Garage & garden build

[pmanson]

Hi All,

Is there a good way to try and estimate costs for a new garage build (from foundations up)?

I don't want to waste time getting builders around to quote etc as this may be a bit of a pipe dream.

I was thinking if I could get a rough estimate of price p/sqm I could have a conversation with the council/neighbours about getting planning permission.

I think because of the positioning of where the garage could go (and the fact I would like a pitched roof) it wouldn't fall under permitted development (needs to be located on the boundary of the property and close to the house, i'd also like a pitched roof which means the height will be more than 2.5m)

I'm thinking 7m x 3m single garage, single block construction (to be rendered), pitched roof and electric services (lighting/power), roller door & single person access door.

Would £500+vat p/sqm be in the right ball park?

Cheers,
Phill

[pmanson]

Thanks Muncher - Are you all finished now?

[pmanson]

Here's the plan:

1. Build new garage & fencing
2. Remove existing concrete pre-fab garage & 'outbuilding'
3. New fencing etc



Old pic taken when I replaced the fence:



Proposed (to scale):






I'm going to be limited on width (circa 3m) and the existing garage is 6m long, i'm proposing 7m but could go longer if recommended?

I think I want an 8ft wide roller door, which is also 7ft tall which I think means I need to aim for a 2.5m height for the garage (3m to the ridge tiles) - guessing i'm going to need planning permission as it's going to be placed pretty much on the boundary?

[pmanson]

Hi,


I've been speaking to an architect over the holidays and we think we're going to go the full hog and get planning permission.

Couple of reasons for this - primarily to allow us to go for a taller garage (probably 2.5m to the eaves and 4m to the ridge) to allow for some loft storage space. However I suspect we may need to follow the height of the existing extension (need to measure this).




I was thinking about going 7.5 x 3.5m (The existing concrete pre-fab is 20.5 x 10.1). That will give us plenty of storage space and still allow us room for say a BMW 5 series to fit in comfortably.

I'm trying to get my head around how to deal with the rain water - looks like we'll either need a) a new soakaway or b) integrate with the existing soakaway used by the extension (which I need to try and locate).

As a project it should be keep me entertained this year!

[pmanson]

As an update to this. We know have an agreement in principle from the mortgage co to release the additional funds, just got to wait for the paperwork and we suspect a full valuation to be carried out.

Best bit is that we've managed to re-mortgage the whole amount, so we're borrowing the additional funds and will be paying £25 p/mth less than we currently are!

Slight change of plan is that we're thinking a change to the config will be in order (instead of 7.5m x 3.5m) we're going to look at 7m x 4m as the extra width should be useful.

We're going to put in for full planning permission and aim for a 4m ridge height to try and get some loft storage as well.

I also suspect with the planned extra width that we'll double-skin the brickwork to try and stop damp etc getting in there.

[pmanson]

seapod said:

This is very interesting as I am about to go down the same route, with a similar structure.

How did you calculate your eaves height, did the architect recommend a certain pitch angle, thereby dictating the height. Or was it more a question of aesthetics and what looked right?

I am thinking block work but then with an external cladding of timber (it's a fairly rural setting and in a conservation area so planning is a given).

Any info on basic build costs you don't mind sharing would be much appreciated!

Hi, to date i've drawn it all up myself so it may all come tumbling down around me when I submit the final plans!

I've tried to stick to a standard door size (probably a garadoor or similar) of around 2.5m. We'll probably end up with a sectional door to save on height (aiming for a minimum of 2m IIRC)

I'll scan up the plans i've drawn as they stand if that will help?

[pmanson]

Looks good Richard.

Assuming it's double skinned? How tall is the building (to eaves and to ridge)? Also what size garage door did you go for?

[pmanson]

Well the money from the mortgage co hit the bank this morning!

Need to get a move on, finish the plans and get them submitted!

Current plan is as follows:

• 4m x 7m (external dimensions) double skinned brick garage with pitched roof.
• Sectional garage door: 3m x 2.1m (10ft x 7ft)
• Height to eaves 2.5m
• Ridge height: 3.5m

Laid this out in the garden the other night and moved the location slightly (7m from the rear of the house instead of 6m) to give us a bit more space to swing into the garage around the house.

[pmanson]

I finished the plans & submitted them last night.

I've drawn them myself so hopefully all will be ok!

[pmanson]

The builders are starting on Monday!

[pmanson]

As the builders are in on Monday I had the tedious task of clearing the old one out this weekend.







Looking forward to seeing some progress over the next couple of weeks!

[pmanson]

Begone leaking concrete prefab garage:





Quite a lot of very old concrete to remove (including an old pit that's been filled in). We'll need some new fencing as well

[pmanson]

Position of new garage marked out:




Builders are starting to dig the foundations but struggling with soft soil so waiting for building control to come out:

[pmanson]

Unfortunately so. It's all sand. The blade of spade goes in very easily!

[pmanson]

jagracer said:

I'm surprised that you don't have clay just under the surface, you must be in the only part of Bedfordshire built on sand.

So were the builders! Lots of sand quarries in Leighton Buzzard though

[pmanson]

Better picture:

[pmanson]

hornetrider said:

Any more updates... been a while, I'm guessing there has been progress?

Reached a bit on an impass... we had building control out this morning to check the first trench that had been dug (due to the ground) they've now told us they need a full application.

This is in despite of us having full planning permission and following the rules (within 1m of the boundary and made of non-combustable materials)

[pmanson]

jagracer said:

pmanson said:

they've now told us they need a full application.

What does "A full application" mean?

Panic over. Slight confusion with the size of the build with building control (eg. They thought it was bigger than 30sqm). Also as it's made of non combustible materials we're ok being less than 1m from the boundary.

The only change was to make the foundations 600 wide

Concrete for the foundations are being poured tomorrow

[pmanson]

Foundations were put in on Friday and as of 5pm this evening we're up at damp course:



View from the back of the garden:


Where the old garage once stood:


New rear patio:

[pmanson]

Base ready for scalpings tomorrow and concrete on Friday:




Part of the patio retaining walls up & drainage run to the soakaway: