Velux to Dormer Conversions in Edinburgh and the Lothians
From the first measured survey to the completion certificate, we run velux to dormer conversions projects in Edinburgh and the Lothians as a single, managed piece of work.
Velux to Dormer Conversions — indicative geometry
Velux to Dormer Conversions for Edinburgh and the Lothians homes
Edinburgh and the Lothians 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.
Plenty of lofts were converted in the 1990s and 2000s with rooflights only, leaving a room with sloping ceilings you cannot put a wardrobe against. Cutting a dormer into an already-converted loft is a shorter job than starting from scratch — the floor, stair and services are already there — but it does need the existing structure checking before anything is opened up.
Key specification
| Typical gain | 3m² – 8m² of full-height floor |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite | Existing floor structure verified |
| Disruption | Room out of use 3–5 weeks |
| Roof finish | GRP, EPDM or tile to suit |
Planning and building control in Edinburgh and the Lothians
We run the permitted development test on your specific property: set-back from the eaves, height against the ridge, volume allowance and whether an Article 4 direction applies locally.
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
We only do dormers. That sounds like a limitation until you have watched a general builder improvise a back gutter on a wet Thursday.
Book the survey, get the fixed written price, and decide in your own time. Nothing about that process commits you to anything.
Other dormer work in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Gable-Fronted Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Full-Width Rear Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Eyebrow Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Bungalow Dormer Conversions in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- uPVC Dormer Windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Sash Dormer Windows in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- GRP Fibreglass Dormer Roofing in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Flat Roof Dormers in Edinburgh and the Lothians
FAQs
Velux to Dormer Conversions in Edinburgh and the Lothians — FAQs
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.
What is the difference between a dormer and a Velux?
A rooflight sits flush in the roof slope and gives you light without any extra height — you still have a sloping ceiling. A dormer projects out from the roof and creates vertical walls with a level ceiling behind them, so you gain genuinely usable standing space and floor area, not just daylight.
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.
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.