Converting attached garage...

[pstruck]

I guess most PH'ers would probably say don't do it, or buy another car and put it in there.... but, my garage (as with many modern garages) is too small to usefully use for the car. Also, we find ourselves needing extra home space and I figured converting the garage would be a relatively inexpensive way to do it.

I have yet to decide whether to use the whole space, or leave about one third at the front as storage - (where will all the crap go that is currently in there oterwise?. I want to make a nice office/study/hobbies room, although if I convert the whole space a nice home cinema is tempting!

What building work am I likely to need (new block inner skin, or stud type, are existing footing going to be ok, etc). Anyone done this and have a hints or tips? Where do I stand re planning, etc?

[matty_doh]

I don't know anything about the building process so I'll leave that well alone. I was just thinking about the storage for the stuff that's in there - Do you live in a detached house? We have built a shed (No more than 1.5m wide) down the length of the house, previously wasted space now gives quite a lot of storage room. Clever placing of stuff and using the full height of the shed means our garage now contains less than 1/2 of what it used too.

[prand]

An E-type would fit. Buy one of those instead. Failing that an MX-5.

[BRGV8S]

Hi, just doing this for clients, planning / building regulations approval required. Check with the LA, may be 'condition' on original building approval that two minimum car parking spaces MUST be retained. My clients are prepared to construct additional parking space to the front of the property.

Most clients want additional living space with the possiblity of utility space at the rear to take appliances from the kitchen IE washing machine / freezers or even addition toilet

Things to concider are access from the existing property, insulation, damp proofing, finishes ete.

[Busamav]

Depending on the original planning conditions , it is likely that planning may not be required.

As a rule it is not required unless the planners removed your rights to convert it to habitable accomodation.

Building regs is definitely required.

[mk1fan]

Biggest ball ache will be getting Building Regs. Depending on the specifics of thebuilding you maybe doing a lot more than just 'filling in the gargae doors'.

All doable though. Just need to be methodical in what actually needs to be done.

[onemorelap]

How modern is the house?

I ask as some developers have convenants to protect the "appearance" of the development whilst the remainder of the development is live and for a period of time following there departure.

This is usually for things like not having caravans or trucks on the front, that sort of thing but it can sometimes apply to obtaining consent from the developer if you want to alter / extend the house for a period of time after completion.

In most cases developers are only really interested in maintaining the appearance of the front of the property but it might be worth checking out anyhow.

Don't think it would be an issue for what you are looking to do but might be worth checking that your NHBC quarantee is not affected, should it still be valid.

[pstruck]

House was built in '92. Can see no covenants relating to 'not' converting the garage. It is attached to the house at the side and we have a separate side entrance into the garden the other side of the house (detahced).

I'm considering the options, one of which would be to only convert half the space, leaving a storage area at the front and maybe retaining the U&O door (and therefore the original look).

We have 2-3 parking spaces on the drive anyway, so losing the garage space (fairly useless for a car) should not be an issue.

[Busamav]

pstruck said:

House was built in '92. Can see no covenants relating to 'not' converting the garage. .

your first enquiry should be at the planning office as to whether they imposed a restriction on a garage conversion in the original house build permission..

Extremely unlikely to be a covenant against it.

[V8TVR1978]

swerni said:

ours was too small to get a car in.

So we cut it in half.
The front half is used for storage / bikes etc,
The back has a door put in from the kitchen and was made into the utility room

If it was too small for a car just EXPAND man just expand.

Regards:

Not the moose.

[King Herald]

BRGV8S said:

Hi, just doing this for clients, planning / building regulations approval required. Check with the LA, may be 'condition' on original building approval that two minimum car parking spaces MUST be retained.

That is strange, as some very expensive new builds near my place are deliberately built with a single small drive, hardly big enough for a family saloon, apparently to encourage the buyer NOT to have more than one car.

Sounds dumb, and I'm not sure if it is some greeny save-the-world government incentive.

[andye30m3]

I've just got building regs for a client to convert 1/2 of his garage to a utility room leaving the other half as an external store with the existing garage door retained.

You might be able to apply for a certificate of lawful development which will mean that planning isn't required.

Basicly you will need to:

Insulate the floor, ceilings and walls, replace any existing windows with ones to current spec. If my memory is correct around 70mm celotex in the floor and 270mm quilt insulation above the ceiling will do the job

We've installed a timber wall between the utility and store with standard plasterboard on both sides, this needs to be either taken up to the u/s of the roof and fire stopped or taken to ceiling level and a plasterboard ceiling installed in the garage as well as the utility.

To bring the external walls up to spec we built a timber stud wall to the inside of the existing brickwall with insulation between the studs and a plasterboard finish.

Hope the above helps.

[GreenV8S]

King Herald said:

BRGV8S said:

Hi, just doing this for clients, planning / building regulations approval required. Check with the LA, may be 'condition' on original building approval that two minimum car parking spaces MUST be retained.

That is strange, as some very expensive new builds near my place are deliberately built with a single small drive, hardly big enough for a family saloon, apparently to encourage the buyer NOT to have more than one car.

Sounds dumb, and I'm not sure if it is some greeny save-the-world government incentive.

I remember reading about this quite a few years ago. Originally the usual policy was to require residential and business development to provide adequate parking. In the last couple of decades central government has encouraged local planning authorities to adopt the reverse policy (new builds have a maximum amount of parking that can be provided which is less than typically needed) as part of their policy to restrict car use. As I understand it the policy is set locally but has been strongly influenced by central government.

[BRGV8S]

Hi all, when i said two parking spaces i should have made it clear that the garage count as one space and the drive the other. Iam aware that LA can reduce/remove this requirement IF there are good transport links nearby.

Yes i know 'conditions' can remove PD rights, but did'nt what to confuse the OP, that why i suggested contacting the LA first. I have used the application for 'certificate of lawfull development' as my LA's are no longer responding to general enquiries