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Garage Conversion specialists - what you need to know

The benefits of converting your garage

If your car rarely sees the inside of your garage, a conversion could add considerable value to your property by giving you an extra habitable room. Most people use their garage to store bikes, clutter, and old furniture (out of sight, out of mind) so it gives you a good reason for a purge, as well as all the possibilities of a new room in the house.

The only thing you should consider though, is how much parking is available in your street. If it’s restrictive, and you remove off-street parking, then you could potentially make your house less desirable.

A conversion is a major project, but if your garage is structurally part of your house, the extra space could make a huge improvement to how you live. It also means you won’t be outgrowing the house any time soon. Your new room could be any one of these:

• An extra living room.
• A dining room.
• An extended kitchen/diner.
• A ground floor bedroom for elderly family, or someone with mobility problems.
• A playroom.
• A home office.
• A cinema room.
• A utility room.

What does converting your garage involve?

A specialist garage conversion company will be able to draw up the designs for you, and then complete all the structural work. Alternatively you could hire an architect to do the design, and to draw up the structural plans for builders of your choosing.

If you’ve got a long, single garage, it won’t usually work as a standalone living room or bedroom as there won’t be enough space. You’re better off integrating it into an existing living room or kitchen. Alternatively you could use it as a utility room or small home office.

A double garage is much easier to use as its own room.

Designing the space

In terms of design, the main thing you should think about, is how you access that new room. Ideally you’ll get to it from the main hallway in the house. If you have to access the new space through another room, you’re creating an unwanted thoroughfare in the old room.

An experienced garage specialist will make the conversion look like it’s always been part of the main house. The windows will match the rest of the house, and will be in similar proportions. Any brickwork or exterior materials will need to match exactly, or if not, be a very complementary contrast. Lastly, if it’s got a flat roof then you should think about giving it a pitched roof, to help it blend in.

Garage floors are usually lower than the rest of the house, so to avoid a step down into the room, your specialist should put a floor in that brings it up to the correct height – assuming the ceiling is high enough.

You should also think about where the best place for the door would be, rather than fitting the room around where it currently is. It’s important so that you get the best use of your new space.

Building regulations for garage conversions

Converting your garage into a habitable room is known as a ‘change of use’, which means you’ll need building regulations approval from your local authority. The council will have their own building control service, or you can use an independent inspector.

The garage conversion will need all of the following:

• It needs to be structurally sound.
• It needs to have a damp-proof course.
• The walls, floor, and roof will need to be upgraded for energy efficiency.
• Heating and plumbing will need to be installed.
• All new and existing electrics will need to be tested.

Costs for converting your garage

The building work will cost around £1000-£1400 per square metre, depending on location, finish, and how much work needs to be done to the structure.

Design fees will be around £1400-£3000, plus £300-£400 for a structural engineer.

The qualifications your tradesperson needs

As your garage conversion will need heating and electricity, your specialist will almost definitely be using a team of tradespeople, whether they’re sub-contractors or fully employed by the builder. Anyone working with gas needs to be registered with Gas Safe, and anyone working with electricity (in England and Wales) needs to be registered with Part P. These tradespeople will have a valid ID showing their membership so you should make a point of checking these – all good tradespeople will be happy to show you.

Planning permission for garage conversion jobs

Planning permission isn’t usually required, as long as the work is internal and doesn’t involve enlarging or extending the building. It’s what’s known as permitted development.

In some instances, permitted development rights can be removed, so you should always check with your local planning authority before starting any work. For example, if you live in a conservation area, there might be rules in place to protect the surroundings. If you live on a new build estate, there might be rules about changing the aesthetic of your home in case it jars with the overall design and look of the estate.

You’ll definitely need planning permission if:

• You live in a listed building.
• You want to extend the building.
• You’re using the space for business.
• Your council has restrictions on reducing parking.

Insurance for garage conversion work

Public liability insurance

Your garage conversion specialist definitely needs to have public liability insurance, which will cover you, and them, if someone gets hurt or if the property is damaged.

Insurance-backed warranties or guarantees 

You can get this as part of the cost of the work, if your specialist offers it. Check exactly what’s covered - it should include the cost of finishing or fixing the work if there are any issues.

Home and contents insurance

If you have home or contents insurance, check with your insurer to make sure you'll be covered while the work is going on. You might have to pay more for your insurance during and after the work. Your insurer will probably want to know what company you’re using and what insurance they have.

Questions you should ask your garage conversion specialist

• Do they have public liability insurance and what does this cover?
• Are they registered with a competent person scheme and will they take care of all planning permissions / building regulation approvals?
• Do they offer insurance-backed warranties?
• How long have they been trading for?
• Can they give you up to 3 references of recent work they’ve completed?
• Do they use sub-contractors or their own employees?
• What experience do their sub-contractors/employees have and are they covered by insurance?
• Will they give a guarantee/warranty for the work and how long does it last?
• Will they source all materials and equipment?