A loft conversion uses space you have already paid for. There is no foundation work, no loss of garden and, in a lot of cases, no planning application — which makes it one of the quicker ways to add a bedroom, a bathroom or a study.
We design and build them in-house: survey, drawings, structural calculations, building regulations and the construction itself.
Is there enough head height? The first thing we check on the survey. As a rule of thumb you want around 2.2m from the top of the existing ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge. If it is tight, there are options — but we will be straight with you about cost.
Structure. New floor joists carry the load to the walls rather than the existing ceiling. Steels go in where the span or the roof structure needs them, designed with a structural engineer.
Stairs. Usually the part that shapes the design most, because building regulations set the headroom and the escape route. It is worth resolving on paper early.
Dormers and rooflights. A rear dormer buys usable floor area; rooflights keep it simpler and cheaper. Which is right depends on your roof and, if you are in a conservation area, on what the council will accept.
Regulations. Fire escape, insulation, ventilation and sound all have to be signed off. We handle building control throughout.
Many loft conversions fall under permitted development, particularly rooflight-only conversions. Rear dormers often do too, within volume limits. Conservation areas, listed buildings, flats and maisonettes are the common exceptions, and some Bristol streets carry an Article 4 direction that removes permitted development rights.
We check this at survey stage and tell you which category you are in before you spend anything on drawings. If an application is needed, we prepare and submit it.
“Working with Gate5 Design Ltd was really good because they were very conscious of the environmental concerns we had with our garden and suggested the SIP Panel build as a way of keeping within budget but still getting the space we needed.”
Sarah & Mickey — eco garden room, BrislingtonTell us what you have in mind. We will come out, look at the space and give you an honest view on what is possible, what it is likely to cost, and how long it will take.
Gate5 Design Ltd is a member of the Federation of Master Builders. FMB members are independently vetted, work to a code of conduct, and can offer a build contract with warranty cover through FMB Insurance Services.