Garage conversions – increase the size of your home

A garage conversion is a cost effective, simple way to add space to your home. Find out about how to convert your garage here.

A garage conversion is a great way to
increase the size of your home

Most of us could do with some more space in our homes; maybe your family is growing, you need space for a home office or want to exercise in your very own gym. Property expert Michael Holmes says: “Consider whether it’s best to move or to improve your home, look at converting areas of your house like the loft or garage first.”

Why convert your garage?

Converting your garage will:

Make use of unused space - according to the Garage Conversion Company, the average garage is approximately 150sqf, which is too small for many of today’s cars. Our vehicles also tend to be galvanised now so they are much more weather resistant and don’t need to be stored in a garage. This means that many people’s garages have become a wasted space, used for storing or collecting junk. Converting your garage will put this space to better use.

Save you from having to move - a garage conversion can provide you with the extra space you desperately need without the inconvenience of having to move house and the subsequent costs of solicitors fees, stamp duty and removal vans.

Increase the value of your home - “Adding space is probably the best way to add value to your home,” says Michael. So if you want to sell your home in the future, a garage conversion could boost your properties value. It’s worth checking with your local estate agent to make sure that it is financially worth converting your garage though. Properties have a ceiling value set by the most expensive houses in that area, exceed that and you probably won’t get your money back.

Cost less than you might think - Michael advises: “The most cost effective way to remodel your space is to convert either the loft or the garage.”

Cause minimum hassle - “Compared to creating a whole new extension, a garage conversion can be far less hassle, you might not even need to get planning permission,” writes property guru Phil Spencer in his book Adding Value to your Home. Garage conversions are classed as permitted developments (with a few exceptions) so carrying out the project is much quicker and easier than extending.

Carrying out your garage conversion

Convert your garage into an extra
bedroom, office or playroom

Firstly, you need to decide what you want to use your conversion for, there are a wide range of options including:

• Bedroom, with or without en suite
• Dining room
• Playroom or nursery
• Office
• Kitchen or utility room
• Home cinema
• Gym

Next check that you have planning permission for the conversion and make sure the work will adhere to building regulation guidelines. Any structural, insulating or damp proofing measures should be carried out at the start of the project, not forgetting heating, plumbing and electrics. When decorating it’s important with any conversion to integrate the design into the rest of your home; perhaps you could use a common colour theme or flooring type or maybe you can match key fixtures and fittings. This also applies to the exterior of the garage; make sure that it connects seamlessly to the rest of your home.

Garages tend to be small so make the most of the space with some clever design. Interior designer Julia Kendell advises: “My best tip when using colour is to add in neutrals. If you just decorate in high colour saturations your eyes have nowhere to rest.” Use textures to draw attention to particular areas of the room and utilise natural light as much as possible: “Homes need natural light, we are drawn to it,” says Julia.

Planning permission for garage conversions

You could create space for a new kitchen
with a garage conversion

Planning expert Simon Smith from Betternest says: “Planning rights were reformed in 2008 to give more potential to increase the space in your home. Over 15 million households have permitted development rights.” These regulations now mean that garage conversions are allowed provided that:

• The work is internal
• It doesn’t involve enlarging the building
• The permitted development rights haven’t been removed. Sometimes new housing developments or conservation areas do this to ensure the streets do not become too crowded with parked cars.

Always check with your local building control to see if you need to apply for planning permission, especially if you live in a listed building.

Building regulations for garage conversions

Even if you don’t need planning permission: “You should check whether the Party Wall Act applies to your conversion and you will need to get building regulation approval,” explains Michael. Some areas that building regulations cover are:

Doors and walls - you will probably want to fill in the large garage entrance, which may mean adding a new foundation. Walls need to strengthened and thickened as well as insulated. Constructing an insulated cavity wall using a stud wall is one of the common ways of doing this.

Flooring - the flooring will probably need to be insulated too and its height may need to be raised to match that of the rest of the house.

Windows and ventilation - the conversion must have adequate ventilation and windows need to be energy efficient. If the garage is an ‘inner room’, which means that you would have to walk through another room to exit it, then the window needs to act as an escape route too.

You should also check your garage conversion meets building regulations for electrics, drainage, roofing, heating and plumbing.

How much does a garage conversion cost?

According to Phil Spencer’s book on how to add value to your home, a garage conversion can cost around £10,000 upwards. The website Whatprice estimates a garage conversion to cost between £5,200 and £15,500. Always get quotes for the project from qualified contractors who have valid public liability insurance.