Within the case of mansard vs dormer loft conversions, owners are sometimes left making an attempt to decide concerning which one will finest go well with their wants, house and finances.
Whereas these are usually not the one forms of loft conversion to contemplate, they’re actually two of the most well-liked – and for good purpose. Each include an entire host of advantages, from including loads of area to boosting the worth of a property.
That stated, they’re fairly completely different, and every additionally has their fair proportion of cons that it pays to concentrate on too. If you’re discovering it tough to decide on between the 2, we’re right here to assist, with all the data it’s essential make an knowledgeable determination.
Mansard vs dormer loft conversions
Whereas it’s honest to say that there are couple of similarities between a mansard and a dormer loft conversion, there are additionally some distinct variations.
To be able to create a mansard loft conversion, the construction of the present roof must be reconfigured virtually totally, whereas a dormer loft conversion could possibly be seen as extra of an ‘add-on’ to the present roof.
Similarity-wise, each dormer and mansards have variations, together with L-shaped and double variations.
Earlier than weighing up the professionals and cons of every, it’s helpful to get a grasp on precisely what every entails.
When to decide on a dormer fashion
Dormer loft conversions are such a well-liked means so as to add area with out extending the footprint of a home.
“A dormer loft conversion entails putting in a box-shaped construction into the pitched roof (sloped roof) of your own home,” picks up Ian Garner, mission coordinator at Absolute Lofts. “The proper-angles of the dormer create a flat relatively than sloped roof, supplying you with ample headroom and basic room form dimensions.”
“They will add as much as 50 cubic metres of extra area to your property, relying on the specifics of your property and native restrictions,” provides Rob Wooden, MD of Merely Loft.
Dormer loft conversions are available in many varieties, with the most typical being:
Flat roof dormer: These, because the identify suggests, have a flat roof and may lengthen your entire width of the home if required.
Facet dormer: Constructed into the side-facing slope of a roof. “They are perfect for including area to a property the place the roof ridge runs from the entrance to the again of the house,” explains Ian Garner.
Entrance-pitched dormer: Topped with a little bit pitched, or gable, roof.
L-shaped dormer: This options two dormers which can be related to at least one one other to type an L-shape – and plenty of additional area internally.
A dormer loft conversion provides a lot of helpful extra area with out being overly disruptive(Picture credit score: Absolute Lofts)
Ian Garner
Ian is mission co-ordinator at Absolute Lofts, the place the collective expertise of the group goes past 100 years. Each group member, from builder to electrician to surveyor to workplace supervisor, are skilled, totally insured and extremely certified inside this subject.
Rob Wooden
Merely Loft are one in every of London’s main loft conversion specialists, initially based by Rob Wooden and his spouse Helen in 2010, after establishing Merely Prolong in 2008. It began with a imaginative and prescient of making a home or residential constructing firm that may concentrate on delivering house enchancment together with kitchen extensions, loft conversions and extra lately basement conversions in a easy and clearly structured means with a powerful concentrate on buyer care.
When to decide on a mansard fashion
Other than a modular loft conversion, a mansard is one of the simplest ways so as to add most area to the highest of your own home.
“A mansard loft conversion is constructed on the rear of the property, altering the slope of the unique roof fully by making it virtually straight at a gradient of 72 levels,” explains Rob Wooden.
“In the event you’re in search of to supersize your loft area, a mansard loft conversion is the most important loft renovation you possibly can select,” provides Ian Garner.
As with dormers, there are a number of forms of mansard loft conversions apart from these created on the rear. These embody:
L-shaped mansard: An extra room might be added to the again of the property to type an L-shape.
Double mansard: “A double mansard includes a entrance and rear mansard, primarily creating a whole new storey,” explains Ian Garner.
Mansard loft conversions – significantly these which can be L-shaped – add an enormous quantity of extra area(Picture credit score: Absolute Lofts)
Professionals and cons of dormer loft conversions
As probably the most fashionable loft conversion concepts, dormers have a lot to supply owners of all types of properties.
“As a rule of thumb, if your own home has a pitched roof it ought to be appropriate for a dormer,” advises Ian Garner. “It’s the supreme loft conversion for terraced houses, semi-detached and indifferent houses.”
Professionals of dormer loft conversions:
Usually fall below permitted improvement: “Dormer loft conversions don’t sometimes require planning permission,” says Rob Wooden. “Nonetheless, that is solely the case in case your construct falls throughout the permitted improvement necessities for your own home sort.”
Minimal disruption: “Many of the work concerned with rear dormer loft conversions could be accomplished from scaffolding on the skin of your property, so it minimises the disruption you expertise from home building tasks,” advises Rob Wooden.
Extra useable area than a rooflight conversion: In contrast to skylight or Velux loft conversions, dormers create an area with flat ceilings and vertical partitions.
Cheaper than a mansard loft conversion: In keeping with Merely Loft, dormers are available in at round £55,000-£65,000.
In fact, when evaluating any sort of loft loft conversion or extension, you will need to concentrate on the downsides too.
Cons of dormer loft conversions:
Not the most affordable possibility: Dearer than a fundamental skylight loft conversion.
Design points: The design and cladding choices must be rigorously thought-about to make sure that is a beautiful addition and never an eyesore.
Whereas dormer loft conversions are cheaper than mansard, they’re costlier than skylight conversions akin to this(Picture credit score: Chris Snook. Design: Delve Structure)
Professionals and cons of mansard loft conversions
Creating tonnes of additional and, most significantly, useable area, mansard loft conversions are vastly fashionable. Let’s check out among the major benefits these have over dormer lofts.
Professionals of mansard loft conversions:
Provides a lot of new area: With a horizontal roof and near-vertical wall, this is likely one of the finest methods to maximise your loft area.
Provides worth: Whereas the realm you reside in will have an effect on this, based on Absolute Lofts, you possibly can anticipate an uplift of as a lot as 25%.
Thrilling design potentialities: Relying in your alternative of home cladding, mansards could be designed to appear to be very pure extensions of an current home.
For all their advantages, there are a number of downsides to mansard loft conversions when in comparison with dormer loft conversion concepts.
Cons of mansard loft conversions:
Dearer than dormers: In keeping with Merely Loft, the typical mansard loft conversion is available in at from £60,000-£70,000.
Usually require planning permission: In contrast to dormers, a mansard conversion will often require a planning software – and its subsequent approval – earlier than work can start.
Extra disruption: As your entire roof must be reconfigured, anticipate extra disruption and longer timeframes – between 8-12 weeks on common.
Is a mansard or dormer loft conversion higher for me?
Each dormer and mansard loft conversions are appropriate for all types of properties – terraced home loft conversions, semi-detached and indifferent.
When making your determination, it’s essential consider the quantity of disruption you’re ready to place up with in addition to the sort of loft conversion prices your finances will accommodate. If decrease prices and minimal disturbance to day-to-day life are your priorities, then a dormer loft conversion will most likely be your finest wager.
However, in case you are trying to get the very most area out of your loft conversion, add loads of worth and create an addition that may be tied in together with your current house, a mansard may properly be the best way to go.
You must think about your finances and the way a lot area you wish to add when making a alternative (Picture credit score: Merely Loft)
FAQs
Which provides most worth – a dormer or mansard loft conversion?
“Nationwide launched knowledge which revealed that, on common a loft conversion, provides 21%,” reveals Rob Wooden.
That stated, a well-executed mansard loft conversion may add greater than this.
“A high-quality L-shaped Mansard conversion can add 20% to 25% to your own home’s market worth, particularly in high-demand areas like London,” says Ian Garner.
With any sort of loft conversion, with the intention to get essentially the most out of your new area it’s essential look into the perfect loft conversion format concepts.
