Masters Group
Loft Conversions That Create
a New Floor of Living Space
in Your Brighton Home
Add a bedroom, bathroom, and up to 30% more living space — using the space already above your head. Masters Group delivers structurally engineered loft conversions across East Sussex, from dormer to mansard, with full building control sign-off.
30+ years experience · Structural engineering included · Full building regs · Fully insured
30+ Years
Loft conversion specialists
Structural Engineering
Included as standard
Building Regs
Managed throughout
All Trades In-House
One team, one timeline
What Types of Loft Conversions Do We Build?
A loft conversion transforms your unused roof space into habitable living area — typically a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, a home office, or children's bedrooms. The four main types are Velux (roof window) conversions, rear dormer conversions, hip-to-gable conversions, and mansard conversions. Each offers different levels of headroom, floor area, and visual impact.
This service is for homeowners who need more bedrooms, want to add an en-suite to a master bedroom, or need dedicated workspace without losing ground-floor living space. In Brighton — where property prices per square foot are among the highest in the South East — adding a loft floor is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your home's value and livability.
Loft conversions are structural projects. The existing roof structure is not designed to carry the loads of a habitable floor — people, furniture, bathrooms. The floor joists must be upgraded or replaced, new structural supports must be installed, the staircase must meet fire safety regulations, and the roof structure must be modified to create adequate headroom.
Masters Group delivers loft conversions as a complete package — structural engineering, building control management, all trades (steelwork, carpentry, plumbing, electrics, plastering, tiling), and final fit-out. One contract, one project manager, one fixed price.
The Risks of Getting a Loft Conversion Wrong
Loft conversions carry greater structural risk than most other home improvements because they involve modifying the primary structure that keeps your roof in place and your house weather-tight. The roof truss system is an engineered structure — removing or cutting members without proper calculations can cause the roof to spread, sag, or in extreme cases, partially collapse.
Floor strength is the most common failure. Existing ceiling joists are designed to carry the weight of a plasterboard ceiling and loft insulation — typically 25kg per square metre. A habitable floor must carry 150kg per square metre (people, furniture, bathtub full of water). Without proper structural upgrading, floors bounce, crack, and can fail under concentrated loads like a freestanding bath.
Fire safety in loft conversions is governed by Approved Document B. When you add a habitable floor at loft level, you must provide a protected staircase enclosure with fire-rated doors, interconnected mains-powered smoke detection, and an escape window on the new floor. Failure to comply with these requirements means the conversion will not receive building control sign-off — and your home insurance may be void.
Thermal performance is critical in loft spaces because the roof is the most exposed element of the building. Without adequate insulation (typically 100mm of rigid PIR board between and under the rafters), the room will be unbearably hot in summer and freezing in winter. Poor insulation also creates condensation risk within the roof structure, leading to timber decay.
Our Process
How We Deliver Every Project
Feasibility Survey
We measure head height, assess roof structure type, check floor-to-ceiling dimensions, and confirm whether your loft is suitable for conversion.
Design & Structural Engineering
We produce layout drawings, commission structural calculations for floor, roof, and steelwork, and finalise the specification with you.
Planning & Building Control
We confirm permitted development eligibility or submit planning applications. Building control plans are submitted and approved before work starts.
Structural Work
Steel beams installed, floor joists upgraded, roof structure modified (dormer construction, hip removal, etc.), and staircase opening formed.
First Fix & Insulation
Roof insulation, plumbing, electrics, and heating installed. Fire-rated enclosures and doorsets fitted. All systems tested.
Plastering & Fit-Out
Walls and ceilings plastered, bathroom tiled and fitted, flooring laid, staircase completed, and decoration finished.
Why This Matters for Your Project
Add Up to 30% Living Space
A loft conversion can add 30–50 square metres of habitable space — equivalent to adding an entire extra floor to your home.
Up to 25% Property Value Increase
In Brighton's property market, a loft conversion with en-suite typically adds £50,000–£100,000 to a 3-bed terraced or semi-detached property.
No Loss of Garden Space
Unlike extensions, a loft conversion does not reduce your garden. The space is above you — it just needs to be unlocked.
Often Permitted Development
Most rear dormer loft conversions do not require planning permission under permitted development rights, saving time and fees.
Master Suite Potential
A loft bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in wardrobe creates a private retreat that transforms how you experience your home.
Minimal Disruption
Much of the work happens above the existing ceiling. The main disruption is the staircase installation — typically completed in 2–3 days.
Loft Conversions: Types, Structures & Specifications
Velux (rooflight) conversions are the simplest type, involving installing Velux windows into the existing roof slope without altering the roof structure. They work where existing head height is adequate (minimum 2.2m at the ridge). Floor joists are upgraded, insulation is added between rafters, and the space is fitted out. This is the most affordable option but provides the least usable floor area due to the sloping ceiling.
Rear dormer conversions are the most popular type in Brighton. A flat-roofed dormer is built out from the rear roof slope, creating a vertical wall that maximises headroom and usable floor area. Under permitted development, a dormer can extend across the full width of the rear roof (with restrictions on height and side margins). The dormer is typically clad in lead, zinc, or GRP to match the existing roofline.
Hip-to-gable conversions are used on semi-detached and detached properties where the roof has a hipped (sloping) end. By extending the party wall or end wall vertically to create a gable, the usable loft floor area increases significantly. This can be combined with a rear dormer for maximum space. Hip-to-gable conversions usually require planning permission.
Mansard conversions involve raising the party wall and replacing the entire rear roof slope with a near-vertical wall topped by a shallow flat roof. This creates the maximum possible internal space and is often used on terraced properties in Brighton where rear dormers alone do not provide sufficient room. Mansard conversions always require planning permission.
Structural steel is the backbone of every loft conversion. Typical installations include universal beams (UBs) spanning across the property to carry the new floor, ridge beams to replace the structural function of removed purlins and collar ties, and trimmer steels around the staircase opening. All steel is specified by a structural engineer and inspected by building control before being enclosed.
Staircase design must comply with Part K of the Building Regulations — minimum 2m headroom, maximum 42° pitch, and handrails on both sides where the stair is wider than 1m. In tight loft conversions, space-saver stairs or alternating-tread stairs are sometimes proposed, but these do not meet regulations for a habitable room. We design the staircase position during the feasibility stage to ensure compliance.
Bathroom installation in lofts requires careful planning for drainage (waste pipes must reach the existing soil stack with adequate fall), water supply pressure (loft bathrooms are the highest point in the house — low-pressure systems may need a pump), and waterproofing. We install macerator pumps where gravity drainage is not feasible and fit pressurised hot water systems where existing systems are gravity-fed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Unlock Your Loft?
Get a free feasibility survey and fixed-price estimate. Structural engineering, building control, and full fit-out — all managed by one team.