Building Service · Greater Manchester
Loft Conversion Specialistsin Salford & Manchester.Velux, dormer and hip-to-gable, built right first time.
Turn unused roof space into a master bedroom with en-suite, a home office or a teenage retreat, fully insulated, fire-compliant and Building Control signed off, on a fixed written price.
First-time Building Control pass record · Fixed-price quotes · Written workmanship guarantee
Recent build
Monton loft conversion and re-roof
A hip-to-gable loft conversion paired with a complete re-roof on a traditional Monton semi.
Overview
What it is, who it's for and why it matters.
What it is
A loft conversion is the structural conversion of an unused attic into habitable accommodation, adding stairs, floor structure, insulation, glazing, heating, fire-rated separation and a new layout. We build Velux (rooflight-only), rear dormer, hip-to-gable and L-shaped dormer formats across Greater Manchester.
Who it's for
Families needing an extra bedroom and bathroom without moving, professionals wanting a quiet home office above the noise of the house, and landlords adding a high-value bedroom to a HMO. Loft conversions consistently return more value per pound than any other home alteration.
When you need it
When the ground-floor plan is already efficient and the next bedroom needs to come from somewhere. Most 1930s semis and Victorian terraces in Salford and Manchester have enough head-height, we measure on the first visit to confirm.
Why professional help matters
Loft conversions look simple from the outside, but they fail Building Control more often than any other domestic build. Fire-strategy mistakes, undersized floor joists and head-height misses turn a £55k room into a £75k rebuild. A first-time pass is the only acceptable target.
What goes wrong
The failures we are most often asked to put right.
Loft conversions fail Building Control more often than any other domestic build. The same handful of mistakes shows up again and again.
Head-height misses
Building Regs require 2.0m at the head of the stairs and reasonable head-height across the room. Miss it and the conversion is unusable on paper, and unsellable in practice.
Fire strategy ignored
A three-storey house needs a 30-minute protected escape route, mains-linked smoke alarms, FD30 doors and a fire-rated stair enclosure. Skip the strategy, fail the inspection.
Roof junction leaks
Dormer cheeks, flashings and box-gutter detailing are where every cowboy conversion fails. The water always finds the seam they cut corners on.
Stairs that ruin the floor below
Bad stair planning eats the landing, the airing cupboard or the box bedroom. Stair position is the first thing we design, not the last.
Our process
A clear, repeatable system, from first visit to final sign-off.
- Step 1
Survey & feasibility
Free site visit. We measure head-height at the ridge and the eaves, photograph existing rafters, identify the trussed-rafter type and confirm what is possible.
- Step 2
Design & engineering
Plans, fire strategy, structural calculations, Building Regs full-plans submission. Steel beams sized by chartered engineer.
- Step 3
Fixed-price quote & programme
Line-by-line written quote, fixed for 90 days, with a written programme. Stage-payment schedule tied to milestones.
- Step 4
Build phase
Steels in, floor structure, dormer formed, weather-tight, first fix, insulation, plaster, second fix, decoration. Stairs cut in last.
- Step 5
Sign-off & handover
Building Control completion, electrical and gas certification, snag walk-around and your workmanship guarantee, all in one pack.
Why work with Renovo
Concrete outcomes, not vague promises.
Speed
Velux conversion: 6–8 weeks. Rear dormer: 8–10 weeks. Hip-to-gable + L-shaped dormer: 10–12 weeks. Issued in writing.
Resale uplift
A properly built loft conversion in Greater Manchester typically returns 110–130% of cost at resale, the highest ROI of any home alteration.
Fire safety
Mains-linked alarms, FD30 fire doors, 30-minute protected stair enclosure designed and built to current Approved Document B.
Thermal performance
Warm-roof construction with PIR insulation between and above rafters, U-values better than current Part L requires.
Daylight
Velux frames, structural glazing in dormer cheeks and rooflight orientation designed for actual sky-exposure, not just plan view.
First-time sign-off
We have an exceptionally strong first-time Building Control pass record. No surprise rebuilds.
Detail & specification
The technical detail, for people who want to know how the work is done.
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Detail & specification
The technical detail, for people who want to know how the work is done.
Read the technical detailHide the technical detail
Conversion formats we build
Greater Manchester housing stock supports four mainstream loft formats and we build all four.
- Velux (rooflight-only), fastest, cheapest, no exterior change, ideal where head-height is generous.
- Rear dormer, flat or pitched, used to gain head-height across the rear of the roof.
- Hip-to-gable, converts a hipped roof end into a vertical gable, then opens out the new space.
- L-shaped dormer, combines hip-to-gable with a dormer over the rear addition, typical on Victorian terraces.
- Mansard, full-storey rebuild of the roof, used in conservation areas where dormers are restricted.
Structural approach
Existing rafters and ceiling joists are almost never strong enough for habitable loading. We install structural steel ridge and floor beams designed by our engineer, then build a new joisted floor at habitable centres with acoustic insulation between joists. Existing trussed rafters are cut and supported by the new steels rather than removed wholesale, the order is structural, not destructive.
Fire strategy
Three-storey homes (which any loft conversion creates) require a 30-minute protected escape route from the new loft to the final exit. We install FD30 fire doors to every habitable room on the escape route, mains-linked interlinked smoke alarms on every storey, and fire-rated plasterboard or upgraded existing ceilings where required. Sprinklers are only required in specific situations, we assess each project.
Planning & Permitted Development
Most loft conversions in Greater Manchester fall under Permitted Development with strict volume limits (40m³ for terraces, 50m³ for detached/semis), no extension forward of the front roof slope, and matching materials. Conservation areas, Article 4 directions and listed buildings remove PD rights, we check this on every job and apply for full planning where required.
Recent work
A look at recent projects across Greater Manchester.
A selection of finished builds. See the full set on the Our Work page.
Areas covered
Loft Conversions & Dormers across Salford, Manchester and Greater Manchester.
FAQ
Straight answers to the questions clients actually ask.
Still got a question? Call us on 07701 078833 or request a callback.
Do I have enough head-height for a loft conversion?+
As a rule of thumb, 2.3m measured from the top of the existing ceiling joist to the underside of the ridge is workable. Less than that and a Velux conversion may still be possible, we measure on the first visit.
How much does a loft conversion cost in Salford?+
Indicative: Velux £35–45k, rear dormer £50–65k, L-shaped dormer £65–85k, hip-to-gable + dormer £75–95k, all turnkey including ensuite, finishes and decoration. Fixed written quote after survey.
How long will it take?+
Velux 6–8 weeks, rear dormer 8–10, hip-to-gable + L-dormer 10–12. Written programme issued with your quote, tracked against stage payments.
Do I need planning permission?+
Often no, most fall under Permitted Development. Conservation areas, Article 4 directions and front-facing dormers usually need full planning, which we handle.
Will I have to move out?+
No. We work top-down. The first noisy week (steels and dormer cut-in) is the worst. Stairs go in last so you keep using the loft hatch until the second-fix stage.
What about Party Wall?+
Almost always required on a terrace or semi because steels bear onto the party wall. We serve notices and coordinate the surveyor on your behalf.
Can I have an en-suite in the loft?+
Yes, and we recommend it. Soil stack runs are designed at structural stage so the bathroom lands directly above the existing soil stack where possible. Macerator solutions only as a last resort.
Will my new loft be warm in winter?+
Yes. Warm-roof construction with PIR between and over rafters, breather membrane above and a continuous vapour control layer inside. U-values exceed current Building Regs requirements.
Related services
Often combined with loft conversions & dormers.
Next step
Find out what's possible in your roof.
Free survey, measured head-height check, and a fixed written quote within 7 working days. No deposit to find out.
- Fixed-price written quote, no day-rate surprises.
- Single accountable team, no subcontractor finger-pointing.
- Stage payments tied to milestones, no large upfront deposit.
- Building Control sign-off and written workmanship guarantee.