Dormer windows in Burntwood
Our teams install dormer windows and dormer loft conversions throughout Burntwood, handling structure, weatherproofing, glazing and finish as one job with one point of contact.
What we build in Burntwood
Burntwood is a mix of Victorian and Edwardian terraces, interwar semi-detached houses and post-war bungalows, and each of those wants a different dormer form — which is why we survey before quoting rather than pricing off a photograph.
Whether that is a single flat roof dormer to make a back bedroom usable, or a full-width rear dormer with a bedroom and en-suite, the process is the same: a free measured survey first, a fixed written price second, and nothing else until you have both in front of you.
Planning permission in Burntwood
Rear dormers on houses often sit inside permitted development, but the volume allowance is consumed by any previous loft or rear extension — so we check the planning history for the address before we say yes.
Burntwood sits in Staffordshire, and local authority interpretation of the volume allowance does vary — which is why we check the planning history at your specific address rather than assuming the neighbours' dormer sets a precedent.
How the job runs
Weatherproofing
Deck, insulation, membrane or lead, cheek cladding, flashings and gutters — the dormer is weathertight from this point.
Finish and sign-off
Plaster, electrics, decoration and making good, final building control inspection and your completion certificate.
Design and consent
Measured drawings, elevations and sections. We submit the planning application or lawful development certificate and the building regulations application.
Structure
Ridge beam and floor steels craned or manhandled in, new joists laid, the dormer frame built and sheathed.
One quotation covers scaffold, structure, weatherproofing, glazing, plastering and sign-off. You are not coordinating four trades who each blame the last one. If you want to know what your roof will actually take, the survey is free and there is no obligation attached to it.
Popular in Burntwood
Dormer work we are asked for most
Dormer Cladding
Re-clad tired dormer cheeks and faces in tile, lead, zinc, timber or GRP.
Learn moreFlat Roof Dormers
The most space-efficient dormer — a flat-topped box that squares off the roof slope.
Learn moreShed Dormers
A single shallow slope running with the main roof — wide, low and understated.
Learn moreEyebrow Dormers
A curved, brow-like swell in the roof — no cheeks, no vertical faces.
Learn moreVelux to Dormer Conversions
Already have rooflights? Convert the slope to a dormer and gain standing height.
Learn moreTimber Dormer Windows
Engineered hardwood or softwood — the right answer on period and listed roofs.
Learn moreFAQs
Dormers in Burntwood — FAQs
Can a dormer include an en-suite?
Very often, yes — a full-width or L-shaped dormer usually has enough floor area for a bedroom plus a shower room. The practical constraints are getting soil and waste down to an existing stack, and whether the head height over the shower tray works. Both are settled at survey.
Can you build a dormer in winter?
Yes, with adjustments. Temporary weather protection over the scaffold lets structural work continue in most conditions. GRP roofing needs dry conditions above about 5°C to cure properly, so in a cold spell we either sequence it differently or specify EPDM, which is unaffected.
Do I need planning permission for a dormer window?
Rear dormers on a house often fall under permitted development, provided the dormer is set at least 200mm back from the eaves, sits below the ridge line, uses materials similar in appearance to the existing house, and stays within the volume allowance — 40m³ for a terrace, 50m³ for a semi or detached. Front-facing dormers, flats and maisonettes, listed buildings, conservation areas and any property with an Article 4 direction all need a full planning application. We check the constraints on your specific address before we quote.
How long does a dormer take to build?
A single box or flat roof dormer is typically three to five weeks on site. A full-width rear dormer runs five to eight weeks, and an L-shaped dormer on a terrace with an outrigger is closer to seven to ten. A complete dormer loft conversion including the staircase, services and finishes is usually eight to twelve weeks from scaffold up to sign-off.
Does a dormer need building regulations approval?
Yes, always — permitted development covers planning, not building control. A dormer needs approval for structure, thermal performance under Part L, fire escape and protected route under Part B, and stairs under Part K if a staircase is involved. We handle the application, the inspections and the completion certificate.
What is the best roof covering for a flat dormer?
GRP fibreglass and EPDM rubber are the two we specify most. GRP cures into a single seamless laminate with bonded trims and suits small tops with several upstands. EPDM is a one-piece membrane that copes better with movement on larger spans. Both carry twenty-year guarantees; mineral felt is cheaper but has a materially shorter life.
Find out what your roof will take
A free measured survey in Burntwood tells you what is achievable, what it needs, and what it costs — before you commit to anything.