Dormer windows in Scottish Borders
If you are weighing up dormer windows and dormer loft conversions in Scottish Borders, we survey the roof, tell you what is actually achievable, and price it properly before anyone commits.
Dormers on Scottish Borders roofs
Most of the dormer work we take on around Scottish Borders is on Victorian and Edwardian terraces, interwar semi-detached houses and post-war bungalows, where the ridge height and the position of the existing purlins set the limits.
We survey the roof before quoting anything. Ridge height, rafter span, purlin position and the condition of the existing structure decide which dormer forms are possible — and there is no substitute for a tape measure in the loft. The survey is free and carries no obligation.
Planning permission in Scottish Borders
Whether you need planning permission or a lawful development certificate depends on the elevation, the volume already used and the local authority's Article 4 position — all of which we confirm before design work starts.
What we do across Scottish Borders
We only do dormers. That sounds like a limitation until you have watched a general builder improvise a back gutter on a wet Thursday.
- New dormers — flat roof, pitched, gable-fronted, hipped, shed, box, L-shaped, eyebrow and cat slide forms
- Full conversions — structure, staircase, insulation, plaster and building control sign-off
- Glazing — uPVC, timber, aluminium, sash and heritage-profile conservation windows
- Cladding and roofing — tile-hung, slate-hung, lead, standing-seam zinc, cedar and GRP
- Repairs — leak tracing, flashing renewal, rot repair and blown unit replacement
Send us the address and roughly what you are hoping to gain, and we will come back with a realistic answer rather than an optimistic one.
Services in Scottish Borders
Every dormer type, locally
Flat Roof Dormers in Scottish Borders
The most space-efficient dormer — a flat-topped box that squares off the roof slope.
Learn morePitched Roof Dormers in Scottish Borders
A miniature pitched roof over the dormer — the traditional, period-correct option.
Learn moreGable-Fronted Dormers in Scottish Borders
A pitched dormer with a vertical gable face — the classic 'dog-house' front elevation.
Learn moreHipped Roof Dormers in Scottish Borders
Three sloping faces instead of a gable — softer, and often easier to get past planning.
Learn moreShed Dormers in Scottish Borders
A single shallow slope running with the main roof — wide, low and understated.
Learn moreFull-Width Rear Dormers in Scottish Borders
Wall-to-wall across the back of the roof — the biggest gain in usable floor area.
Learn moreL-Shaped Dormers in Scottish Borders
A rear dormer joined to a second over the outrigger — the Victorian terrace answer.
Learn moreBox Dormers in Scottish Borders
A simple squared projection — the workhorse dormer for bedrooms and bathrooms.
Learn moreEyebrow Dormers in Scottish Borders
A curved, brow-like swell in the roof — no cheeks, no vertical faces.
Learn moreCat Slide Dormers in Scottish Borders
The main roof continues down past the dormer — a soft, cottage-style profile.
Learn moreDormer Loft Conversions in Scottish Borders
The full job — structure, dormer, stairs, insulation, plaster and building control sign-off.
Learn moreBungalow Dormer Conversions in Scottish Borders
Turn a bungalow's roof void into a first floor — often doubling the footprint.
Learn moreVelux to Dormer Conversions in Scottish Borders
Already have rooflights? Convert the slope to a dormer and gain standing height.
Learn moreDormer Window Installation in Scottish Borders
Supply and fit of the window itself into new or existing dormer openings.
Learn moreDormer Window Replacement in Scottish Borders
Swap tired, draughty or rotten dormer windows without touching the structure.
Learn moreuPVC Dormer Windows in Scottish Borders
Low maintenance, well insulated and the most cost-effective frame for a dormer.
Learn moreTimber Dormer Windows in Scottish Borders
Engineered hardwood or softwood — the right answer on period and listed roofs.
Learn moreAluminium Dormer Windows in Scottish Borders
Thermally broken aluminium — the slimmest frames and the largest possible glass area.
Learn moreSash Dormer Windows in Scottish Borders
Vertical sliding sashes sized and detailed for a dormer opening.
Learn moreConservation Dormer Windows in Scottish Borders
Heritage-profile dormers and glazing for conservation areas and listed buildings.
Learn moreDormer Cladding in Scottish Borders
Re-clad tired dormer cheeks and faces in tile, lead, zinc, timber or GRP.
Learn moreGRP Fibreglass Dormer Roofing in Scottish Borders
Seamless glass-reinforced polyester on flat dormer tops — no joints, no seams.
Learn moreLead & Zinc Dormer Roofing in Scottish Borders
Traditional code lead and standing-seam zinc for dormer roofs, cheeks and flashings.
Learn moreDormer Window Repairs in Scottish Borders
Leaks, rot, failed flashings, blown units and draughts — diagnosed and put right.
Learn moreWhat homeowners say
Judged on the junctions, not the sales pitch
“The survey was the useful bit — he told us the ridge height wouldn't take what we'd been sold elsewhere, and offered a shed dormer instead. Glad we listened.”
— Homeowner, Scottish Borders“Scaffold went up on the Monday, roof was open and weathertight by the Thursday. No drama, no surprises on the invoice.”
— Homeowner, Scottish Borders“We'd had two leaks patched by other firms. They traced it to the back gutter in an hour and it hasn't come back since.”
— Homeowner, Scottish BordersComments shown are representative of feedback received. Verified reviews are being collected from launch.
FAQs
Dormers in Scottish Borders — FAQs
What insulation do dormers need?
Current building regulations want around 0.15–0.18 W/m²K for a new dormer roof and 0.18 W/m²K for the cheeks and front. In practice that is a warm-roof build-up using 100–150mm of PIR insulation above or between the structure, with a continuous vapour control layer on the warm side. Getting the VCL continuous matters more than the insulation thickness.
Do you handle the planning application?
Yes. We prepare measured drawings, elevations and sections, submit the application or the lawful development certificate, and deal with the case officer's queries. On conservation and listed work we also put together the heritage justification the application needs.
Is scaffolding included in the price?
Yes. Every quotation we issue includes scaffold design, erection, weekly inspection, hire for the programme and dismantling. Scaffold appearing as an extra afterwards is one of the more common complaints about dormer work, so we price it in from the start.
Can you convert an existing Velux loft to a dormer?
Yes, and it is usually a shorter job than starting from scratch because the floor, staircase and services already exist. We verify the existing floor structure and any previous building control approval first, then cut and form the dormer into the finished room. Expect the room to be out of use for three to five weeks.
Do you work on listed buildings and in conservation areas?
Yes. That work is detail-led: matching sightlines, glazing bar widths, cill projections and cheek finishes to what survives, and specifying timber, lead and natural slate rather than modern equivalents. We prepare the drawings and heritage statement for listed building consent alongside the planning application.
What guarantees do you provide?
Structural work carries a ten-year guarantee, GRP and EPDM flat roofing twenty years, windows ten years on frames and sealed units, and lead and zinc work is covered for workmanship for ten years. You also receive the building control completion certificate, which is the document that actually matters when you sell.
Find out what your roof will take
A free measured survey in Scottish Borders tells you what is achievable, what it needs, and what it costs — before you commit to anything.