Garage conversions

[Michael Morris]

I have a detached garage / utility room. I'd like to have it converted into a self contained living area with a bed/living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. I have space to extend the length of the current building

It's single brick at the moment with a rubber skinned style roof (which would need replacing).

How possible is this?

Does it need planning permission because it's change of use. I guess it will need a second layer of brick so it can be insulated correctly, damp proof course maybe, new roof, electrics done properly, it has hot and cold water going to it at the moment. It's near the outside drainage.

So we are not looking to make changes to the actual house, just the garage.

Anyone done this, or do this sort of thing?

[theclaw]

Re: Garage conversions

I done my years ago but mine was attached to the house which made it easier.Didn’t need planning permission just building regs.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Garage conversions

I have a detached garage / utility room. I'd like to have it converted into a self contained living area with a bed/living room, a kitchen and a bathroom. I have space to extend the length of the current building

It's single brick at the moment with a rubber skinned style roof (which would need replacing).

How possible is this?

Does it need planning permission because it's change of use. I guess it will need a second layer of brick so it can be insulated correctly, damp proof course maybe, new roof, electrics done properly, it has hot and cold water going to it at the moment. It's near the outside drainage.

So we are not looking to make changes to the actual house, just the garage.

Anyone done this, or do this sort of thing?

are you looking at having a separate door entrance to this place ? That might have planning implications and possibly council tax ones too

[Michael Morris]

Re: Garage conversions

are you looking at having a separate door entrance to this place ? That might have planning implications and possibly council tax ones too

it has a separate door already. adding a front door would be good, but not a game changer

[19bluebirds27]

Re: Garage conversions

A couple of things to think about.
Plan your electrics and light placement now before you plaster board over.
How are you planning on heating the room - under floor or a radiator?
You may want to raise the floor to the adjoining room level with screeding.
Also if it’s a garage you will want half a wall and a window.
Won’t need a fire door as your going from garage to room and not the other way.
I don’t believe you need any kind of regs or planning permission because you not extending out, up or down.

[Vindec]

Re: Garage conversions

A couple of things to think about.
Plan your electrics and light placement now before you plaster board over.
How are you planning on heating the room - under floor or a radiator?
You may want to raise the floor to the adjoining room level with screeding.
Also if it’s a garage you will want half a wall and a window.
Won’t need a fire door as your going from garage to room and not the other way.
I don’t believe you need any kind of regs or planning permission because you not extending out, up or down.

It's a DETACHED garage.

[19bluebirds27]

Re: Garage conversions

It's a DETACHED garage.

Ah of course I was thinking a detached house.
Ignore everything I said.

[Tuerto]

Re: Garage conversions

The only time that you'll need planning is if you're making it larger and in to a seperate dwelling. Sounds to me that you're on the verge of doing that, although not a seperate dwelling.

As for the build, you'll need an internal skin for insulation, although this can be done in timber stud form, which means that you'll lose at least 200mm overall, maybe a little more, although you'll be able to hide all services. Roof, may need changing, although i doubt that you'll be able to change it to an up and over, tiled or slated. DPC can be injected, Electrics will have to be separate to the house with a consumer unit inside the conversion. Waste, if you are cutting into the sewage line, then your water provider, or welsh water, will want to inspect before and after you've connected a line from toilet, shower etc. None of this work is that difficult.

[Michael Morris]

Re: Garage conversions

Ah of course I was thinking a detached house.
Ignore everything I said.

House is detached but garage is also detached from the detached house. so just looking to work on the garage which i guess is technically a separate outbuilding.

[superfeathers]

Re: Garage conversions

Every single one of us has thought about setting up a car wash/nail bar and housing illegal immigrants but it’s just not worth it

[Michael Morris]

Re: Garage conversions

The only time that you'll need planning is if you're making it larger and in to a seperate dwelling. Sounds to me that you're on the verge of doing that, although not a seperate dwelling.

As for the build, you'll need an internal skin for insulation, although this can be done in timber stud form, which means that you'll lose at least 200mm overall, maybe a little more, although you'll be able to hide all services. Roof, may need changing, although i doubt that you'll be able to change it to an up and over, tiled or slated. DPC can be injected, Electrics will have to be separate to the house with a consumer unit inside the conversion. Waste, if you are cutting into the sewage line, then your water provider, or welsh water, will want to inspect before and after you've connected a line from toilet, shower etc. None of this work is that difficult.

Are you busy next week

It's a nice little project which is hopefully not too complicated.

[Tuerto]

Re: Garage conversions

Are you busy next week

It's a nice little project which is hopefully not too complicated.

It isn't that difficult, especially if it's a more modern garage. The floor will have to be insulated as well, two options, insulation and floor screed, which will bring you up about 180 200 mm, or a false timber floor.

[splott parker]

Re: Garage conversions

Don’t forget to check finished floor level to u/s of existing joists. You’re going to need insulation on the existing concrete floor, 100mm at least (although some authorities regs are now 150mm, ridiculous depth really), u/f heating snake clipped to the insulation. 50mm sand/cement screed or liquid screed over the lot. That’s at least 150mm higher than your existing slab. I presume you’ve got bare joists at the moment so insulation (100mm at least) should be fitted between them, this would create a ‘cold’ roof. Given that it’s a flat roof and not pitched you can’t get above the joists to insulate over the top so you should really be using an insulated plasterboard on the ceiling to complete uninterrupted ceiling insulation, this would most probably result in your ceiling finish being 50mm below u/s of existing joists. Doing it this way, which is normal practice now, would result in your storey height being 200mm (8 inches)less than it is now.

[life on mars]

Re: Garage conversions

It isn't that difficult, especially if it's a more modern garage. The floor will have to be insulated as well, two options, insulation and floor screed, which will bring you up about 180 200 mm, or a false timber floor.

I went with a raised well insulated timber floor well worth spending on a good thickness of timber, as it provides greater warmth than concrete or tiles on concrete

[Tuerto]

Re: Garage conversions

Don’t forget to check finished floor level to u/s of existing joists. You’re going to need insulation on the existing concrete floor, 100mm at least (although some authorities regs are now 150mm, ridiculous depth really), u/f heating snake clipped to the insulation. 50mm sand/cement screed or liquid screed over the lot. That’s at least 150mm higher than your existing slab. I presume you’ve got bare joists at the moment so insulation (100mm at least) should be fitted between them, this would create a ‘cold’ roof. Given that it’s a flat roof and not pitched you can’t get above the joists to insulate over the top so you should really be using an insulated plasterboard on the ceiling to complete uninterrupted ceiling insulation, this would most probably result in your ceiling finish being 50mm below u/s of existing joists. Doing it this way, which is normal practice now, would result in your storey height being 200mm (8 inches)less than it is now.

There are options, the iso insulation that comes in blanket form might be allowed, reducing loss of height, although the floor screed will have to be a minimum of 75 mm up to 100 mm with chicken wire over the insulation. Madness!