GS Renovation converts lofts throughout Catford, on the Edwardian and late Victorian terraces that run across SE6. Nearly all of them have a rear closet wing, which is what makes an L-shaped dormer worth the extra cost. We coordinate the structural engineer, install the steels and floor, and see the work through Lewisham Council building control.
L-shaped dormers on SE6 terraces
A plain rear dormer on a Catford terrace gives you one decent bedroom. Extending it round and over the closet wing in an L shape usually gives you that bedroom plus an en suite and a landing with proper headroom at the top of the stairs, because the wing roof is where the extra floor area comes from. It costs more and takes longer, and on most Edwardian terraces here it is still the better value option.
Before any of that we check the ridge height. Roughly 2.2m to 2.4m measured from the existing ceiling joists to the underside of the ridge is the threshold for a workable conversion. Edwardian roofs in SE6 are usually generous enough, though we also look at the condition of the rafters, whether the covering has been swapped for heavier concrete tiles at some point, and where the old cold water tank sits.
Consents, party walls and building control in Catford
Rear dormers on terraced houses frequently fall within permitted development, using the 40 cubic metre allowance that applies to terraces, but parts of SE6 sit inside Lewisham conservation areas where those rights are removed and a full application is required. An Article 4 direction can do the same. We confirm the designation for your address with Lewisham Council rather than working from what a neighbour was told about a different street.
Because a Catford terrace shares party walls on both sides, and the new steels bear into them, notice has to be served under the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. That duty is yours as the building owner, not ours as the contractor, so we prepare the drawings and details and you serve the notices in good time. Building control then inspects the floor, the fire separation, the stairs and the insulation as we build.
- Interlinked mains-powered smoke alarms
- Protected stair enclosure and fire doors to Part B
- Staircase design to Part K, including the landing below
- Hip to gable conversions on semi-detached and end terrace roofs
- Rooflight conversions where the roof line must not change
Why Catford Homeowners Choose GS Renovation
Catford owners choose GS Renovation because the difficult part of an L-shaped dormer is structural, and structural work is what we do. We coordinate the engineer, fit steels between party walls, build the new floor and staircase, keep dust out of the rest of the house and take the job to a Lewisham Council completion certificate. Fully insured, rated 4.9 from 31 MyBuilder reviews.
- Roof made good, leadwork and guttering finished properly
- One point of contact on the phone, not a call centre
- Founder-led team with 30+ years of hands-on experience
- Structural engineer instructed and coordinated on your behalf
- Clean, tidy and reliable tradespeople
- Staircase set out to Part K within the space you have