Dormer Loft Conversion in Newbury — 1960s Bungalow Master Suite

The Brief

A 1963-built detached bungalow in Newbury, RG14. The roof space had substantial volume but the existing structure was a traditional cut rafter roof with a ridge height of 3.1m — plenty of potential. The clients wanted to convert the entire loft into a master suite: bedroom, en suite, and dressing area. Because it was a bungalow, a new staircase from the existing hallway into the loft was required.

Our Approach

A bungalow dormer loft conversion is more structurally complex than a terrace or semi conversion. The entire roof structure effectively becomes the new floor and ceiling — the existing ceiling joists (designed only to carry plasterboard, not a habitable floor) had to be replaced with a properly engineered floor structure. West Berkshire Council Building Control were notified. Structural engineer designed: three 203x133 UC steel beams to carry the new loft floor at ceiling level, new 195mm C24 floor joists spanning between, and the dormer frame specification.

The Build

A large scaffold was erected covering the full rear slope. The rear roof slope tiles were stripped and stored. The three UC steels were lifted into position using a mini-crane — the existing bungalow ceiling was carefully opened in sections to drop the beams onto padstones on the external walls. New 195mm C24 floor joists installed across the full span. The large rear dormer was framed in 89x38mm C16 timber — spanning approximately 6m wide and 4m deep. External cladding: cement fibre board (Hardieplank Smooth). Dormer flat roof: GRP fibreglass. Large fixed and opening windows to the rear dormer face. Roof tiles re-laid to the front slopes. Internal insulation: 100mm between rafters, 50mm below — achieving 0.16 W/m²K. New staircase: a 2.4m rise dog-leg staircase from the hallway, with a trimmer beam to the existing joist to form the stairwell opening. En suite first fix: waste runs to existing soil stack, water supply from loft tank.

Materials & Specification

Steels: 203x133 UC x3. Floor joists: 195mm C24. Dormer cladding: Hardieplank Smooth 8mm. GRP membrane: Owens Corning Fibreglass. Insulation: Kingspan K7 100mm + 50mm. Staircase: softwood dog-leg, 42mm treads, white painted.

The Result

The completed loft conversion added 42 square metres of habitable floor space to the bungalow — a master bedroom of 22 square metres, en suite of 7 square metres, and dressing room of 6 square metres, with 7 square metres of landing and stairwell. The rear dormer is substantial and gives the bungalow a very different roof profile — more house than bungalow. The clients described it as transformative.

Project Photos

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