeowners with properties that have a sloping roof, as the extension will protrude from the slope. Much like a roof light conversion, dormer conversions are another popular choice for homeowners looking to convert their lofts as they are suitable for any home with a sloping roof. Besides being less expensive than Mansard or hip-to-gable conversions, dormer conversions will still add a significant amount of space without spending unnecessary amounts of money.