Dorma Loft Conversion

gilmour1979

11 years ago

Hi There, We have had plans drawn up for a loft conversion, putting in a dorma window. The loft space will be a bit tight even with the dorma, 2 metres high to be precise. Does anyone have a similar conversion with a low ceiling? We are worried we will spend the money on it, but that it won't be very useable. We could use it as a kids room, but ideally we would like it as a master bedroom for myself and my husband. Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated. Thanks, Jo

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PRO

OnePlan

11 years ago

Our old cottage has a 2m high master suite - it's ok - has a rough textured ceiling that takes the skin off your knuckles if you forget and stretch your arms up without bending your knees at the same time !! You don't notice the lack of height when you are in bed asleep though !!!

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Comments (25)

minnie101
11 years ago
We converted our basement which is the same height as that. It did start off a little taller but that's another story! It's fine for us as we're not tall but a couple of friends have bumped their head on the steels (several times!). i couldn't see if there was a legal height requirement in the UK at the time for it to be classed as a room. Ours is just a "party" room and something we did for ourselves rather than to add value to the property for resell. I assume yours complies with any requirements, if they do exist, as you've had plans drawn up. Try and be clever with decor and lighting to make it feel higher
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gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks so much. So - gut reaction - knowing what the space is like, would you have it as a master bedroom or a kids bedroom?
minnie101
11 years ago
I think it depends on the space. Is it a large room? If so, then yes master bedroom and do think about how to give the ceiling the appearance of being taller
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
It's a good size with room for en-suite and walk-in wardrobe if the height can work… I've been taking a few notes on using full-length curtains, wall-lights, hanging pictures high and painting the ceiling a lighter colour than the walls etc to make it feel taller.
minnie101
11 years ago
I'd go for it then, sounds great. Just make sure the architect has allowed for sub-floor, underlay, flooring, plasterboarding etc within that 2m
gilmour1979 thanked minnie101
Jonathan
11 years ago
Have you investigated the cost of taking off the roof and either building up the walls or putting a different pitch to create more room?
It might be worth the extra money
gilmour1979 thanked Jonathan
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
We are mid-terrace, so we are limited to what we can do. We are putting a full-length dorma on the back to make the space useable as the pitch is quite steep. The only other option may be to drop the ceilings on the 1st floor, which would give us a little more height, but would involve more time, money and upheaval, so we were hoping to avoid doing that.
Jonathan
11 years ago
Sounds like you have to weigh up if you would be better moving.
You could also go down if you have a cellar
gilmour1979 thanked Jonathan
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
No cellar - I think it's worth doing - just need to make the best use of the space. It would definitely work as a kids room, but a master bedroom would suit us better as long as we wouldn't feel suffocated in there. I've been trying to find someone local with a room a similar height, but no luck yet.
minnie101
11 years ago
Are you or your husband tall? If you're close to essex you are welcome to look at our basement!
gilmour1979 thanked minnie101
Martin Mcevoy
11 years ago
I have to agree with you on lowering the ceiling? What is the measurement at the moment from the top of the ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge board? Hopefully you have at least 2400mm.

Regards
Martin
gilmour1979 thanked Martin Mcevoy
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you minnie101 - what a kind offer - we are on the cambridge essex border - is that anywhere near you?
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
Think it's about 2200mm so we are pretty tight, but builder and architect think they'll still get 2ms. Hopefully! The builder is coming over next week to go through the details! Thank you!
minnie101
11 years ago
It's not too far, we're close to Braintree. Let me know if you do want to! We had many discussions as to how to get the most height!
gilmour1979 thanked minnie101
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
That would be amazing! We've got the builder coming round next week so I'm going to get him to confirm the height he thinks we will get. minnie101 I will drop you a message if that's ok! Thank you
PRO
OnePlan
11 years ago
If you two need to contact eachother - either one of you post a private comment on the one of the others Ideabooks - or if that's not possible hit the contact me button on my pro page and I will forward messages between you if it helps ! :-)
gilmour1979 thanked OnePlan
minnie101
11 years ago
Thanks One Plan, that's very kind of you! Gilmour, hope it goes well with the builder!
gilmour1979 thanked minnie101
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
Fab - thank you! It had stumped me!
Rahul Raswant
11 years ago
Hi There - what was the outcome - I have the same dilemma on 2m ceilings in a potential loft conversion - I am curious on how things worked out?
gilmour1979
Original Author
11 years ago
Hi Rahul, I visited a local loft conversion very similar to the one we have planned and it worked really well. We are still looking for someone to do the work for us at present, but are going full steam ahead when we find someone with a master bedroom up there.
Carly H
6 years ago
Hi Gilmour1979 - just wondered what you ended up doing as we are looking at the same thing. Did you go for the master bedroom with 2m ceiling height please? Thanks in advance!
gilmour1979
Original Author
6 years ago
We did and it was fine. I’m 5ft8 and my hubby is 6ft and was a brilliant investment for us!
Carly H
6 years ago
Thank you! Really appreciate you replying
PRO
Base 2 Roof Construction
6 years ago
do you have structural engineer drawings what you could post so we can check if its a chance to put floor steels in between all ceiling joist or if its away to higher up a ridge steel and create more head height that way?

Dorma Loft Conversion

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