Done well, the result is indistinguishable from the rest of the house. Done cheaply, it feels cold and damp and can cause trouble when you sell.
Is your garage suitable?
Integral and attached garages are the easiest because they already share a wall with the house and are close to existing services. Detached garages can be converted too but may need more work to connect heating and power, and may be treated differently by planning.
Check the foundations and walls. Many garages were built with a single skin of brick or block and a shallow slab, which is fine for a car but needs upgrading for living in.
Floors, walls and ceiling
Garage floors usually sit lower than the house and have no damp proof membrane or insulation. The new floor is built up with a membrane and insulation to meet the house level, which also means an easier doorway through.
Walls are insulated, either with a new inner stud wall or insulated board, and the ceiling or roof is insulated to modern standards. This is where most of the comfort of the finished room comes from.
- Damp proof membrane and insulated floor
- Insulated inner walls
- Insulated ceiling or roof
- Garage door opening filled in with a new wall and window
Windows, escape and ventilation
Where the garage door was, a new wall is built with a window. For a bedroom, especially one reached through another room, the window may need to be large enough for escape in a fire. Building regulations also require background and purge ventilation.
Fire safety can also mean a fire door between the room and the rest of the house and linked smoke alarms. Building control will confirm what applies to your layout.
Heating, power and plumbing
A radiator extended from the existing system, or electric underfloor heating, keeps the room warm. New sockets, lighting and a data point are usually needed. If you want an en suite, drainage becomes the main question, so check where the nearest soil pipe is.
Planning and building regulations
Most garage conversions do not need planning permission, but some estates have conditions removing permitted development rights for garages, and listed buildings need consent. Always check first.
Building regulations approval is needed in almost every case because the garage is becoming a habitable room. We arrange the application and inspections so you receive a completion certificate.
How long it takes
A straightforward integral garage conversion is one of the quicker building projects, because the walls and roof already exist. Time goes mainly on the floor, insulation, the new wall and window, and drying before decoration. We set out a programme with the quote.
Keeping some storage
Losing the garage often means losing the place where bikes, tools and garden kit lived. Before converting, plan where those will go. Some people keep a shallow store at the front behind the new wall, others add a garden store or fitted cupboards elsewhere in the house.
Think too about parking. If the driveway was sized around the garage, check that cars can still park comfortably once the door has gone, and whether any estate rules say anything about keeping parking spaces.
Office, gym or bedroom
The same shell works for an office, a playroom or a gym. For offices, plan plenty of sockets and a good data connection. Fitted furniture, such as built-in wardrobes or a made-to-measure desk, gets the most from the space, and our joiners make it in our own workshop.
With more than 40 years of experience, we give a free site visit and a fixed-price written quote before any work begins.
Common questions
Do I need planning permission to convert my garage?
Often not, but some estates remove permitted development rights for garages. Building regulations approval is almost always needed.
Can the garage door stay on the front?
It can be kept externally for looks with an insulated wall built behind it, though most people replace it with a wall and window.
Can you add an en suite?
Usually, depending on the position of drains. We check this during the free site visit.
Can you build fitted furniture for the new room?
Yes, our joiners make fitted wardrobes, desks and storage to suit the room.