Covering Seaham
Seaham is about 23 miles north of Darlington. We also cover Houghton-le-Spring (5 miles to the west), Sunderland and Washington.
Homes in the North East
Housing across the North East ranges from colliery terraces and Tyneside flats to suburban semis and modern estates, each with different options for extending.
What do you get with 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.
- New floor joists, steels and staircase
- Dormer or rooflights, insulation and plasterboard
- En-suite, electrics, heating and fire safety upgrades
How much does a loft conversion cost in Seaham?
Use these ranges to budget for loft conversions; the survey turns them into a fixed price for the agreed specification.
| 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 Seaham?
Projects in England go through two separate checks. Planning (or confirmation that the work is permitted development) comes from the district, borough or unitary council, and building regulations approval comes from the council’s building control team or a registered building control approver. Where work touches a shared wall or digs near a neighbour’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 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. Houses in conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes cannot use these roof-extension rights, so dormers there need planning permission (a rooflight-only conversion can still be permitted development), and flats always need permission.
What should I think about before starting?
- The new staircase usually takes space from the landing or a bedroom below.
- Party wall notices are often needed for steels bearing on a shared wall.
From first call to completion
- Start with a conversation. A short call or the online form is enough for us to understand what you want to build.
- Survey at your house. We look at the existing structure, services and access, and agree what the design needs to achieve.
- Design and fixed price. You get drawings and a written price for the agreed specification before anything is ordered.
- We build it. Work follows an agreed programme, with inspections at each stage and a final sign-off.
Loft conversions: common questions
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.
How long does a loft conversion take?
Usually 6 to 14 weeks on site depending on the type.
Do you work in Seaham?
Yes. Seaham is within our coverage for loft conversions, along with nearby Houghton-le-Spring and Sunderland.
Loft conversions in nearby towns
- Loft conversions in Houghton-le-Spring
- Loft conversions in Sunderland
- Loft conversions in Washington
- Loft conversions in Chester-le-Street
Learn more about loft conversions, or see every project we cover in Seaham.

