L-SHAPED DORMER
A Hip to Gable Loft Conversion is a type of loft conversion where a “Hipped End” of an existing roof is changed to form a “Gable End”, in order to provide more space internally. Ideal for end of terrace and detached homes, a hip to gable loft conversion straightens an inwardly slanted end roof to create a vertical wall – thereby changing the hip roof into a gable one. By changing the structure in this way, you add not only extra floor space within the room, but also create more room within the staircase area. This is a great solution for anyone looking at creating more head height in their loft. It’s also common to include a rear dormer if getting the maximum amount of space is your main goal. With your hip to gable extension straightening out the pitched end of your roof, there is more room to include a dormer. In most cases a loft conversion which incorporates a “Hip to Gable” will also include the addition of a rear dormer as well.
STARTING WITH A HIPPED ROOF:
This is an example of a hipped roof such as you might find on a typical semidetached house. This particular roof consists of three pitches (sloped roof faces). The loft space that exists within this roof will be of limited use when it comes to creating a room. There simply isn’t enough space inside to form a decent sized room and to accommodate the space required for a stairwell. Most of the time the best (or perhaps only) solution is to change the shape of the roof by adding a gable end and a dormer.
ADD A GABLE END:
The front and rear facing roof pitches can be extended out, eliminating the third roof pitch or “hipped end”, so that a triangular “gable end” is formed instead. Making this change will have the effect of increasing the area within the loft where it is possible to stand up. Adding a gable end like this is often crucial to the design of a loft conversion especially if the existing “hipped end” happens to be on the same side of the house as the existing staircase. Ideally the new loft staircase would be located above the existing staircase because this reduces circulation space. However, if there is no standing space up in the loft above the existing staircase that arrangement won’t work. For this reason, adding a gable end can make all the difference to the design of some loft conversions. To get even more usable space in the loft you also add a rear dormer.
FINISH WITH A REAR DORMER:
Adding a rear dormer creates a much bigger internal space to work with. Standing space is usually more than doubled and this extra standing space generally creates a space big enough that it can accommodate a bedroom with an en-suite and storage spaces as well as the new stairwell. The most common is a “Flat Roof Rear Dormer” but there are other styles of rear dormer which could be built instead.