A Introduction to Garage Conversions for Beginners

 What do you do with your garage? If it's become more of a storage room (or a junk yard for that old exercise bike) than a safe place to park the car, it's time to think about repurposing what may be a great asset.

A garage conversion is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to expand your living space: a typical project to create a new home office or playroom can be completed in less than a week.

Plus, you won't have to move to find a home that meets your family's needs, saving you money on stamp duty, lawyers, and other costs. It also won't take up any of your garden amenities, unlike a traditional home extension.

A garage conversion can also raise the value of your home. According to Virgin Money, investing in a well-thought-out project that improves the usefulness of your property can yield a 10% to 20% return.

Creating your personal area

The first stage in any garage conversion is to evaluate the current structure, paying special attention to the foundations, walls, and roof.

This is an important component of the design process since it will disclose the degree of the work required to create a comfortable living environment. If the structure is particularly deteriorated, it may be more cost-effective to demolish and rebuild.

The magnitude of the scheme, how you intend to use and integrate it into the house, and how far your budget will extend will all influence the overall product.

Working with an architect on a higher-end project might help you uncover innovative methods to maximise the potential of your garage and create a space that flows organically into your home.

Another popular option is to hire a company that specialises in garage conversion design and construction.

Many will take your scheme through planning and building control as part of their charge, and the outcomes can be amazing – if not quite as avant-garde. Furthermore, their on-the-ground experience can aid in ensuring a seamless project and a predictable budget.

The garage, whether integrated or detached, should be relatively simple to integrate into the main living space. You could, for example, knock down a wall to connect to an existing zone, potentially extending a corridor or creating a front-to-back kitchen-diner.

In contrast, a detached structure lends itself to separate uses, such as an annex or a peaceful home office. A single garage may hold up to 15m2 of floor space, which is more than enough for a playroom, separate drawing room, guest bed, or even a downstairs shower and WC.

A double garage, at roughly 30m2, gives you more options. It might be used to accommodate a larger living room, an ensuite bedroom, a large kitchen-diner, or an annex.

Alternatively, you may keep one parking space by creating a well insulated and fire-rated wall and converting the rest to living space.

Planning permission is required.

The majority of the work in many garage conversions – particularly integral or attached rooms – is done on the inside (with the exception of changing the frontage and adding a window or two).

Some modern homes have restricted covenants requiring the garage to be used as parking, which would have to be released (check the deeds to find out if this applies). Changing the usage of a detached garage is also more likely to necessitate formal approval.

Regulations for construction

A garage conversion will always be subject to the Building Regulations because it involves a change of use.

The building notice route, in which you or your contractor notifies the local government of your desire to start work 48 hours before starting on site, may be sufficient for simple schemes.

You may choose to have detailed structural blueprints drawn out for more complicated projects. This gives you the assurance that building control has reviewed the plans and confirmed that, if built according to the approved schematics, your conversion will comply with the regulations.

Doors and windows

The fenestration you choose must meet the required whole-unit U-values (1.6 W/m2K for windows; 1.8 W/m2K for doors), as well as meet your security needs, offer enough ventilation, and reflect the style of your home.

If you want to keep your prices low, stick to standard-sized units.

By drilling a sufficient hole in the wall and inserting lintels as needed, casements, sashes, and doorsets can be included. The same may be said about the doors between the main home and the garage.