Berkshire Bespoke Carpentry
Roof Carpentry for Extensions and Loft Conversions in Gerrards Cross
Roof carpentry for extensions, loft conversions and dormers across Gerrards Cross, SL9 and the surrounding villages — cut roofs, rafters, hips, valleys and ridges, built to the engineer's design and ready for Building Control. Send your plans for a fixed-price quote, or arrange a site visit before the roofing trades follow.
Local to Berkshire
Experienced Carpenters
32 years in the trade
Fully Insured
High-Quality Finish
Our Approach
Where the Carpentry Ends and the Roofing Begins
Gerrards Cross sits in Buckinghamshire, just over the county line from our Berkshire base, and roof carpentry there is a regular part of our working week alongside Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Fulmer, Hedgerley and Beaconsfield. We cut and fix the rafters, hips, valleys, ridges and joists for extensions, loft conversions and dormers, working to the engineer’s design and ready for Building Control before the roofing trades follow.
Gerrards Cross’s housing stock gives roof carpentry a specific character here. Large detached properties — Victorian and Edwardian houses near the station, and a great many arts-and-crafts homes built between the wars with steep tiled roofs and non-standard pitches — rarely take a standard truss roof well when extended. A cut roof, built on site rather than lifted into place, gives the flexibility needed to tie a new roof into an existing, often irregular, roofline, and to accommodate the dormers and roof lights that loft conversions in these larger properties usually call for.
Dormer framing is a particular specialism within roof carpentry, and loft conversions are common across Gerrards Cross’s substantial roof spaces. A dormer window needs its own small roof structure — cheeks, a flat or pitched dormer roof, and a structural opening cut into the main roof slope — built to carry its own loads and tie correctly into the surrounding rafters. We frame dormers to the engineer’s design and to the dimensions set out on the planning drawings, which matters particularly given how many Gerrards Cross streets sit within conservation-sensitive or green-belt planning contexts.
Every structural roof alteration we carry out is designed by a structural engineer or architect before we start cutting timber. We do not design roof structures ourselves — our role is to build precisely to the design that has been approved, using timber graded for the load it will carry, and to leave the work accessible for the Building Control inspection that structural roof carpentry requires.
What We Do
Roof Carpentry We Carry Out in Gerrards Cross
Cut Roof Construction for Extensions
Single and two-storey extensions most often need a cut roof — rafters, ceiling joists, and a ridge board or structural ridge beam, built on site to match the pitch and geometry of the existing house. We set out the roof from the engineer’s drawing, cut each rafter to length and birdsmouth it onto the wall plate, and fix hips and valleys where the new roof meets the existing one, ready for the roofing trades to batten, felt and tile.
Dormer Framing
Dormer windows are one of the most common additions in a Gerrards Cross loft conversion, and the framing is a specific roof carpentry task. We cut the structural opening in the main roof, frame the dormer cheeks and front wall, and construct the dormer’s own small roof, tying the new structure into the existing rafters either side. Dormer sizes and positions follow the approved planning drawings precisely.
Loft Conversion Roof Carpentry
Converting a loft into habitable space usually means strengthening or replacing parts of the existing roof structure — new structural floor joists to take the extra load, rafters reinforced or replaced where a dormer or roof light is formed, and new ceiling joists or collar ties where the roof needs to carry differently once the space is used as a room. We work to the engineer’s specification throughout.
Hip and Valley Carpentry
Hipped roofs and valleys — where two roof slopes meet at an internal angle — are more complex to cut than a straightforward gable roof, and common on Gerrards Cross’s period properties. Hip and valley rafters carry loads from two roof planes and need to be set out and cut accurately so the roof covering has a true, consistent surface to fix to.
Roof Joists and Structural Ties
Ceiling joists, collar ties, and structural floor joists in a loft conversion all do a job that is easy to overlook once the roof is covered: they stop the roof spreading under load and carry the floor above a new extension or converted loft. We size and fix these to the engineer’s specification, positioned to clear headroom and stairwell openings without compromising the structural function they perform.
Ridge Beam and Ridge Board Installation
The ridge is where opposing rafters meet at the top of the roof, and it is usually the first piece fixed once the wall plates are in place. For larger spans — hip roofs, loft conversions with a structural ridge beam specified by the engineer — we lift and fix a structural ridge beam, often steel-flitched, rather than a simple ridge board, and tie the rafters into it to the design specification.
Recent Work
Roof Carpentry in Progress, Gerrards Cross
Scope
What We Leave to Other Specialists
Roof carpentry, as we carry it out, is structural timber work only. We do not supply or fit roofing membranes, breather membrane, felt, battens for tiles, roof tiles or slates, leadwork, flashing, guttering, or any other weatherproofing. Those trades follow on from the carpentry and are usually carried out by a roofing contractor or leadworker working to their own specification.
Where carpentry ends and weatherproofing begins is deliberately kept clear. We hand over a finished, inspected timber structure — rafters, hips, valleys, ridge and joists fixed to the engineer’s design — and it is then ready for the roofing trades to batten, felt, tile and weatherproof. We are happy to recommend roofing contractors we have worked alongside, but we do not carry out that work ourselves.
We also do not design roof structures. Structural alterations to a roof — forming a dormer, cutting a new roof opening, strengthening rafters — are carried out to a structural engineer’s or architect’s design, and the completed work is inspected by Building Control. We build precisely to that design; we do not act as the designer.
How It Works
From Drawings to a Signed-Off Roof Structure
Send Plans or Visit Site
Email your architect’s or engineer’s drawings, or arrange a site visit to your Gerrards Cross property if the design is not finalised yet. We review the roof geometry and structural requirements before quoting.
Fixed-Price Quote
A written, itemised quote within two working days, based on the drawings or site visit — timber specification, structural elements, and sequencing against other trades.
Timber Ordering
Once the quote is accepted, we order graded structural timber — C16 or C24 depending on the engineer’s specification — and any steel flitch or ridge beams required.
Cut Roof Construction
We cut and fix the roof structure on site, in sequence with the rest of the build, scheduled around the Building Control inspection the structural work requires.
Sign-Off and Handover
The completed structure is left accessible for Building Control inspection. Once signed off, we hand over to the roofing trades for battening, felting, tiling and weatherproofing.
Pricing
What Does Roof Carpentry Cost in Gerrards Cross?
These are indicative carpentry-only ranges based on recent Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire projects, including Gerrards Cross and SL9 — they exclude roofing and weatherproofing, engineer’s fees, and Building Control fees. An itemised quote follows the drawing review or site visit.
| Roof Carpentry Work | Typical Range (carpentry only) |
|---|---|
| Cut roof structure, single-storey extension (rafters, ridge, joists) | £3,500 – £7,000 |
| Cut roof structure, two-storey extension / larger span | £6,000 – £12,000 |
| Dormer framing (per dormer, structural carpentry only) | £1,800 – £3,500 |
| Loft conversion roof carpentry (structural floor + roof alterations) | £5,000 – £11,000+ |
| Hip or valley roof section (per junction) | £800 – £1,800 |
| Ridge beam installation (steel-flitched, supply and fit) | £1,200 – £2,800 |
| Structural roof repair or reinforcement (per section) | £600 – £2,200 |
The biggest cost drivers are roof geometry (hips and valleys cost more than a simple gable), whether a structural ridge beam is specified, and the extent of loft conversion alterations — factors that come up often on Gerrards Cross’s larger, older roof spans. Send your drawings and we will give you an exact, itemised price.
Get Started
Send Your Plans or Drawings
Email your architect's or engineer's drawings and a brief description of the project, and we will come back with an itemised quote or arrange a site visit to Gerrards Cross.
Prefer email? Write to info@berkshirebespokecarpentry.co.uk or call 07399 651 836.
Common Questions
Roof Carpentry in Gerrards Cross — Frequently Asked Questions
What is cut roof carpentry, and does my Gerrards Cross extension need one?
A cut roof is built rafter by rafter on site rather than lifted into place as prefabricated trusses. We set out and cut each rafter, hip, valley and the ridge to the engineer’s design, so the roof ties into an existing roofline or accommodates dormers and roof lights that a standard truss cannot easily handle. Most extensions and loft conversions in Gerrards Cross need a cut roof for this reason, particularly on the arts-and-crafts and Victorian properties with steep, non-standard pitches.
Do you design the roof structure, or just build it?
We build to a structural engineer’s or architect’s design; we do not design roof structures ourselves. If you do not yet have a design, we can recommend engineers we have worked alongside, but the structural calculation and drawing need to come from a qualified designer before we price or start cutting timber.
Do you fit roof tiles, felt, or leadwork?
No. Roof carpentry, as we carry it out, is structural timber only — rafters, hips, valleys, ridge and joists. We do not supply or fit membranes, felt, battens for tiles, tiles, slates, leadwork or guttering. That work is carried out by roofing and leadwork trades once our carpentry has passed Building Control inspection.
Will Building Control need to inspect the roof structure on a Gerrards Cross property?
In almost all cases, yes. Structural roof carpentry — a new cut roof, dormer framing, loft conversion alterations — falls under Building Regulations and is inspected by the local authority or an approved inspector before it is covered. We leave the structure accessible for that inspection and build to the standard the engineer’s design specifies.
Can you frame a dormer window for a loft conversion in a Gerrards Cross house?
Yes. We cut the structural opening in the main roof, frame the dormer cheeks and front wall, and build the dormer’s own roof structure, tying it into the surrounding rafters. Dormer position and dimensions follow the approved planning drawings, since the framing has to match what was consented — a point that matters particularly in Gerrards Cross’s green-belt and conservation-sensitive streets.
How long does a cut roof take to build?
A single-storey extension roof typically takes a roof carpentry team three to six days, depending on size and complexity — longer where there are hips, valleys, or dormers. Loft conversion roof alterations vary more widely depending on what is being strengthened or replaced. We give a specific timeline once we have seen the drawings or the roof itself.
Do I need an engineer before you can quote for my Gerrards Cross project?
Ideally, yes, for anything structural — a cut roof, dormer, or loft conversion alteration needs an engineer’s design before we can price timber sizes and connections accurately. If you only have architect’s drawings at this stage, send them over and we will advise on what structural information is still needed.
Do you cover Gerrards Cross and the surrounding villages for roof carpentry?
Yes. Gerrards Cross sits in Buckinghamshire, just over the border from our Berkshire base, and roof carpentry there is a regular part of our working week, alongside Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Beaconsfield, Fulmer, Hedgerley, Denham, Iver, Iver Heath, Farnham Common and Farnham Royal.
Related Services in Gerrards Cross
Often Paired With Roof Carpentry
Burglary Damage Repairs — Gerrards Cross
If your project follows storm or impact damage, we also repair split door and window frames as a separate, more targeted service.
Window Repairs — Gerrards Cross
Roof lights and dormer windows sit alongside the existing window stock — our repair team covers hardware, glass and timber issues on both.
Home Security Upgrades — Gerrards Cross
Once a loft conversion or extension is complete, upgrading locks and frame reinforcement on the rest of the house is a common next step.
Carpenter in Gerrards Cross
See the full range of bespoke carpentry and joinery work our team carries out across Gerrards Cross and SL9.
Send Your Plans for a Roof Carpentry Quote in Gerrards Cross
Email your drawings or arrange a free site visit. Fixed-price written quote within two working days.
We carry out roof carpentry across Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire: