Dormer Bungalows

[bongoboy]

Does anyone live in a dormer bungalow? We have seen a 3 bed dormer bungalow on rightmove about 2 1/2 hours away from where we live. We were thinking of going to view it but a work colleague side they are boiling hot in the summer and that has put me off. I have night sweats where I live now and don't want to make a big mistake as this would be our forever home. Just wondered if anyone has ever lived in one or managed to overcome the heat problems during the summer. The bungalow is an older style property not a modern one.
Many thanks in advance

[eleanor2]

Hi bongo,
no sorry I havent experience of these. I did find this link here, it suggests asking the neighbours in similar style properties?
https://www.hotukdeals.com/discussions/advice-on-a-house-style-3494731

[eleanor2]

Also this, but please check grant authenticity, scrolling down it is dated 2020 ..
https://www.government-grants.co.uk/dormer-roof-insulation-grants

[eleanor2]

'Builder' on here may have good advice bongo.

[barry1010]

Depends on the level of insulation. I have slept in one on holiday and the bedrooms were extremely hot and when it rained during the night it was extremely loud. Don't forget heat rises, in the summer I keep my loft hatch open to help the heat escape from the 1st floor.

[barry1010]

eleanor's link is from a company in Kent called IMK and is not a government website. This is a link direct from the government website which may help clarify information about any possible grants available
https://www.simpleenergyadvice.org.uk/grants

[woofgang]

I think, having rented different kinds of house, and not just in the Uk, that it depends on the individual house. If the house was designed to be a dormer bungalow then its more likely to be ok than a conversion, unless of course, the conversion has been thoughtfully done. The aspect of the house affects the indoor temperatures too, also the way that inside is laid out. I would go and see it, plan your visit to be at the height of the day when it will potentially be at its hottest and see what you think. You might aslo ask your work colleague why he thinks that....if his answer is a sensible one that's one thing but if its on the lines of "well my Mum had one and hers was always boiling hot...not so much.

[The Builder]

Older bungalows... yes, they can be stifling in summer and freezing in winter.
As Barry said, lack of insulation. Anything from the 30s onwards, maybe up to the 70s, probably had no, or very little insulation.
Usually only plasterboard and roof tiles between you and the outside.
The dormers may have had a little insulation in the cheeks, but it doesn't do a lot.

Retrospective fitting of insulation is often a simple procedure. Really just fixing it to the slopey bits and the short walls. Then re-plasterboarding and finishing.
It all depends on how much headroom you have to begin with.

Homes (even "forever" ones) are all about location/setting/ ambience etc etc. Things you can do nothing about. Compared to those, fitting insulation is easily do-able.
Don't let it stand in your way.

[eleanor2]

Thanks Barry x
A lot more help now bongo x

[bongoboy]

Thank you so much for all the information and links. I am going to ask estate agent if they know when the loft conversion was added. The bungalow needs an awful lot of modernising and is being sold empty so probably it was added along time ago, which makes me think it wont have hardly any insulation.

The builder i do really like the location and it has so many shops about 8 mins away and everything you need like a gp is less than 10 mins away it was just the dormer being hot that concerned me. We live in a house with a metal roof and its awful trying to sleep at night so i was concerned about moving and having the same situation at night again, thank you for your all information you gave me, its really appreciated.

[The Builder]

Thanks Bongo.
So, it's a conversion? Proper insulation has been added since the early 70s. Conversions to 1½ storeys started to become popular around then.
Either way, it should be a lot better than a metal roof.
Sounds ideal for you. I particularly like modernising old bungalows myself.

I wish you the very best of luck.

[jourdain2]

I lived in one for 10 years and loved it. As has been said, it all depends on the insulation. I never had any problems at all. T.B.H. we are thinking of moving and a dormer bungalow would be high on our list of preferred homes - granted, we are thinking of moving back to France and there aren't many there. Anyway, as I wrote, I loved the one we were in. Probably a 70's build.

[rockyracoon]

My bedroom is in the upstairs of a chalet bungalow, and it is super unbearable in the summer. I mean utterly miserable. We are, hopefully, refurbing next year and will 100% be putting air con in.

[rockyracoon]

That being said, I’d buy the house again :)

[woofgang]

my bedroom is in the upstairs of a normal house and its super unbearable in summer.