Garage Conversion Building Regulations

In the current real estate market converting a garage is among the very best methods to add additional space to your home and increase the worth of your property too. In truth, garage conversions have actually become very popular as an alternative to moving house and guarantee an additional part of your home is utilised that was previously unused.

These days the garage isn’t really utilised for the purpose it was initially developed. How many cars do you see parked on the drive or on the roadside, rather than locked away in the garage? More commonly, the garage is used as a place to store tools, old toys and furnishings.
Garage conversion
So with the real estate market having a hard time and the countless pounds in charges associated with the big relocation, why rule out staying put and transforming your garage? There are lots of spaces to convert the garage into and widely you’ll see:

  • An additional or extended living room or dining room
  • An extra bedroom or restroom
  • A home office or gym
  • An extension to the kitchen/diner

Among the major advantages is that if you don’t change the external appearance, you won’t need to stress over planning permission. This means that the only legalities you’ll need to address are Building Regulations. So how simple is this to navigate?

There are four main locations affected by Building Regulations:

  • In-fill garage door
  • Any walls below ground level
  • The ventilation
  • The flooring

In-fill garage door

When you decide to convert your garage, among the aspects that will principally change is the removal of the old garage door. You’ll have to change it to a solid wall that will need foundations for sound support. These features have to satisfy Building Regulations. A structural engineer or building control officer will have the ability to supply you with more recommendations on this modification.

Walls below ground level

When it comes to a garage conversion you might have to enhance the structures of the walls to give extra support. The walls will also have to be frost and sulphate resistant to deal with natural elements and ensure of a long-term impact.

Ventilation

Ventilation is needed through the home to meet health and safety policies. How much ventilation you require will depend on what you wish to use the room for. When you install a brand-new wall it’s essential that you don’t inhibit ventilation. One of the best methods to improve air flow is with a purge in the window, functioning as trickle ventilation.

If you want the garage conversion to be a kitchen or bathroom, you might install an extractor fan. This will help deal with condensation and odours too.

The flooring

The existing garage flooring is most likely strong enough for domestic usages. However, you’ll probably have to upgrade it to meet damp proofing and thermal insulation regulations. The level of the flooring might even need raising to meet the rest of the property. One of the best methods to counter this problem is laying a wood floor on top of the existing concrete.

Why you ought to pick a reputable business

Garage conversion
So with a garage conversion, there are two choices to think about; completing the work yourself or employing a professional to take care of the job for you. If you ask a company to do the work for you, you’ll put the trouble of Building Regulations into their hands.

Of course, with DIY there’s always the possibility of getting something wrong and you’d most likely have to bring in experts for electrical wiring, building and construction and insulation. Get all of this with one go by comparing approximately four totally free quotes from experts near you.

Facts & Figures You’ll Love To Share

  • A garage conversion will add countless pounds to your house’s worth and bring much necessary area to the property.
  • Unless the exterior is changed, on a lot of events you won’t need planning consent to transform your garage.
  • Garage conversions are a less expensive option to moving home which could set you back thousands of pounds in charges and charges.
  • A garage conversion can be used for whatever your home needs, consisting of an extra bedroom or bathroom, or an extension to the kitchen area.

Emily Rivers

Emily Rivers is the Customer Experience Manager at Quotatis. She informs customers of the latest developments in a range of products so they can make the best choice for their homes and ensures they get the best out of our service.