Garage / Office over

[FarringtonSmythe]

Greetings!

I know Garages have been done to death, but would appreciate a little hand-holding please?

I have an existing block-built single garage which has seen better days, with a 3 x 8m concrete hard standing next to it.

My plan (dream?) is to knock down the existing and erect a double garage (single enclosed with carport-type 2nd bay) with a staircase and office / gamesroom above.

I have seen some (pretty CarlosFandango) timber kits for around the £20k mark, but wondered what the cost would be to do something similar in concrete block. Would it be any cheaper?

Any ideas / help / assistance / criticism / mickey-taking greatfully received!

Ta!

[Evo141n]

At a push you could intitially budget £650m2 thats for both floor. so say 25m2 garage + 20m2 first floor room = £29,250

[Sam_68]

Wouldn't be much cheaper, by the time you've turned the upper room into a habitable space with wiring etc.

We build quite a few of these, but our costs wouldn't be comparable in any case, since we have the economy of scale of a major developer.

ETA: Evo's £30K estimate is on the steep side, though... you won't get anywhere close to £650/m2 for the ground floor (garage).

[FarringtonSmythe]

Thank you Gents.

Given that the Timber Frame for DIY erection is half Evo's estimate just for the kit - maybe that's the way to go.

Any collective knowkledge of how easily these things go together?

Obviously I'm not expecting Ikea simplicitty, but numbered framework is simple enouigh - I've built timber carports / lean-tos in the past with no problems.

[mattdaniels]

You'll likely need planning permission. It's worth speaking to your local planning department first before laying out too much cash.

[King Herald]

I built this myself, 5m x 6m, concrete block, tiled roof, and the total price was £6000.

But, if you want two storeys you are talking planning permission, without a doubt, and building regulations, architect etc.

[FarringtonSmythe]

^^^^ I like that!

I will deffo need Planning etc. as it will be over 2.5m tall and will be within 2m of the property boundary, so there is no doubt over that.

I suppose, in essence, I wanted to plan my budget so that I could see whether it would be prohibitively expensive before engaging professional services (we use a Town Planner local to us who did our extension - cheaper and same result!).

Anyone any experience of erecting a woodframe themselves?