About us
About Loft Maker London
An in-house construction team doing loft conversions, extensions, roofing and structural steelwork across London and Essex.
Who we are
Loft Maker London is run by Craig Darrach. We are a small team, and that is deliberate: the person who surveys your property is the person who designs it, and the person who answers the phone during the build is the same one who was on site the week before.
We work on the buildings people actually live in — Victorian terraces, post-war semis, ex-local-authority houses and converted properties with awkward roofs — across London and Essex. Most of our work is loft conversions and the extensions that go with them, which means we spend our days on the part of a house that everybody else avoids: the structure, the roof and the point where new steel meets old brickwork.
How we work
We handle the whole job: survey, design, planning or permitted development, structural engineering, building regulations, the build itself, and the finishing. That is not a boast about being comprehensive, it is a practical response to how these projects go wrong. When the drawings, the consent and the build are handled by three different companies, the gaps between them are where budgets go.
It also means you get a single point of contact and a single programme. If something on site needs a decision, it gets made by the person who designed it, in the same week, rather than passed up a chain and returned three weeks later as a query.
What we do
- Loft Conversions London & Essex — Turn unused roof space into a bedroom, bathroom or home office. We handle design, consents, structure and the build.
- Dormer Loft Conversions London — A dormer pushes the roof outwards at the front or back, creating real headroom and floor area where a rooflight alone would not.
- Hip-to-Gable Conversions London — Turning the hipped end of your roof into a vertical gable gives a squarer room, more headroom and a far more usable floor area.
- Side Extensions London & Essex — The side return is usually the most under-used space on a London plot. Filling it with a well-designed extension is the cheapest way to add a proper room.
- Mansard Loft Conversions London — A mansard changes the whole roof profile, giving full headroom and a large, regular floor area - the most complete conversion you can get from an existing footprint.
- GRP Flat Roofing London & Essex — A single welded, joint-free membrane with no tiles to slip. A durable flat roof for extensions, garages, porches and full roof replacements.
- Structural Steel Installation London — Beams, posts and frames that let you take out a load-bearing wall or open up a plan, calculated by an engineer, fabricated and installed by us.
How we are covered
Every completed project carries a 10-year structural warranty, and the policy wording and schedule of cover are handed over with the completion certificate. We hold public liability and employers' liability insurance for the work we do.
Insurance and warranty
10-year structural warranty
Every completed project is covered by a structural warranty. The full policy wording and schedule of cover are issued at handover.
Meet the team
Craig Darrach
Founder
Common questions
What does Loft Maker London do?
We are a London and Essex construction company specialising in loft conversions, dormer and mansard roof construction, side extensions, GRP flat roofing and structural steelwork. We handle design, planning, structural engineering, groundworks, roofing and finishing in-house, so you deal with one team from first drawings to handover.
Which areas do you cover?
We work across London and Essex, including Chingford and South Woodford. We are a mobile, service-area business, so we come to you rather than asking you to visit an office.
How much does a loft conversion cost?
It depends on the property, the specification and how much of the work is structural. A straightforward conversion in an existing roof space costs less than one that needs a new structural opening, steelwork or extensive roof construction. We price every project individually and give you a clear written quote before work starts, so there is no ambiguity about what you are paying for.
Do I need planning permission for a loft conversion?
Not always, but it depends on the property and the work. Many loft conversions fall within permitted development, while mansard roofs, dormer windows in conservation areas, and work that changes the volume of a dwelling often need planning permission. Building Regulations approval is a separate requirement and applies to most structural work. We assess your specific property, tell you exactly which permissions are needed, and handle the applications.
How long does a loft conversion take?
A conversion that does not require planning permission is often built in two to three weeks on site, but the full project - surveys, designs, approvals, build and finishing - takes considerably longer. Projects involving a mansard roof, an extension or steelwork take longer again. We give you a realistic programme with the quote, and we keep you informed if anything changes.
Is my project covered by a warranty?
Every project we complete is backed by a 10-year structural warranty. The full policy wording and schedule of cover are issued to you at handover, so you know exactly what is covered and what to do if you need to make a claim.
Do you handle Party Wall notices?
Yes. Where your project affects a neighbouring property, Party Wall notices or an award may be required before work starts. We prepare the necessary paperwork, serve the notices and coordinate with the adjoining owner's surveyor where one is appointed.
Can you work from drawings we already have?
Yes. If you have planning approval, architectural drawings or structural calculations, we can price and build from them. If you would rather we took the design and planning on as well, we can do that instead - just tell us which stage you have reached.
Can you match an existing roof or extension?
Yes. We work with a range of roof tiles and finishes, and we match existing materials where we are extending or building alongside original fabric, so the finished work reads as part of the house rather than an addition to it.
What happens after I get in touch?
We arrange a free, no-obligation consultation at your property. We look at the space, discuss what you want to achieve and any constraints, and then come back to you with options and a clear written quote. There is no obligation to proceed.
Tell us about your project
Send a few details and we'll come back to you with honest advice on what is possible, what it involves and how long it takes.