Roof dormer extension advice

[Mrmarmite]

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting here, and I’d appreciate some advice.

Long story short, I purchased a house with a loft conversion that was completed many years ago. The previous owners didn’t have building regulations approval for it. I recently hired someone to change the direction of the stairs, which unfortunately created an issue with head height when going up and down, as the roof dormer is in the way.

My plan is to extend the roof dormer by approximately 20 inches. It doesn’t seem like an overly complicated job, but since I’ve never done this before, I want to be sure before I begin.

Does anyone have any advice on tackling this project myself?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Can you actually extend it 20" without interfering with the hip on the outside? You'll have to expose the structure on the inside and see what's currently holding up the dormer, then that will need some thought (possibly involving a structural engineer really) to ensure what you do will work, structurally. It might just be a case of doubling or tripling up the rafters for the new cheek to sit on, if they have something to connect to at high level ....

Technically it needs Building Control approval though that could be a Pandora's box of course.