One of the universally acknowledged truths about the housing market in London is the never-ending desire for more space. But it does not necessarily mean moving out to a new place and Willesden is a testament to that.

It is a large area with houses having off-street parking and decent-sized gardens in all neighborhoods. With these facilities, there are very few families that would prefer leaving therefore loft conversion is the only option left when families need extra space or room.

Recently the planning regulations in London were simplified because of which a lot of homeowners have started opting for loft conversions as they no longer have to get approval on planning permissions. With a huge benefit financially as they add a big value to the property, loft conversions are an easy and efficient process.

Types of loft conversions –
There are many different types of loft conversion styles possible, however, not all are suitable for all houses. These styles are specific and depend upon the space and availability of the loft in the house.

Based on well-done research, some of the most popular and common loft conversion types available in Willesden are,

Dormer and L-shaped dormer conversion –A dormer loft conversion type is the most common and popular choice amongst people and this popularity is because of two reasons- affordability and ease of completion. It involves a structural extension to the roof that projects vertically from the existing sloping roof and this eventually creates a box shape. Multiple dorms can also be installed depending upon the number of dorms required.

An L-shaped dormer conversion is the one where two dormer conversions are built and connected. To obtain the distinctive L-shape, one dormer is built on the main roof and the other on the rear one. They are mainly suitable for Victorian and Edwardian properties particularly due to the indifferent shape, however, in such cases, it is the best possible way to extend the property.

The main styles of dormer conversions are –

• Flat roof dormer
• Gable fronted dormer- Sometimes also called a Doghouse dormer.
• Hipped roof dormer
• Shed dormer

One of the major advantages of dormer conversions is that it can be carried out without any planning permission, however, it may be required in certain special cases. And one of the disadvantages is that it is not very aesthetically appealing even though it costs less.

Mansard and L-shaped mansard conversion –This type of conversion involves changes in both the roof and the walls of the attic. The party wall, the one shared with the neighbors, is raised while the roof remains flat at its position. The back wall is sloping inwards at an angle of approximately 72 degrees. Windows are generally found extended from the roof within small dormers to create additional space.

An L-shaped mansard is very similar to a rear mansard but it creates more space than the latter. Mainly found to be done in Victorian properties with L-shaped mansard conversions. Properties with an L-shaped mansard require a back addition.

One of the advantages of a mansard conversion is that it creates plenty of space along with more headroom in the attic. It also allows the room for more natural sunlight to enter and create a pleasing and aesthetic look of the loft. The disadvantage is that planning permissions are required in this conversion due to the large changes involved in the roof and related structures.

Velux loft conversion –This is one of the simplest and cheapest loft conversion options available. It is so simple because it does not involve any changes to the roof, walls, or even the ceiling. It just provides ample space and headroom and helps make use of all the space that is available. They require less construction work and thus cause less disruption to the lives of people.

It is also known as roof light loft conversions as the roofline remains unaltered but only windows are added leaving the original roof structure untouched. Due to the many windows, Velux conversions allow for plenty of natural light to enter the room and allow for ventilation.

The biggest advantage of this conversion is that it can be completed within a few days compared to the other more sophisticated styles. It is the best suggested option when you want to get a loft conversion done immediately. Also, no planning permissions are required as no such changes are made to the roof structure. The main disadvantage is that you cannot use this conversion if you intend to create a space for sleeping in as this conversion has sloping ceilings and thus also provides for less space to put in furniture.

Hip to gable and L-shaped hip to gable conversion –This is one of the most complicated conversions there are and it requires a lot of patience to complete. It is a suitable option for homes with a detached or semi-detached hip roof. A hipped roof is the one in particular with sloping sides in addition to front and back slopes. This type of conversion creates immense space often for the installation of a staircase as well. It is not a suitable practice in mid-terraced homes as there isn’t going to be a hip-end roof in these lofts. Due to the design, it is an expensive and time-consuming process.

The advantage of this type of conversion is that it provides a lot of headspaces owing to the pushed-out side sloped roof. It is aesthetically pleasing as well and creates a whole new vibe in the interior of the house. The major disadvantage is that it is expensive compared to the other styles due to the design and complication that it involves. It also requires planning permissions that can be time-consuming.

Loft conversion with full back addition –This is a conversion where the construction work not only happens in the main part of the house but also involves a back addition. A full-back addition opens the door to completely replicate the first-floor style and designs. It gives the chance to have approximately 3-4 additional rooms.

There are no other loft conversion methods that can possibly give so much space addition. It is an expensive process, however, based on the results it is worthed.

Loft conversion with pod room –A pod room is basically a room constructed in half the space of the back addition. These have not been done for long and thus are a new requirement in London. These rooms can be built and then used as a master bedroom, office, playroom, or even a luxury bathroom as they are very big in size.

Pod rooms are generally expensive to build and thus are a suggested option only if you don’t have a loft room. However, if you have a loft conversion already in mind, pod rooms are just a measure that can be used to add additional space.