L-shaped dormer loft conversions
One dormer on the main roof and another along the outrigger, joined at the corner. On a Nottingham terrace it can give you a bedroom and a bathroom on a new top floor.
Loft conversions for Nottingham houses
Terraces, interwar semis, Wollaton bungalows and period houses in conservation areas each suit a different kind of loft. Here’s how to narrow it down.
House by house
Start with the house you live in
These are the usual starting points on Nottingham’s streets. We confirm what your roof and your street allow when we survey.
If you haveA terrace with a rear outrigger
ConsiderL-shaped dormer
A dormer on each roof, joined at the corner, with space for a bathroom as well as a bedroom.
If you haveA terrace with no outrigger
ConsiderRear dormer
One full-width dormer across the back of the main roof.
If you haveAn interwar semi with a hipped roof
ConsiderHip to gable and rear dormer
Squaring off the hip lets the dormer run the whole width of the house.
If you haveA semi or detached house with a gabled roof
ConsiderRear dormer
With no hip to convert, the dormer alone usually gives full headroom.
If you haveA bungalow in Wollaton or elsewhere
ConsiderRear dormer or roof windows
One or two upstairs rooms, often with the front of the bungalow left as it is.
If you haveA house in a conservation area
ConsiderPitched dormer
A smaller dormer under its own roof, designed for a planning application.
If you haveA Crane bungalow in Sutton Passeys
ConsiderStructural assessment first
Its metal frame has to be assessed by a specialist before any design is agreed.
If you haveA roof with a generous pitch
ConsiderVelux conversion
Roof windows alone can sometimes be enough, with the roof left the same shape.
Conversion types
Every conversion we build
L-shaped, rear and pitched dormers have their own pages here. The other types are explained on our main website.
Rear dormer loft conversions
A box dormer across the back slope, with upright walls and a flat roof, for the biggest room a single dormer can give. The street side of the roof doesn’t change.
Pitched dormer loft conversions
A smaller dormer under its own sloping roof, matched to the main roof. It often suits Nottingham’s period houses and conservation areas better than a flat-roofed box.
Also available
- Hip to gable conversionsThe sloping hip rebuilt as a vertical gable wall
- Dormer loft conversionsA box extension built out from the roof slope
- Mansard loft extensionsA steep 72° rear wall with a flat roof above
- Velux conversionsRoof windows set flush into the existing slope
- Shell loft conversionsStructure and weatherproofing done, fit-out left to you
These open on our main website, topmarkconversions.co.uk.
Side by side
How the options compare
A quick guide only; the survey decides what your house can take.
| Conversion | What changes | Typically suits | Planning |
|---|---|---|---|
| L-shaped dormer loft conversions | Two linked dormers forming an L in plan view | Victorian and Edwardian terraces with a rear outrigger | Usually permitted development; a planning application in a conservation area or for a flat |
| Rear dormer loft conversions | A full-width box across the rear roof slope | Terraces without an outrigger, gabled semis, detached houses and bungalows | Usually permitted development; a planning application in a conservation area or for a flat |
| Pitched dormer loft conversions | A small gabled roof over each dormer window | Period homes and houses in conservation areas | Usually permitted development; a planning application in a conservation area or for a flat |
| Hip to gable conversions | The sloping hip rebuilt as a vertical gable wall | Semis and detached houses with a hipped roof | Usually permitted development; a planning application in a conservation area or for a flat |
| Dormer loft conversions | A box extension built out from the roof slope | Most houses with a pitched roof | Usually permitted development; a planning application in a conservation area or for a flat |
| Mansard loft extensions | A steep 72° rear wall with a flat roof above | Terraced and period homes that need the most room | Almost always a full planning application |
| Velux conversions | Roof windows set flush into the existing slope | Steep roofs with good head height | Usually permitted development; building regulations still apply |
| Shell loft conversions | Structure and weatherproofing done, fit-out left to you | Homeowners who want to finish the room themselves | Depends on the roof work involved |
How it works
Your Nottingham loft conversion, step by step
From the first phone call to the day building control signs it off.
- 01
Call or message us
Tell us about the house and what you’d like the loft to become, by phone, WhatsApp or the form.
- 02
We look at the house
A survey of the roof, the head height and the staircase position, plus a check on your street’s planning status.
- 03
Your quote
A free, detailed quote, with the building control fees included.
- 04
Drawings and approvals
Plans for your house, structural calculations, building control and, where your street needs one, a planning application.
- 05
The build
Steels, staircase, dormer and fit-out, in a set order. Most families stay at home while we work.
- 06
Signed off
Building control inspects the finished work and signs it off, and the new rooms are yours.
FAQs
Choosing a conversion type
Which conversion gives a Nottingham terrace the most space?
Where there’s a rear outrigger, an L-shaped dormer over both roofs usually gives the most usable space. A mansard can give even more, but it almost always needs planning permission.
Can I mix more than one type?
Yes. A hip to gable is very often built with a rear dormer, and roof windows can be added to any conversion for extra daylight, for example over a staircase or bathroom.
Will a flat-roofed dormer be accepted in a conservation area?
Inside a conservation area every dormer needs planning permission, and the city’s design guide only accepts flat roofs where the case officer agrees. A pitched dormer is often the more realistic choice there.
My loft has a low ceiling. Can it still be converted?
Often, yes. Dormers and other roof alterations are designed to add the headroom a low loft lacks. We measure the height and look at the roof structure on the survey before recommending anything.
Still have a question? Call 07925 891 170 or send us a message.
Free quote
Start your Nottingham loft conversion
A few details about the house and what you’d like from the loft are all we need to begin.
What happens next
- 1We read it throughSomeone from our team looks at what you’ve sent about the house and your plans.
- 2We call you backWe talk through what you have in mind and answer your first questions.
- 3We visit and quoteWe survey the loft, check your street’s planning position and send a detailed, free quote.