Cuffley, Hertfordshire (EN6)
Cuffley Residential Renovation
From structural alteration and renovation through to refined interiors and a renewed exterior, this project documents the journey from construction site to completed home.
DetachedExplore
CASE STUDY · Crouch End, North London (N8)
Loft conversion & bedroom suite
A rear dormer loft conversion creating a principal bedroom, en-suite and built-in eaves storage, with a new staircase designed to sit within the existing landing.
01. OVERVIEW & BRIEF
Client brief
The family needed a quiet principal bedroom and en-suite bathroom on a new second floor, with generous built-in storage in the front eaves and a staircase that looked and felt like part of the original Edwardian house.
02. PROPERTY CHALLENGE
Property challenge
Head height at the existing ridge was tight and the first-floor landing was narrow. We had to position the new structural floor steels carefully to maximise ceiling height while designing a winder staircase that met Building Regulations headroom rules without encroaching on the box room.
03. ORAMA SCOPE
Scope & approach
Working from external scaffolding under a temporary weatherproof roof, we installed steel floor beams between the party walls, framed a full-width rear dormer, insulated to current Part L standards, built a matching timber staircase, and fitted out the bedroom and en-suite.
04. PLANNING & COORDINATION
Planning & design coordination
Secured a Lawful Development Certificate under Permitted Development rights, Party Wall agreements with both adjoining neighbours, and full Building Control approval including fire door and escape route upgrades.
EXECUTION STAGES
Construction stages
Sequenced by Costas Joannides to ensure structural integrity, tidy site coordination, and seamless transitions between trades.
4-Stage Project Sequencing
01Phase
Scaffolding & Structural Floor
Erecting tin-hat scaffolding, hoisting RSJ steel beams into party wall pockets, and laying new independent floor joists.
Verified on SiteStage 01
02Phase
Dormer Framing & Weatherproofing
Constructing the rear dormer timber shell, fitting high-performance PIR insulation, rooflights, and weatherproof cladding.
Verified on SiteStage 02
03Phase
Staircase & First-Fix Services
Opening the landing trimmer, fitting the bespoke flight, and routing first-fix plumbing and electrics for the en-suite.
Verified on SiteStage 03
04Phase
Joinery, En-Suite & Handover
Plasterboarding, en-suite tiling and sanitaryware, bespoke eaves storage joinery, fire doors, and Building Control sign-off.
Verified on SiteStage 04
IMAGE GALLERY
Before, progress & completion
Select any photograph to view it enlarged.
PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY
Project gallery
Photography documenting the project from existing condition through to completion.
PROJECT OUTCOME
Outcome
A calm, light-filled top floor suite that adds a generous double bedroom, shower room and full-width eaves storage while preserving every room on the floor below.
- Full-width rear dormer maximising usable floor area and head height
- New staircase integrated seamlessly above the existing first-floor flight
- Compact luxury en-suite shower room with concealed cistern and wall niches
- Bespoke flush-fitted storage built into the front roof slope eaves
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DISCUSS A SIMILAR PROJECT
Discuss a similar project
Book a free initial home visit in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire or North London. Direct consultation with founder Costas Joannides.
Free initial consultation·Base: Potters Bar (EN6)·45+ years residential craft