All too usually, not sufficient thought is given to dormer cladding concepts, with owners focussing all their efforts on the brand new inner areas they will be creating of their loft conversion as an alternative. Massive mistake.
Whereas dormer loft conversions and dormer home windows can each actually improve the exterior look of a home, the flawed alternative of cladding can completely destroy the entire thing.
With this in thoughts, we’re right here to carry you some lovely cladding concepts to your dormer, it doesn’t matter what type of home you reside in, from these designed to catch the attention to designs that mix in seamlessly.
1. Create a particular addition with zinc cladding
Zinc cladding seems to be nice mixed with each fashionable and conventional supplies(Picture credit score: Chris Snook. Architect: Delve Architects)
There are such a lot of explanation why utilizing zinc cladding for a dormer is a good suggestion, not least that it may possibly last as long as 60 years.
As well as, it’s low upkeep, will not rust (superb for coastal properties) and provides tonnes of design flexibility – to not talked about the truth that it fits each fashionable and conventional properties.
This mission, by Delve Architects, contains a strikingly fashionable dormer loft conversion, clad in zinc, which has been paired with a timeless Crittal-style window.
2. Match clay roof tiles with a tile hung dormer
Matching cladding and tiles can artistic a cohesive look(Picture credit score: Absolute Lofts)
If you would like your loft conversion to appear like a seamless extension of the remainder of your private home, it may be a good suggestion to make use of the identical supplies to your cladding as these on the roof.
Each clay tile hanging and slates are good for this. Whereas handmade clay tiles might be an costly choice, machine-made variations supply a less expensive route, whereas some concrete replicas may also look surprisingly convincing when seen from beneath.
This mission, by Absolute Lofts, manages to each tie in with the present home in addition to trying fashionable due to the selection of home windows.
3. Pair fashionable gray home windows with a slate dormer
Slate cladding is a superb choice for contemporary loft conversions(Picture credit score: Merely Loft)
Slate is an excellent, cost-effective, choice for cladding a dormer.
“With regards to dormer cladding, the hot button is to strike a stability between the look, sturdiness and planning compliance,” factors out Rob Wooden, MD at Merely Loft, the corporate answerable for the above mission. “We frequently advocate supplies like slate tile or zinc cladding for a modern, fashionable look that ages nicely and requires minimal upkeep.”
You ought to be conscious that not all slate roofs are created equal. Take care to examine the place your slate originated as not all shall be suited to the UK local weather.
Rob Wooden
Merely Loft are certainly one of London’s main loft conversion specialists, initially based by Rob Wooden and his spouse Helen in 2010, after organising Merely Lengthen in 2008. It began with a imaginative and prescient of making a home or residential constructing firm that might concentrate on delivering house enchancment together with kitchen extensions, loft conversions and extra not too long ago basement conversions in a easy and clearly structured approach with a powerful concentrate on buyer care.
4. Use Shou Sugi Ban for a low upkeep choice
Charred timber is decrease upkeep than common wooden cladding(Picture credit score: Bloom Architects)
Timber cladding provides a heat and wonder that may be onerous to attain with different supplies, but it is not with out its points – primarily that it requires some upkeep to remain trying its finest.
Because of this, Shou Sugi Ban, or charred timber, is an excellent choice. For this mission, designed by Bloom Architects, it made a lot sense.
“The cladding was charred on-site by the principal contractor,” explains Bloom’s director, Chris Jackson. “We found that Yakisugi (typically referred to within the west as ‘Shou Sugi Ban’)is sort of advanced and should be accomplished by a specialist if following conventional strategies.
“We particularly prefer it as a result of it’s an environmentally pleasant different to timber preservation and, paradoxically, improves the fire-resistant properties of the timber.”
5. Stand up to the weather with lead cladding
Lead has been used as a cladding materials for a few years(Picture credit score: Absolute Lofts)
Lead has been used for hundreds of years as a cladding materials and for masking flat roofs.
Whereas it isn’t essentially the most budget-friendly choice, it provides a timeless magnificence and, if put in appropriately, ought to final for a fantastic a few years – in reality, lead has one of many longest lifespans of any roofing and cladding materials.
Regardless of being costly (and never essentially the most environmentally pleasant) alternative, when used to clad small dormers, it seems to be very putting.
6. Contemplate purple zinc to create a showstopper
This purple zinc clad dormer is completely putting(Picture credit score: Chris Wharton. Architects: Fraher & Findlay)
Among the best issues about metallic cladding, and particularly zinc, is that it is available in quite a lot of colors aside from the commonly-seen darkish gray.
For this mission, by Fraher & Findlay, purple zinc was used to clad the brand new dormer, which has been topped with a sedum roof.
“Zinc is weatherproof, corrosion-resistant and isn’t degraded by daylight, that means it has a protracted life and is pretty low in upkeep,” explains Rob Wooden. “One other plus is that the majority zinc cladding is 100% recyclable.”
7. Embrace the weathering course of with metal
Corten metal weathers superbly over time(Picture credit score: Whitaker Studio. Architects: DEDRAFT)
If you would like your new dormer loft conversion to face out for all the appropriate causes, it’s best to severely think about using metal as a cladding materials, as was accomplished for this eye-catching mission, by DEDRAFT.
“The unique purple dealing with brickwork led us to lean in the direction of a fabric that patinates and weathers over time permitting it to embed itself into its setting,” clarify the architects. “Following a lot analysis, we settled on essentially the most applicable materials to attain this aesthetic – weathering metal, often known as Corten®”
The result’s a putting construction that can solely get higher with time.
8. Get pleasure from design flexibility with fibreglass concrete
Fibreglass strengthened concrete is long-lasting and straightforward to put in(Picture credit score: Nick Dearden. Architects: DEDRAFT)
If you would like unbelievable flexibility out of your cladding concepts by way of design, kind and color, look no additional than fibreglass strengthened concrete.
For this mission, by DEDRAFT, öko pores and skin from Rieder was chosen. Not like timber cladding, the product by no means must be painted or sanded and it’s provided in slats that are simple to put in.
Along with timber-look panels, it additionally is available in those who resemble bricks and stone making it appropriate for a variety of tasks.
9. Let within the gentle with a fully-glazed entrance
An expanse of glass will guarantee light-filled interiors(Picture credit score: Absolute Lofts)
If you wish to guarantee your new loft conversion concepts are flooded with pure gentle, a fully-glazed dormer may simply be the best way to go.
Should you love the thought of a glazed facade, do think about that you will want to look into the best way to forestall overheating. Relying on the orientation of your loft conversion, this may not be the most suitable choice.
Moreover, take into consideration how you’ll guarantee privateness – and keep in mind too that every one that cup will want common cleansing to remain trying its finest.
10. Create distinction along with your cladding alternative
Slate cladding and purple brick are a fantastic pairing visually(Picture credit score: Merely Loft)
If you wish to guarantee your new dormer loft conversion actually stands out as a contemporary addition to your private home, utilizing a cladding materials that’s in full distinction to the these used elsewhere on your private home is a superb thought.
This mission, by Merely Loft, has been clad in slate and teamed with darkish gray home windows and doorways, giving it a decidedly fashionable look.
Be aware, that regardless of the distinction between outdated and new, the shape and proportions of the home windows has been mirrored.
FAQs
Which is the costliest dormer cladding?
In case you are eager to your loft conversion prices to not spiral, you might be in all probability questioning what every kind of cladding goes to value.
Zinc and lead cladding are usually the costliest choices, with zinc coming in at round £100-£150/m².
Timber and slate are each extra budget-friendly selections.
Do not forget, {that a} dormer is not your solely choice – there are many different kinds of loft conversion to contemplate to make sure your new addition fits your own home completely.
