A loft conversion is mostly structural carpentry, which is why it suits us. The existing ceiling joists are rarely strong enough to be a floor, so the job starts with new floor joists and, where the design calls for it, steel beams to carry them. From there we frame the walls, form the openings for roof windows or a dormer, insulate, board and fit the staircase.
The main types are a rooflight conversion, where the roof shape stays the same and roof windows bring in the light; a dormer, which adds headroom and floor space; and a hip-to-gable, which squares off a sloping side of the roof. Which one suits your house depends on the roof and the head height you have to start with. As a rough guide, around 2.2 metres from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge is usually needed to make a conversion worthwhile.
Every loft conversion needs Building Regulations approval. That covers the strength of the new floor, the stairs, insulation, and fire safety, including a protected escape route down through the house and linked smoke alarms. Many conversions fall under permitted development and do not need planning permission, but that depends on the house and the size of any dormer, so it is always checked before work starts.
Older roofs built from rafters and purlins are usually the simplest to convert. Modern trussed roofs can be converted too, but the webs that cross the loft have to be replaced with new structure first, so the design and the steelwork matter more.
We finish the room ready for decorating: plasterboard and plaster, new doors, skirting and architraves, and a balustrade around the stairwell.
- New floor joists and structural steels
- Staircases
- Stud walls, insulation and boarding
- Roof windows and dormers framed in
- Doors, skirting, architraves and balustrades
- Finished ready for decorating
Loft Conversions
Things people ask
What kind of work do you take on?
Larger projects: loft conversions, timber frame builds and roofs, full renovations and the carpentry on new builds. We are not set up for small repairs or odd jobs, and a local handyman will usually be a better fit for those.
Is my loft suitable for a conversion?
Most are. The main thing is head height: as a rough guide you want around 2.2 metres from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge. We also look at the roof structure, where the stairs can go and how the new floor will be supported.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Often not. Many loft conversions fall under permitted development, but it depends on the house, the area and the size of any dormer, so it should be checked first. Building Regulations approval is always needed.
What does a loft conversion involve?
A new structural floor, sometimes with steel beams, a staircase, insulation, stud walls, roof windows or a dormer, then boarding, plastering, doors, skirting and a balustrade. We take it through to ready for decorating.
What is a stick-built timber frame?
The frame is cut and built on site rather than delivered as factory panels. It suits one-off houses, extensions and awkward plots, and it lets changes be made as the build goes on.
Do you work for developers?
Yes. We have carried out the complete carpentry on new homes for a local developer, including the roof, soffits and fascias, cladding and second fix.
Can a trussed roof be converted?
Yes. The webs that cross the loft have to be replaced with new structure, usually steel beams and new floor joists, so it takes more design work than an older rafter-and-purlin roof, but it is done all the time.
Where do you work?
We are based in St Columb and cover Cornwall.
How do I get a price?
Call, WhatsApp or send the form with what you have in mind. Drawings help if you have them. We will come out and look at the job before pricing it.
How a loft becomes a room
The main stages of a loft conversion, shown with photos from several of our jobs.
Got a loft, a build or a renovation in mind?
Tell us about the project. Drawings and photos help. We will come out, look at it properly and give you a price.