Covering Durham
Alongside Durham, we also cover Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring (6 miles to the north-east) and Stanley.
Homes in the North East
In the North East, terraces, semis and bungalows all offer room to extend, with stone-built villages and conservation areas in parts of County Durham and Northumberland.
What goes into a loft conversion?
We start with the head height. You need roughly 2.2 m or more from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge for a conversion to work without raising the roof. From there we design the staircase position, the type of conversion and the en-suite, and manage the whole build including fire safety and building control.
- Planning or lawful development certificate
- New floor joists, steels and staircase
- Dormer or rooflights, insulation and plasterboard
What will a loft conversion cost?
Typical ranges for loft conversions. Ground conditions, access and specification move the final figure, which we fix in writing before work starts.
| Loft conversions | Guide price incl. VAT |
|---|---|
| Rooflight conversion | £30,000 to £45,000 |
| Dormer conversion | £50,000 to £90,000 |
| Hip-to-gable with dormer | £60,000 to £95,000 |
| Mansard conversion | £65,000 to £110,000 |
Do you need permission for a loft conversion in Durham?
In England we deal with the council’s planning team for permission or a lawful development certificate, with building control (the council or a registered building control approver) for inspections, and with neighbours under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 where it applies.
In England many loft conversions are permitted development: the extra roof volume must stay within 40 m³ on a terraced house or 50 m³ on a semi or detached house, nothing can sit higher than the existing ridge, no dormer can face a road on the main elevation, and side windows must be obscure-glazed and non-opening below 1.7 m.
What can change the price or programme?
- Head height under the ridge decides whether a conversion is practical.
- The new staircase usually takes space from the landing or a bedroom below.
From first call to completion
- Send us the details. Give us a postcode, a rough idea of size and some photos, by phone, form or the guide price tool.
- Free site visit. We measure up, look at access, drains and the structure, and talk through options and budget.
- Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
- Build and hand over. Our teams build to the programme, building control inspects, and you get the completion paperwork at the end.
What people ask before starting
How much does a loft conversion cost?
Roughly £30,000 to £45,000 for a rooflight conversion, £50,000 to £90,000 for a dormer, £60,000 to £95,000 for a hip-to-gable and £65,000 to £110,000 for a mansard, including VAT.
Do I need fire doors?
Often yes. Building regulations require a protected escape route from the new floor, which usually means fire doors on to the stairs and linked smoke alarms.
Who deals with the council for a project in Durham?
We do. We prepare the drawings, submit planning or permitted development paperwork if needed, and arrange building control inspections.
Other towns nearby
- Loft conversions in Chester-le-Street
- Loft conversions in Houghton-le-Spring
- Loft conversions in Stanley
- Loft conversions in Washington
Learn more about loft conversions, or see every project we cover in Durham.