HTML > Wordpress conversion

[Flushdraw]

I've been having a lot more success with my WP sites than my HTML sites and I'm growing fonder of the ease of updating them etc. Can a html site be converted into WP whilst keeping its exact design and structure. My pages end in .html (www.XXXXXX.com/XXXX.html) so I guess I would just redirect these to the new (www.XXXXXX.com/XXXX/) or maybe change the permalinks to something like /%postname%.html. I can edit html a bit but don't have much of a clue when it comes to WP so can the sites design stay pretty much the same and not look like a standard WP theme?
How much would I typically be looking at for a conversion of a 50 page website?

Thanks

[sirtiner]

The design can look however you want so yes.
I would redirect the .html to /

Altho i would think its kinda scary to do it if its a full grown site

[Flushdraw]

I don't think 50 or so pages would be that bad. Its mainly the design that I am concerned about. I think if I get the redirects right then it shouldn't be a problem (hopefully ).

Any ideas on a price? Its mainly one template page that would be needed. The design pretty much stays the same throughout the site.

[sirtiner]

wops! Somehow i forgot about that last sentence

[MewsicLovr]

Using permalinks you should be able to end the URL in .html if you like to keep the exact page name, or as others have said you can redirect the old page to the new one.

PM'ing you with cost to do design conversion

[pokeraussie]

you can get the site looking the same, just pay a wp designer to make a custom template.

[CorryC]

You dont need a custom template. You can take your html design/site as is and turn it into a WP site.

Wordpress has a bunch of different codes that are used to call upon certain things. I cant even remember what they are called, but the important part is the loop. To put it into simple terms, you basically just need to stick the proper wordpress codes into your template and you can easily turn it into a wordpress site by doing so.

Im not a wordpress pro (i dont even know the lingo), but I did this with some of my sites in the same position as you.

[MewsicLovr]

You dont need a custom template. You can take your html design/site as is and turn it into a WP site.

Wordpress has a bunch of different codes that are used to call upon certain things. I cant even remember what they are called, but the important part is the loop. To put it into simple terms, you basically just need to stick the proper wordpress codes into your template and you can easily turn it into a wordpress site by doing so.

Im not a wordpress pro (i dont even know the lingo), but I did this with some of my sites in the same position as you.

I think this is what he is asking for, to make a theme out of his current design.