If you are one of the many people considering loft conversions at the moment then it is important that you know what kind of loft you have. The reason for this is so that you know what kind of conversion would best suit you and your home. However, you don't need to be an expert on the subject, in fact it is likely that you don't know anything about loft conversions.

This isn't a problem as there is plenty of information about this on the internet and any good company you use will be more than happy to answer any questions you have. It's not surprising that so many people are opting for loft conversions these days as the housing market is so unpredictable and expensive. As well as this loft conversions are a good way of adding valuable extra space onto your house that will also increase the value of your home when it comes to selling it on.

The first step is to know what kind of loft you have. There are three categories for this: dormer, rooflight/velux and mansard. Once you know this you can start planning what kind of conversion to get.

Dormer loft conversions are normally used when there isn't a lot of space in the attic as they add extra headroom. This method requires an actual extension onto the roof in order for a more standard shape to be created that would be suitable for a room. The extension is built at the rear of the roof to provide floor and living space and is generally a square section construction which maximises the overall living area. The extra space that is left will have been created by adding extra depth to the existing roof.

Rooflight/velux loft conversions and generally used for smaller conversions such as a single bedroom or a study. One of the advantages of this style is that roof lights can be installed with a minimum disruption and are available in a range of designs and styles for flat, sloping and pitched roofs, in wood and polyurethane frames, with various shutter designs, rollers and glazing, and with electric controls.

Mansard loft conversions can be created to the rear and sometimes to the front of your traditional style home; normally to a terraced property and sometimes to a flat roof property. This type of conversion was the preferred design a number of years ago although is still popular today, especially in London.

With so many different types of loft conversions available it's hard to know what is what. However, with enough research and with the help of your conversion team you will pick out the perfect extension for yourself.