Hip to gable loft conversions in Kent

When a hip to gable is the right conversion

A hip to gable conversion suits houses where the roof slopes down on one or both ends: typically 1930s semis, end of terrace houses and many bungalows. The sloping hip is removed and a new vertical gable wall is built in its place, which turns a cramped, wedge shaped loft into a space with full head height across the whole width. It is often combined with a rear dormer, and together they create enough room for a bedroom, en suite and proper staircase.

Planning is usually straightforward. Most hip to gable conversions fall within permitted development, provided the total added volume stays within the limits and the materials match the existing house. Consent is needed where those rights have been removed, in conservation areas and on listed buildings, and a double hip to gable on a detached house, where both hips are rebuilt, uses more of the volume allowance and is more likely to need a full application.

The cost of a hip to gable loft conversion is driven by structure rather than finishes. New steel beams carry the ridge and floor, the gable wall is built in brick, block or tile hanging to match the house, and the roof covering has to be sourced to blend with the original. Adding a rear dormer at the same time is usually better value than returning for it later, because the scaffold and roof opening are already in place.

We start with a free site visit to measure the roof and talk through what you want from the space, then put together a written quote covering structure, the gable build, insulation, staircase and finishing. Our own carpenters and joiners build the staircase and fit out the room, and we bring in the specialist trades we work with regularly for electrics, plumbing and plastering.

• New gable wall matched to the existing house
• Structural steelwork designed by an engineer
• Rear dormer combined where it adds useful space
• Staircase built in our own workshop
• Building regulations handled throughout