uPVC Dormer Windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians
From the first measured survey to the completion certificate, we run upvc dormer windows projects in Edinburgh and the Lothians as a single, managed piece of work.
uPVC Dormer Windows — indicative geometry
uPVC Dormer Windows for Edinburgh and the Lothians homes
The housing stock around Edinburgh and the Lothians runs to Victorian and Edwardian terraces, interwar semi-detached houses and post-war bungalows — so the first question at survey is always which of those you have, because the structure underneath differs completely.
Modern multi-chamber uPVC gives excellent U-values, needs no decoration and shrugs off the weather exposure a dormer takes on all four sides. Foiled finishes — anthracite grey, black, cream, woodgrain — have largely killed the old objection that uPVC only comes in white. On a rear dormer that nobody sees from the street, it is the sensible default.
Key specification
| Frame | 70mm or 80mm multi-chamber, steel reinforced |
|---|---|
| U-value | 1.2 W/m²K typical, 0.8 with triple |
| Finishes | White, foiled woodgrain, anthracite, black, cream |
| Opening styles | Casement, tilt-and-turn, top-hung, fixed |
Planning and building control in Edinburgh and the Lothians
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.
Building regulations approval is separate and always required. We submit the application, book the inspections around the programme and hand you the completion certificate at the end — the document a buyer's surveyor will ask to see.
Why homeowners in Edinburgh and the Lothians use us
One quotation covers scaffold, structure, weatherproofing, glazing, plastering and sign-off. You are not coordinating four trades who each blame the last one.
The quickest route is a photograph of the rear elevation over WhatsApp — we can usually tell you what is feasible before anyone visits.
Other dormer work in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Hipped Roof Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- L-Shaped Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Cat Slide Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Velux to Dormer Conversions in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Timber Dormer Windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Conservation Dormer Windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Lead & Zinc Dormer Roofing in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Pitched Roof Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
FAQs
uPVC Dormer Windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians — FAQs
What happens to my existing loft insulation?
It comes out. Insulation at ceiling-joist level is in the wrong place once the loft is a room — the thermal line moves up to the new roof and dormer build-up. We remove and dispose of the old quilt and insulate the new envelope, which is also what makes the room comfortable to use in August.
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.
Can you build a dormer on a bungalow?
Usually yes, and bungalows often give the best results because the spans are wide and there are no party walls. The deciding factor is ridge height: you generally want at least 2.6m from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge. We measure this at survey before committing to anything.
Can I put a dormer on the front of my house?
Front-facing dormers are not covered by permitted development and always need a full planning application. Approval depends heavily on the street scene — planners look at whether other dormers already exist on the road, and at proportion, position and materials. Hipped and pitched forms are approved far more often than flat boxes on a front elevation.
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.
Find out what your roof will take
A free measured survey in Edinburgh and the Lothians tells you what is achievable, what it needs, and what it costs — before you commit to anything.