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Converting Garage To Living Space

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Be honest - when did you last park in the garage? Almost imperceptibly over the last ten years cars have got bigger, and garages have seemed to get smaller.

And although a garage is still a selling point for family homes, the average resident of a modern house may only just be able to squeeze their MPV into the garage. And if they can get it in, they won't necessarily be able to open the doors.

So most of us don't use our garage for the purpose for which it was created, and it becomes a graveyard for old tins of paint, unused rowing machines, and broken toys. And while our garages stand empty-ish, our houses are bursting at the seams.

For many, extending their home to gain more living space is simply not an option. With housebuilders shoehorning properties into small plots to maximise land use, new home dwellers can find that there is simply nowhere to extend into - except perhaps the garage.

"It's a wasted space, " says Peter Jervis who runs a series of home improvements websites, eBuilders but in a previous incarnation was an advisor for a garage conversion company.

"If you've got an unused garage, you've already got a room there, and it's easy to create additional space at a much lower cost than moving or building an extension."

What do people use the extra room for?

According to the experts, the most common reason for converting a garage is to gain a second reception room.

Although on paper many houses offer everything a family could need, when your children become teenagers you may not want to squeeze up on the sofa with your son and five of his spotty mates, and an additional reception room for them to colonise becomes attractive.

Other common reasons for absorbing the garage into the home include making a bedroom for an elderly relative, a home office for teleworking, or a larger family kitchen diner. But, as long as it fits within ten-ish square metres, the options are endless.

What type of garage is suitable?

Any type of garage, whether a double integral, or a flat-roofed standalone, can be converted. In fact, a non-integral garage is often a particularly good option for a home office as it is slightly removed from the distractions of family life.

The usual options are:

Single garage;
Double garage - you can choose to convert the whole area, or just use the side nearest the house;
Tandem garage - again, just converting the back could leave you with the best of both worlds
Standalone garage - fine, but you may need to apply for permission for change of use.

Garage Conversion Planning Permission

You should always phone your local planning department before starting to plan any building work.

Councils' interpretation of the regulations in regard to garage conversions will vary, so it's important to get the precise lowdown on what type of permission you need for your project.

Often you won't actually need planning permission, but you will still have to comply with Buildings Regulations, particularly in regard to how you insulate.

Most councils will allow you to simply add insulation to the existing building, but a few may insist that you dig up the floor and add insulation as if it were a new build.

Occasionally garage conversions are turned down by a local planning department. This is particularly common in some London boroughs where there is pressure on parking.

Councils can also object to a conversion if they feel that it may add to local drainage problems. So if you plan to pave over your front garden to make up for the lost garage space, opt for materials that allow rainwater to soak away.

And, as usual, if your home is listed, you should be prepared for a battle.

Sometimes it's not a planning department, but a clause in the deeds of your house that could prevent you from changing the use of your garage.

Developers can put a restriction into a sale agreement preventing the outside of a house from being altered to protect the look of an estate while they are selling the properties.

The good news is that once the estate is sold they will usually, for a fee, give you permission.

If, however, your developer, or the local planning department, decide they love the look of your garage doors, you could be stuck with them.

Many people get around this by making the first section of the garage into a storage area, with the useable living space tucked behind.

Quality

We've all seen badly done garage conversions, with mismatched brickwork and mock Tudor-style UPVC windows within the original square frame of the doors.

Peter Jervis says that it is vital to discuss the details of how your conversion will look with your builder:

"Make sure your bricks are keyed in so it looks original. And the window that replaces the garage door has to be in sympathy with the rest of the house. Make sure it looks like it has always been there."

And, if your garage has a flat roof, beware. You will need to upgrade it," says Jervis, "It has to be fully insulated."

If your builder assures you it's fine, get a surveyor in for a second opinion. There's no point in making the investment in the rest of the room if the flat roof isn't up to the job.

How much?

The cost of a garage conversion depends on where you live and who you use to do the job. A small local builder is usually the cheapest option, but a specialist company may have more expertise and will offer you a guarantee.

Phil Bateman of the Garage Conversion Company which has branches nationwide, says that in addition they can offer an in-house architect service, and a standard method that is now recognised by planning departments all over the country.

The Garage Conversion Company charges between £10-15,000 for a single garage, and £15-20,000 for a double. For comparison a single-garage sized extension could cost anything from £17,000 to £35,000.

Parking premium?

So, how does converting your garage affect the value of your home? Perhaps surprisingly, even in London where people would sell their grandmothers for a parking space, internal space tends to add more value, though this is not always the case.

Russell Jervis, Managing Director of Spicerhaart estate agents, says, "Generally speaking, adding extra rooms will add more value than adding a garage.

"However, as more areas get zoned for residential parking, off-road parking becomes more valuable."

Although it may be a cheaper way of gaining space and adding value than moving or extending, remember there is a downside. You've still got to find somewhere to put the old tins of paint and the rowing machine.

Customer Service

Garage Conversions Customer Services... f you still need help with your garage conversion enquiry and would like to speak to a human rather than completing an enquiry form then we would be delighted to hear from you.

Just give our Customer Support Desk a call or send us an e-mail and we will be happy to phone you back.

Tel: 0871 5989 529
E-mail: support[@]garage-conversions-supermarket.com

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Converting Garage To Living Space Compare Costs for all types of Garage Conversions anywhere in the UK

Converting Garage To Living Space

Compare Costs for all types of Garage Conversions anywhere in the UK