Converting half of the garage
Discussion
I am contemplating converting half of my single garge into an office. The house was built in 1958 and therefore the garage is not very wide and not suitable for parking (my dad can just get his 1932 Austin 7 in!)..
I planned to have a partition wall built straight across the middle if the garage to enable to spaces of about 11 x 11.
One side will remain as a storage room and the other will be an office.
What are the legal inplications if doing this? Only an internal wall will be built and whilst the floors and walls will be upgraded nothing else will change other than door upgrades.
I planned to have a partition wall built straight across the middle if the garage to enable to spaces of about 11 x 11.
One side will remain as a storage room and the other will be an office.
What are the legal inplications if doing this? Only an internal wall will be built and whilst the floors and walls will be upgraded nothing else will change other than door upgrades.
You'll need to get approval from the council that the work meets the relevant building regs. Most likely they will insist that the walls/floor/ceiling are insulated to modern standards. I would advise getting a decent surveyor involved who can manage the entire process for you, get it wrong and you'll be left with a house needing a lot of work before you can sell it as the lack of compliance around building regs will be a big red flag to the buyer's solicitor.
If you can live without fixed heating I would suggest getting it approved as a workshop would be cheaper as they wouldn't require as much insulation.
The actual work itself is pretty simple, three or four days worth assuming you aren't having the structure extended in anyway or having changes made to supporting walls.
If you can live without fixed heating I would suggest getting it approved as a workshop would be cheaper as they wouldn't require as much insulation.
The actual work itself is pretty simple, three or four days worth assuming you aren't having the structure extended in anyway or having changes made to supporting walls.
The house is a link detached via the garage. The garage is accessed via a utility room which was built onto the house during the 70's. The utility toon is accessed via the kitchen.
I would only use the room as a games/occasional office/gym room so I techincally don't think that is classed as habitable.
My plan was to put up a partition wall, thermal plasterboard, plaster skim and then a few electric points. There is no ventilation and I don't plan to install any it any heating due to the amount if times I would use it (1-2 hours a day max)
I would only use the room as a games/occasional office/gym room so I techincally don't think that is classed as habitable.
My plan was to put up a partition wall, thermal plasterboard, plaster skim and then a few electric points. There is no ventilation and I don't plan to install any it any heating due to the amount if times I would use it (1-2 hours a day max)
Edited by Moley RUFC on Sunday 27th June 20:09
Edited by Moley RUFC on Sunday 27th June 20:10
B17NNS said:
Is the garage attached or detatched?
If attached is there already access into the garage from the house or do you want to make a new opening?
A couple of ways to tackle this
depending on budget and whether
you want an actual 'habitable' space
or not.
Does spending 1-2 hours a day maximum consititue as being 'habitable'? Could I class this space as a workshop? Or would setting up an office and games room within it (ps3, cross trainer,etc) go against this?If attached is there already access into the garage from the house or do you want to make a new opening?
A couple of ways to tackle this
depending on budget and whether
you want an actual 'habitable' space
or not.
Putting in fixed heating, adding additional plugs, carpet, etc. would most likely be seen as making it into a proper room. Also the description of what you want to use the garage for seems like you will be using it as a proper room. Get a surveyor out and see what they say, if they manage the process for you it'll be a lot easier. Get it wrong and you'll be left with expensive bills to make good when the building inspector catches up with you, which might not be till you sell the property granted.
tankplanker said:
Putting in fixed heating, adding additional plugs, carpet, etc. would most likely be seen as making it into a proper room. Also the description of what you want to use the garage for seems like you will be using it as a proper room. Get a surveyor out and see what they say, if they manage the process for you it'll be a lot easier. Get it wrong and you'll be left with expensive bills to make good when the building inspector catches up with you, which might not be till you sell the property granted.
There won't be any heating installed as I don't plan to use the room that often. Also, the habitable house finishes when I leave the kitchen door (fire door) into the utility room and then through the door into this new room. The garage has it's own roof and is therefore outside my current habitable house. I was advised today by a council official to class it as a 'lockable storage room' due to its non connection with my habitable home.My house plan is below with the proposed wall dotted
I want to do this right but don't want to overspend on something I only use a few times a week
Edited by Moley RUFC on Monday 28th June 19:32
Edited by Moley RUFC on Monday 28th June 19:32
Edited by Moley RUFC on Monday 28th June 19:38
Edited by Moley RUFC on Monday 28th June 19:40
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