Loft and Garage Conversions in East Lothian

What does a loft or garage conversion involve?

Every house is different, but most conversions share the same basics. A loft needs a safe, comfortable way up, usable floor space and a finished room under the roof. A garage needs to become a warm, dry, properly finished room that suits how you will use it.

The joinery side is where we come in. Much of it is the detail you notice every day once the room is finished.

• Staircases and handrails to reach a loft room
• Internal doors and fire doors where they are needed
• Windows, and repairs to existing timber windows
• Fitted wardrobes, eaves storage, alcove units and shelving
• Flooring and finishing to match the rest of the house
• Under-stair storage and other ways to use awkward spaces

Do you need a building warrant to convert a loft or garage?

In Scotland, converting a loft or garage into a room needs a building warrant. Starting work that needs a warrant without one is an offence and can lead to a fine. It can also cause problems when you come to sell, and the council can order you to put things right.

A building warrant and planning permission are two separate things. A loft conversion often needs a warrant but not planning permission. Converting an attached or integral garage usually doesn't need planning permission either, because the outside shape of the building stays the same.

Planning can come into it if you change the outside. Replacing a garage door with a wall and window alters the front of the house, and larger dormers, raising the roof, listed buildings and conservation areas usually need planning permission. East Lothian Council's building standards team is in Haddington, and warrant applications are normally made online through ebuildingstandards.scot. Ask them or your architect or agent about your own property.

Structural sign-off is also part of the process. A structural engineer's report is typically needed for a loft conversion.

What to expect, from first visit to finished room

We keep it simple, and we explain things in everyday words as we go. Here is how a job usually runs.

• Call George or send an enquiry. We will arrange a visit to see the loft or garage.
• We look at the space, talk through what you want to use it for, and give you honest advice. Estimates and advice are free.
• You get an estimate for the work. If drawings, an engineer's report or a building warrant are needed, we explain what is involved before anything starts.
• Once the warrant is in place, we agree start dates and carry out the joinery and finishing.
• The council sets out when inspections are needed, so we plan the work around them.
• At the end, we check the finished work with you.

Things to think about before you start

A little checking early on can save a lot of trouble later. For a loft, the first question is head height, because you need enough room to stand and to fit a safe staircase. It also helps to see whether other houses on your street have already been converted. East Lothian Council lets you search past warrant applications online.

Scope often changes during a project, so it is worth deciding early whether you want fitted storage, a new staircase, or a different window layout. Changing your mind part way through is easier to handle if we have talked it through first.

Building standards were updated in April 2026, and the council or your agent can tell you which parts apply to a domestic conversion. After the work, the completion certificate matters. It is an offence to occupy a conversion unless the completion certificate has been accepted by the council, not just submitted.

Why use a local joinery firm for your conversion?

We are based in Tranent and have worked around East Lothian for many years. We are an East Lothian Trusted Trader (since 2017) and rated 5.0 from 63 reviews. You can read them on our reviews and see recent work from our own jobs.

Helen Robertson said of a fitted wardrobe: "My ideas for a fitted wardrobe started out on the back of envelope but George interpreted them perfectly and found ideal solutions for the awkward bits." Lofts and garages are full of awkward bits, and that is where good joinery makes the difference.

Loft and garage conversions sit alongside our other work, so you can also ask about a new kitchen, bathroom, doors or flooring. See all our services or the areas we cover.