When it comes to understanding the construction process of how a loft conversion is built, no one expects the general public to be aware of what options are available to make your loft more eco friendly.

There are new, exciting designs and modern products on the market that were not available, only a few years ago.

Don’t buy a standard (cheap built) loft conversion that every tom, dick and harry that are throwing them up in your area, you know the lofts that get really hot in the summer and are really cold in the winter, the sort of lofts where cheap insulation are used and the design is based on speed for the builder or loft company, and not long term efficiency for your house.

We are very proud to demonstrate our latest Eco loft to date, The AirFlow Dormer Construction…

The AirFlow Construction is a very simple design once thought about and mastered.

This new concept allows cold air to be sucked in at the bottom, between two wall skins of the dormer allowing the heat from the tiles/slates to be transferred up through the wall. This design allows the dormer to act like a chimney, drawing the heat out through air vents at the top of the dormer.

This photo below shows a the bottom of the dormer wall sucking in new cold, fresh air in between the dormer walls.

What this design allows to the loft to do is cool its self in hotter months of the year without the need for air conditioning. This saving alone could be up to £200 per year when England has its hotter summers.

Other cost saving implications are reduced heating bills in the winter due to the additional insulation that is used on an AirFlow System loft.

The photo below demonstrates the cycle of this process:-

This revolutionary design is now available and takes no longer to construct than a traditional way of building loft conversions. For more information or details on weather an AirFlow System loft is suitable on your property, please call our sales team on 0203 411 7025.

For more information on lofts, please see our main page on loft conversions.

Some lofts are easily past the minimum height whilst others are only just over and some are under the height.

When it comes to loft conversions some lofts are generally easier to convert than other lofts due to important factors such as the size, the shape and the type of construction available. The main factor out of these 3 is the height of the loft.

If there is a lot of height in your loft then you needn’t worry about whether there is another room or not. However if you find yourself ducking down when in your loft the chances are it’s too small.

The minimum head height for a loft conversion is 2.2 metres (7’2”). This is of course the absolute minimum height needed and so you would be very limited with your options of converting your loft at this height.

The likely candidate for a loft just over 2.2 metres is a dormer as the space would be very restricted. But with loft space the higher the better! If your loft is quite high then planning permission may not even be a problem to you. For example if you get refused planning permission for a rear dormer you can easily convert your loft into a good sized bedroom or study without needing planning permission.

To accurately measure your loft you must take a measurement from the top of the ceiling joists down to the underside of your ridge board. Once finding this measurement you know roughly what can be done with your loft but if you are unsure or wish to go ahead please contact us for a free quotation.

There are many advantages of having a loft conversion is you proceed. One of the most obvious reasons is that it creates extra space. If you need a new bedroom or work from home now and so need a new study a loft conversion may be the best option for you.

Another advantage of a loft conversion is that it adds more value to your property. Your house price can increase significantly if you decide to go ahead with the conversion.

If your loft seems to be the correct height and you feel like a loft conversion may be the right path for you then please contact us on 0844 813 1111 or call Stuart on 07525 650011 for a free quotation and to discuss any questions you may have.

They are normally finished in either tiles or slates, depending on the style and characteristics of your property.

How is it built?

Dormers are usually built to the full width of the existing property to maximise space and increase the height inside the loft space. Depending on the size of your dormer and location of your property it is possible that you may need to apply for planning permission before Marble Construction can start the building process. Most of the time, however, dormers can be built under permitted development.

The process for building a rear dormer is simpler than most loft extensions. Many people choose to have a rear dormer because of the options it can bring. Space is a key reason for having a rear dormer extension. Whether you need a new bedroom or a study if you’re working from home, the possibilities are endless.

Light is also a good reason for choosing a rear dormer. Velux roof windows let a lot of light into the room and, of course, light is a key ingredient to making a room look and feel spacious. As a rear dormer can technically get light from four different angles (the front, two sides and from above) it makes the room the lightest in the house.

Marble Construction aim to complete your rear dormer in about 6 to 8 weeks but of course this can vary depending on the size and optional extras you can choose to include in the extension.

Are there any eco upgrades?

Yes. With the rear dormer extension comes a number of possibilities in the area of eco products. One of these is some glass mineral wool insulation. This special material is very eco friendly and helpful for keeping your gas bill down. There are many benefits with this material such as the fact it is a great thermal insulator, it is a fire safe material and also a natural product.

Another product that can save you time as well as money is “Bioclean” glass. The great thing about this glass is that it cleans itself. It’s permanently transparent and the coating on the glass harnesses the power of the sun and rain to efficiently break down and remove dirt and grime from the surface. This of course means less frequent cleaning which can save money on detergents etc. It is also very handy for hard-to-reach places such as the ceiling of your loft conversion.

How much does it cost?

Rear Dormer loft conversions come in all shapes and sizes and so it is difficult to put an exact price on them. However, the average price for a rear dormer extension is around £32,000 to £34,000. One thing that may interest you is that many homes are built with a hip-to-gable rear dormer extension. This increases your loft space even further and only costs an extra £1,000 – £4,000 working out at a total of £33,000 – £38,000.

When it comes to rear dormer extensions there are many things to consider. Many people have a flat roofed dormer which you can see in the first picture. However, if you have a rather tall loft, instead of doing the flat roof we can construct a much more impressive pitched roof which looks a lot more impressive.

Another thing to consider is what you want to turn the extra space into. Most people go for a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. If you are running out of space and have a child on the way then this is the perfect option for you!

Another option is a large study. This can be brilliant if you’re working from home because with the Velux windows you get a great view of the sky and it really brings a calm feeling to the room.

There are also a number of optional extras which can be included in our quotation for you. Velux windows are of course one of them as well as underfloor heating. Another extra which many people go for are French doors. French doors are different from normal doors and the reason for having them is that they look very stylish. They also give you the feeling of the outdoors and they let in more light than normal doors. Another thing to consider is whether you want UPVC windows or not. Why should you choose UPVC windows? Well for a start they are very easy to maintain. They are also brilliant energy savers as the snug and air-tight fit means they provide excellent thermal insulators saving money on your heating bill.

Overall a rear dormer extension with or without a hip-to-gable is an excellent choice if you need more space.

For more information on lofts, please see our main page on loft conversions.

Space. We all need it. Have you ever considered a loft conversion?

Loft conversions are easily built and can have a huge effect on your house. The space that can be achieved by a loft conversion is quite considerable. Perhaps you could do with a new bedroom or guest room in your house? Many of our previous customers who have had loft conversions built said that the reason for it was because of that extra space required, such as  an extra bedroom or even a study area.

The possibilities for a loft conversion are endless, and you can decide what you want the space to become. Loft conversions can sometimes become the best looking room in the house. The fitting of several Velux roof windows can transform the room into a light calm area.

At Marble Construction we specialise in Loft Conversions so why not consider one? Call us now for a free quotation on 0844 813 1111 or alternatively call Stuart on 07525 650011

A hip-to-gable loft conversion involves replacing an existing roof hip with a gable end wall. The hip in question is the sloping side of the roof, thus called the “hipped” side. By changing the hip to a gable, it allows you to achieve a considerable amount of extra space in your loft compared to converting your loft with the hip still in place.  If you can imagine your roof with three slopes, the hip is the slope which falls to the side of your property. Hip-to-gables are found on most semi-detached properties and many end of terrace properties. The photo below shows a converted hip to gable.

How is it done?

The building process is often found to be the most difficult of all the loft conversion processes. As the conversion requires altering a major part of the roof it is likely that you will have to apply for planning permission to achieve the full hip-to-gable effect. However, in October 2008 the law changed regarding the permissible area by which you are allowed to extend the roof.  Please click here for more details.

Although a hip-to-gable conversion is very complex you can rest assured that Marble Construction are complete specialists and will build a hip-to-gable in approximately 6-8 weeks. The time will vary depending on the width of your property and the complexity of the roof structure.

A hip-to-gable can be finished in a few different ways to suit the property. A hip-to-gable can be finished in either facing brickwork, blockwork and render, blockwork and pebble dash, hanging tiles, slates or cedar cladding. You will not have to make this decision until your plans are drawn. Our customer Mrs Davies who has recently had a hip-to-gable conversion said “Marble Construction have done a wonderful job. Everything was very straightforward and before I knew it the conversion was completed within 5 weeks”.

Are there any eco upgrades?

There are many different eco upgrades that you can choose which will benefit your home. One of Marble Construction’s suppliers, Jewsons, offer a wide range of eco products, some of which can be used in hip-to-gable constructions. One of these is called Smartroof®. Smartroof specialise in roofing panels and they are generally quicker to connect, which in turn speeds up the build process.

There are many benefits with using Smartroof panels.

• thermal efficiency – as the panels work very well as heat insulators your left will be kept cool in the summer and warm in the winter
• time – working in partnership with Smartroof, we can build your roof from their factory and convert your loft within a couple of days rather than weeks which is the normal time frame for a loft conversion.
• money – comparing  Smartroof with a traditional roofing method there is not a great deal of difference in price

How much will it cost?

A hip-to-gable conversion is often built with a rear dormer attached which maximizes the total space when converting your loft. Hip-to-gable rear dormers would usually cost in the region of around £35,000 to £38,000 but this is subject to the fixtures and final finishes required for every individual customer.

Marble Construction offer a second package which allows customers to get involved with converting their loft. This package offers all of the structual work to be completed as well as the outside work, such as windows, veluxes, tiling, fascias and soffits. In fact everything from the outside will be completed allowing you to finish the inside of your loft at your own speed. Internal finishes that will need to be completed by yourself are the insulation and plasterboard, electrics and plumbing (1st and 2nd fix), plastering and flooring. This package can often save up to 20% – 35% of the full package price. This allows the practically minded homeowner to benefit from converting their loft to a hip-to-gable, whatever their individual budget. We at Marble Construction feel that customer satisfaction is very important and will explain the different loft options available at our free design survey.

For more information on lofts, please see our main page on loft conversions.

If you would like a free quotation please do not hesitate to call us now on 0844 813 1111 or alternatively call Stuart on 07525 650011.