Within the case of mansard vs dormer loft conversions, owners are sometimes left making an attempt to decide relating to which one will greatest swimsuit their wants, dwelling and price range.
Whereas these aren’t the one sorts of loft conversion to think about, they’re actually two of the preferred – and for good motive. Each include a complete host of advantages, from including loads of house to boosting the worth of a property.
That mentioned, they’re fairly completely different, and every additionally has their fair proportion of cons that it pays to concentrate on too. In case you are discovering it tough to decide on between the 2, we’re right here to assist, with all the knowledge it is advisable 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.
With a view to create a mansard loft conversion, the construction of the present roof must be reconfigured nearly totally, whereas a dormer loft conversion might 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 preferred method so as to add house 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 private home,” picks up Ian Garner, undertaking coordinator at Absolute Lofts. “The proper-angles of the dormer create a flat relatively than sloped roof, providing you with ample headroom and traditional room form dimensions.”
“They’ll add as much as 50 cubic metres of extra house 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 commonest being:
Flat roof dormer: These, because the identify suggests, have a flat roof and might lengthen the whole width of the home if required.
Facet dormer: Constructed into the side-facing slope of a roof. “They are perfect for including house 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 slightly pitched, or gable, roof.
L-shaped dormer: This options two dormers which are linked to at least one one other to kind an L-shape – and many additional house internally.
A dormer loft conversion provides a lot of helpful extra house with out being overly disruptive(Picture credit score: Absolute Lofts)
Ian Garner
Ian is undertaking co-ordinator at Absolute Lofts, the place the collective expertise of the workforce goes past 100 years. Each workforce member, from builder to electrician to surveyor to workplace supervisor, are skilled, totally insured and extremely certified inside this discipline.
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 organising Merely Lengthen in 2008. It began with a imaginative and prescient of making a home or residential constructing firm that might give attention to delivering dwelling enchancment together with kitchen extensions, loft conversions and extra not too long ago basement conversions in a easy and clearly structured method with a powerful give attention to buyer care.
When to decide on a mansard fashion
Except for a modular loft conversion, a mansard is the easiest way so as to add most house to the highest of your private home.
“A mansard loft conversion is constructed on the rear of the property, altering the slope of the unique roof fully by making it nearly straight at a gradient of 72 levels,” explains Rob Wooden.
“In the event you’re in search of to supersize your loft house, a mansard loft conversion is the most important loft renovation you may select,” provides Ian Garner.
As with dormers, there are a number of sorts of mansard loft conversions apart from these created on the rear. These embody:
L-shaped mansard: An additional room might be added to the again of the property to kind an L-shape.
Double mansard: “A double mansard includes a entrance and rear mansard, basically creating a complete new storey,” explains Ian Garner.
Mansard loft conversions – significantly these which are L-shaped – add an enormous quantity of extra house(Picture credit score: Absolute Lofts)
Execs and cons of dormer loft conversions
As one of the crucial widespread loft conversion concepts, dormers have a lot to supply owners of all types of properties.
“As a rule of thumb, if your private home has a pitched roof it must be appropriate for a dormer,” advises Ian Garner. “It’s the splendid loft conversion for terraced properties, semi-detached and indifferent properties.”
Execs of dormer loft conversions:
Typically fall underneath permitted improvement: “Dormer loft conversions don’t sometimes require planning permission,” says Rob Wooden. “Nevertheless, that is solely the case in case your construct falls throughout the permitted improvement necessities for your home sort.”
Minimal disruption: “Many of the work concerned with rear dormer loft conversions may be accomplished from scaffolding on the skin of your property, so it minimises the disruption you expertise from home development tasks,” advises Rob Wooden.
Extra useable house than a rooflight conversion: Not like 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, it is very important concentrate on the downsides too.
Cons of dormer loft conversions:
Not the most affordable possibility: Costlier than a fundamental skylight loft conversion.
Design points: The design and cladding choices should be fastidiously thought of to make sure that is a lovely addition and never an eyesore.
Whereas dormer loft conversions are cheaper than mansard, they’re dearer than skylight conversions akin to this(Picture credit score: Chris Snook. Design: Delve Structure)
Execs and cons of mansard loft conversions
Creating tonnes of additional and, most significantly, useable house, mansard loft conversions are massively widespread. Let’s check out a number of the predominant benefits these have over dormer lofts.
Execs of mansard loft conversions:
Provides a lot of new house: With a horizontal roof and near-vertical wall, this is likely one of the greatest methods to maximise your loft house.
Provides worth: Whereas the world you reside in will have an effect on this, in response to Absolute Lofts, you may count on an uplift of as a lot as 25%.
Thrilling design potentialities: Relying in your selection of home cladding, mansards may be designed to appear like very pure extensions of an current home.
For all their advantages, there are just a few downsides to mansard loft conversions when in comparison with dormer loft conversion concepts.
Cons of mansard loft conversions:
Costlier than dormers: In keeping with Merely Loft, the common mansard loft conversion is available in at from £60,000-£70,000.
Typically require planning permission: Not like dormers, a mansard conversion will normally require a planning utility – and its subsequent approval – earlier than work can start.
Extra disruption: As the whole roof must be reconfigured, count on 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 is advisable consider the quantity of disruption you’re ready to place up with in addition to the sort of loft conversion prices your price range will accommodate. If decrease prices and minimal disturbance to day-to-day life are your priorities, then a dormer loft conversion will in all probability be your greatest wager.
Then again, in case you are seeking to get the very most house out of your loft conversion, add loads of worth and create an addition that may be tied in together with your current dwelling, a mansard may properly be the way in which to go.
It is advisable contemplate your price range and the way a lot house you wish to add when making a selection (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 mentioned, a well-executed mansard loft conversion might add greater than this.
“A high-quality L-shaped Mansard conversion can add 20% to 25% to your private home’s market worth, particularly in high-demand areas like London,” says Ian Garner.
With any sort of loft conversion, in an effort to get probably the most out of your new house it is advisable look into the perfect loft conversion structure concepts.
