Garage Conversion
A simple, cost-effective way to add another room to your home
A garage conversion can be the simplest way to add space to your home without the need for an extension, or addition more likely to require planning permission.
With the help of intelligent architectural design, a garage conversion can be completed swiftly and inexpensively. And if you can spare the parking space, it presents an opportunity to increase your property’s overall market value.
An excellent alternative to a more traditional home extension, converting your garage might be the most straightforward way to add space to your home.
Things to Consider
How will it adjoin the house?
You may wish to consider a partial garage conversion, retaining storage space in the front and merging the rear of the space into the rest of the house. This space could be used, for example, to expand an existing room, such as a utility room.
What purpose will it serve now, and in 10 years?
Establish your long-term vision for the room in advance, as it will have a significant impact on construction. A study will require more light and perhaps the inclusion of new windows, while a snug or storage space may not.
The need to supply your converted space with plumbing and utilities will have implications for its structure, which in turn affects costs and - potentially - planning permission.
If you want your garage conversion to be a comfortable year-round space in which to spend time, then you’ll need to consider insulation, while sound-proofing ensures it remains comfortable for others.
Do you need a pitched roof?
Bringing your garage conversion in line with the rest of the house may require the creation of a pitched roof. Despite the obvious benefit of making your conversion blend with its surroundings, it also removes the negative aspects of a flat garage roof, such as poor drainage and potential structural weakness.
A home extension alternative
Just 10 percent of garage conversions require planning permission, according to Architectural specialists Resi.
With intelligent architectural design, your conversion can produce the same result as a home extension. By replacing your garage door with a matching infill wall, you create the opportunity to introduce a new entry door or window, further blending the design into the rest of the property.
The impact on resale value
A garage conversion adds to the livable footprint of your home, and could boost its resale value by more than 10 per cent. The figure increases if you are considering a second storey. This may be offset to some degree by other circumstances such as the availability of alternative parking options, or the property value ceiling for your street, but it must be considered an investment.
Why stop at the garage?
While a garage conversion typically increases the footprint of your home, it also presents a cost-effective opportunity to gain first-floor space.
If you are considering a traditional extension to your home, then using the space occupied by your garage might be a natural option. However a second storey will increase the likelihood that you will need to seek planning permission, among other structural factors.
Top Tips
How will it adjoin the house?
You may wish to consider a partial garage conversion, retaining storage space in the front and merging the rear of the space into the rest of the house. This space could be used, for example, to expand an existing room, such as a utility room.
What purpose will it serve now, and in 10 years?
Establish your long-term vision for the room in advance, as it will have a significant impact on construction. A study will require more light and perhaps the inclusion of new windows, while a snug or storage space may not.
The need to supply your converted space with plumbing and utilities will have implications for its structure, which in turn affects costs and - potentially - planning permission.
If you want your garage conversion to be a comfortable year-round space in which to spend time, then you’ll need to consider insulation, while sound-proofing ensures it remains comfortable for others.
Do you need a pitched roof?
Bringing your garage conversion in line with the rest of the house may require the creation of a pitched roof. Despite the obvious benefit of making your conversion blend with its surroundings, it also removes the negative aspects of a flat garage roof, such as poor drainage and potential structural weakness.
A home extension alternative
Just 10 percent of garage conversions require planning permission, according to Architectural specialists Resi.
With intelligent architectural design, your conversion can produce the same result as a home extension. By replacing your garage door with a matching infill wall, you create the opportunity to introduce a new entry door or window, further blending the design into the rest of the property.
The impact on resale value
A garage conversion adds to the livable footprint of your home, and could boost its resale value by more than 10 per cent. The figure increases if you are considering a second storey. This may be offset to some degree by other circumstances such as the availability of alternative parking options, or the property value ceiling for your street, but it must be considered an investment.
Why stop at the garage?
While a garage conversion typically increases the footprint of your home, it also presents a cost-effective opportunity to gain first-floor space.
If you are considering a traditional extension to your home, then using the space occupied by your garage might be a natural option. However a second storey will increase the likelihood that you will need to seek planning permission, among other structural factors.
