Improve Your Home With A Garage Conversion

By Author: Carolyn Clayton
Total Articles: 173
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In the average home the purpose of a garage is to house a car but many if not most of us fail to use the space for such a purpose. Our garages end up being a dumping ground for unwanted items and a place to put old paint tins and DIY tools.

While our garages remain empty our houses end up bursting with things that we simply have no use for. So why not put this space to use? As many people cant afford to move house and rarely have space to extend their home the one option that is screaming out at us is a garage conversion. If you want an extra family room, bedroom, playroom, office/study, kitchen/utility room, dining room, or even a home cinema or a gym; a garage conversion could be use the answer that you are looking for.

Any type of garage can be converted, whether it is a single or double etc and as many single garages are only 150 square feet in size the average family car will use about be able to squeeze in but opening the doors to get out would prove to be a challenge, giving you even more reason to convert your garage to a more functional space.

A garage conversion acts as the most popular aspect ...
... of home conversions. Most don't require a form of planning permission but you should always check with your local authority before carrying out any work as there is a change you will need to abide by building regulations. A garage conversion doesn't involve a change a use so UK building regulations will only apply if structural changes are made or if your conversion will affect the drainage of the property. An example of when you will require building approval is if you are changing the original garage doorway to place a window.

Occasionally, in cases when you need building approval your request will be turned down if, for example, it will add to local drainage problems or if there is already pressure on parking, which is common in many London Boroughs.

When enquiring about your garage conversion you should keep in mind aspects such as the wall capacity. If your garage has leaf masonry walls then you may require additional work to be carried out in order to improve the insulation and weather resistance of your property. This extra cost and work will help you in the long run as it will keep your heating bills down and ensure that your property has a protection against damp. You also need to be aware of the need for proper ventilation, especially concerning your windows.

By undertaking the task of a garage conversion you are not only adding extra space to your home you are also adding value. Internal space tends to add more value to your property. By having an extra room your home will be worth more than if you had a garage. However you should think about the long term situation as well as the short. A garage conversion will add extra value to your home now but in years to come it may not due to areas being ‘zoned' for residential parking, meaning having a form of off road parking in terms of a garage will leave you better off within the property market.