Do Garage Conversions Need Planning Permission?

The short answer is: probably not. Most integral garage conversions will usually fall under Permitted Development, meaning planning permission is not required. However, it is still best to check with your local authority. Resi estimates that only 10% of garage conversions will require planning permission.

If you live in a conservation area or a listed building, you will almost certainly need planning permission. It is also worth checking for any planning conditions attached to the house or garage when constructed (i.e, the garage has to remain as parking) before beginning works as an application will need to be submitted to remove the conditions.

In some areas, especially Conservation Areas, PD rights for garage conversions have also been removed. This may also apply to areas where on-road parking is an issue.

If the conversion falls under Permitted Development, applying for a Lawful Development Certificate (LDC) is a good idea, particularly if you aim to re-mortgage or sell the house in the future.

Even if Permitted Development rights have been removed, you may still be able to convert a garage, but you’ll need to make a householder planning application.

If you are converting a separate, stand-alone garage as opposed to an integral one, then you may have to apply for a change of use.

How Much Does a Garage Conversion Cost?

At the very least you will need around £1,000/m2 for a garage conversion. This price includes construction, plus the design, planning, Building Regs and a structural engineer’s costs, but not finishes and furniture. This could easily rise to between £1,500 and £2,000/m2 depending on the level of work and the finish you choose.

For a single garage conversion, you’ll need to budget around £15,000 – £20,000, with some variation due to your choice of materials and fittings. For a double garage, that figure would be more like £20,000 – £30,000.

Of course, there are caveats for all these prices. Project costs will vary depending on structural changes, utilities and plumbing, which can push prices up.

It’s also worth noting that at present construction material shortages are causing a spike in many building materials, from timber and steel to plaster. In fact, some estimates suggest that building quotes have increased 10% year on year to factor in these increases, as well as an increased workload for builders overwhelmed with new demand and less available labour. You should expect to wait several months before a contractor can start your garage conversion at present — you may find there’s a good reason a builder has an immediate availability, and that they’re a company to avoid.

Do I Need an Architect For a Garage Conversion?

Whether you decide to use an architect, another house design professional or come up with designs yourself is a personal decision that should be based on the scale and complexity of the project.

Using an architect, an architectural technologist or another type of design professional will mean expert design input and ideas that you might not have thought of. A design professional will also have useful trade contacts and will have experience in dealing with Building Control.

When it comes to architect costs, expect to pay from as little as £1,200 right up to £3,000 for design fees, depending on the complexity of the design.

Some people choose to come up with a design themselves and carry out a DIY garage conversion — a good option for those with limited funds and the spare time to get stuck in.

You could also use a recommended builder — most good builders will be able to take on a garage conversion.

Another option is to use a garage conversion specialist — these companies usually have a wealth of experience but, as with all of the above options, be sure to view completed projects and speak to past clients first.

A garage conversion specialist should have plenty of experience in terms of dealing with any planning issues surrounding garage conversions, as well as building regulations.

Can I Make a Garage into a Two-storey Extension?

When converting an integral, single-storey garage into living space, it is worth considering the space above it — could adding a storey above be an option? This is well worth thinking about as a way of gaining extra first floor space without increasing the overall footprint of the house.

Clearly, creating a double storey extension means more work and expense, but the end value of the house should make it worthwhile. The existing foundations will almost certainly need to be checked and up- graded, and there will be further Building Regulations to consider. For example, the garage ceiling and new floor in the upstairs space will have to achieve a minimum of 30 minutes fire resistance.

Additionally, there will be thermal and sound insulating considerations to take into account.

How do I Make a Garage Conversion Look Seamless?

Ideally you want to make your garage conversion look like part of the rest of your house, as opposed to a converted garage. This should be something you can work on with your chosen designer.

One exception is in the case of partial garage conversions. This is where the front of the garage remains unchanged both internally and externally, while the rear section of the garage is incorporated into the house. This allows you to retain some storage space, while gaining a little extra living space — perfect for those after a utility room, a little extra kitchen space or a playroom.

Ensuring the materials used for the cladding and roof (where there is one) match or tie-in with those on the main house ensures a seamless finish, as does matching the window and door style.

Alternatively, you might wish to adopt a contemporary take on the design and highlight the garage as a new element of the house, choosing a modern cladding or render.

A new cladding will overcome any issues surrounding how the old opening for the garage door is concealed — a badly bricked up opening is a definite no no.

Can I Brick Up My Garage Door?

The existing garage door is one element that needs addressing in your design. The most common route would be to infill this using walling that matches the building, or using blocks before using house cladding or house rendering to unify the new wall with the existing structure.

It may also be possible to retain a door, or use glazing in the infill to bring natural light into the space, also reducing the additional load on the existing foundations.

Do Garage Conversions Need Foundations?

One of the key elements of converting a garage is blocking up the existing garage door opening (with an infill wall) — perhaps adding a new window or entry door in its place.

In order to add an infill wall, you’ll need to establish whether the garage foundations were continued beneath this opening and/or the concrete slab is adequate to support the new wall. This may involve digging a small trial hole in front of the concrete slab to check.

If the existing concrete slab is 200mm or over, this is generally adequate to extend straight up with new brickwork.

“If the existing slab is not adequate there are typically two options,” says Stuart Letts. “Either a 1m footing will have to be dug and filled with concrete or a 140mm x 100mm concrete lintel can be added into the wall on both sides below ground level. The new infill wall can then be built on top of that.”

It will also be important to test foundation strength when extending over a garage, as this greatly increases the load exerting pressure on your foundations.

Speak with your designer, builder or a structural engineer in order to ascertain the suitability of your foundations.

There are two main routes for those who find their existing garage foundations are inadequate.

Either a 1m footing wall will have to be dug and filled with concrete, or a 140mm x 100mm concrete lintel can be added into the wall, below ground level, on both sides. You can then proceed to build a new infill wall on top.

Floor insulation is always absent in a garage and including some in the conversion should be part of the project, whenever it’s possible.

Garage floors are often lower than the house floor and so adding a damp proof membrane (DPM), insulation and a new screed, along with your final floor covering, is a good method for how to level a floor up to that of the rest of your house.

You can use the existing concrete floor as a base, adding a solid or liquid DPM, before fitting a layer of insulation on top — building control will advise on how much insulation will be required.

Finally, the new screed is poured, ready to take your new floor covering. Be careful not to cover up any existing air bricks.

This is a good time to think about include underfloor heating within your garage conversion.

When working with very large differences in floor levels, a new suspended timber floor is a good idea. Aim to create a void beneath of at least 150mm between the concrete and underside of the timber, placing insulation between the joists, with new air vents to provide ventilation.

Do You Need Ventilation in a Garage Conversion?

Installing an openable window is an easy way to create ventilation.

The opening should have an area of at least 1:20 of the floor area of the room it serves, whereas bathroom windows can be any openable size. Trickle vents should also be incorporated into the window framework to provide background ventilation.

If your garage already has air bricks, these should not be covered up. Be mindful of Building Regulations regarding ventilation if converting a garage to include a bathroom, kitchen or utility room, as you’ll likely need an extractor unit to ensure moist air can be removed from the room.

You’ll find all the information you need about ventilation in Building Regulations Part F.

Garage Conversion Electricity Requirements

An electrician will be able to test the existing wiring and ascertain what work will be required. If your conversion involves knocking down internal walls, they will need to be carefully examined too.

A lot of the time, a garage hosts electric meters and distribution boards, allowing for easy installation of electrics. New lights, sockets and electric radiators could put additional strain on older consumer units, which may need to be upgraded. If you’re installing wiring for a detached garage, it can be run through an underground channel.

It is possible to locate the garage on the current consumer unit. If it doesn’t have its own miniature circuit breaker (MCB), consider replacing the consumer unit or upgrading it.

If the garage is to be another habitable room in your house, its own MCB is probably enough. Consider adding at least one new 20-amp circuit.

An additional mains supply can be installed, with the cost varying from £500 to £20,000. This will also require the installation of a separate consumer unit.

You’ll find all the information you need about ventilation in Building Regulations Part F.

How is Plumbing Added to a Garage Conversion?

A survey should be carried out to locate the main outflows for water (As well as the waste pipe if you’re installing a WC). Consider how far the garage is from the mains and waste pipes of the main house. The further the distance, the more digging pipes will add to your project’s cost.

What Are Garage Fire Door Regulations?

You must consider fire safety and the regs under Building Regulations Part B when it comes to your garage conversion project.

“Attached garage conversions are usually accessed by a hallway door, providing a safe means of escape to outside, but if you can only enter this new room from another (outer) room, it defines it as an inner room”, explains building control officer Paul Hymers.

“Because a fire in the outer room could prevent your escape, the inner room will need an alternative escape route. That could be a door or window and so the role is often performed by the one replacing the garage doors at the front. Escape windows have minimum criteria. If you inner room is a kitchen, en suite, cloakroom WC or bathroom then it doesn’t need an alternative exit.”

In partial conversions, where only part of the garage is being used as habitable space, the wall separating the two should be fire-rated to 30 minutes.

Choosing the wrong company can cost you a fortune and waste a lot of time

Whilst it may seem like one of the obvious key aspects of a garage conversion project, many people jump the gun and spend far more time choosing the fun stuff for the interior. A successful and stunning garage conversion lies in the planning.

Taking your time to find the right garage conversion company will make the rest of the process of planning and executing a breeze.

Spending some time researching companies in your area and getting a feel for them is crucial. It’s also invaluable to speak to them and get a feel of whether or not they grasp your vision or are just looking to turn your project over as quickly as possibly.

Doing this properly might not get you started as quickly, but it’s a key part of the process you don’t want to rush.

1. A Professional Experience

Do they make an effort to visit your home or gain a crystal clear idea of the scope of your project? Do they provide suggestions for design improvements?

How did they present themselves? Was their van and clothes branded and clean or did they turn up with stains all over their clothes from the last job?

How did the conversation go? If they took their time to answer everything you asked well and put you at ease, often your gut feeling is right!

You must be sure that the person quoting you has taken the time to understand your vision and recognises exactly what your project requires. A tell-tale sign that they’ve not taken in very much information is a quote with limited detailed information on it. This quick turnaround base quote they’re using for everyone could be too low (meaning more costs creep up in the future) or too high (so you get ripped off).

When it comes to the real professionals, they’ll make sure to communicate exactly how the timeline of your project looks as well as the start and finish times of workers, the name of the person who’s working on your project and more.

2. Do They Provide A Guarantee?

When it comes to work on your home, you don’t want to take chances. If the company isn’t confident enough in their ability to deliver the work they promise, why should you be confident enough to trust and hire them?

Always ask about the guarantee they offer on their work!

3. Pick The Right Horse For The Course

You wouldn’t ask a brain surgeon to operate on a patient with a heart problem. It’s exactly the same in the building industry.

There are many different types of builder and they will all have a particular specialism in an area of construction. Some will be garage conversion specialists, others will prefer loft conversions or home extensions, some will do commercial work while one-man band builders might prefer to do smaller projects. Ask them to do something unfamiliar and you may end up being disappointed.

Often your best bet is to stick with a company who specialises in your type of project.

4. They’re Fully Insured

Every business you consider should have Public Liability insurance as a bare minimum. Without these policies in place, the existing parts of your home and property are at risk.

Always ask about the insurance policies that potential contractors have in place. If they have them all in order they’ll be more than happy to disclose the information to you.

5. They Don’t Ask For Payment In Full

Most reputable builders will ask for a small deposit to book the dates into their calendar to cover the cost of the administrative and pre-construction paperwork. However, if you hear a builder asking for payment in full or even a large proportion of the cost before starting the project then avoid them at all costs.

While a builder shouldn’t necessarily bank roll your project you should expect to have a payment schedule set up with payments due at specific milestones of the build.

1. Your Vision

Everything starts with a dream vision for your garage conversion, and we’re here to help you bring that vision to life with our expert advice and guidance throughout your free design session.

You may know exactly what you want, but we will help you enhance the project with logical and creative design ideas. However, rest assured there won’t be any annoying salespeople pushing you towards the most expensive outcome.

This design session is aimed at providing you with as much value as possible to help you make informed decisions regarding your project.

At New Home Improvement Group, everything we do is about bringing your vision to life.

We’re on hand to ensure your dream garage conversion comes to fruition with the most seamless process, all within the limits of your budget, providing complete transparency throughout.

You’ll be visited by a member of the team who will discuss your architectural plans (don’y worry if you don’t have these, we work with some of the top architects in the area) and the finer details of your project, ensuring everyone is on the same page with regards to your conversion.

Within 2 days of your design session, you’ll be presented with a comprehensive proposal and quote.

2. Anticipation

Once you’re 100% satisfied with the proposal we’ve presented to you, we can get started on building out your vision.

Prior to any work starting, we’ll make all expectations clear and explain the way we operate as well as key delivery dates of all aspects of your project and how it will flow.

We find this process to be key so you are crystal clear on the ways that your budget is being used for supplies, labour and materials.

Before the conversion takes place, you can trust that you’ll be kept updated as and when necessary. We’ll check in prior to the project to check you’re still happy the with the start date.

You’ll be clear on who will be working on your project and when they will arrive on the first day to avoid any surprises!

3. Project Completion

You can rest easy that from the first day of your garage conversion right through to the last, you will be dealing with professionals who care – we do everything we can to take the weight of the project off your shoulders so that you can go about your daily life with ease.

If you have any questions whilst the conversion is in progress, we encourage you to ask our team so that we can explain processes and put you at ease. Our Project Management System is second to none too.

Throughout your garage conversion our team will ensure that all working areas are kept as clean as possible throughout and at the end of the day to minimise disruption to your everyday life and will take extreme care around every other area of your property.

Throughout this entire conversion process, you’ll see that our team of experts have the level of experience and knowledge needed to make the perfect garage conversion for you and your family, creating that dream additional space in your home.

4. Satisfaction Guaranteed

We strive to make sure that you are 100% satisfied with the end result, and that all of your expectations were met through the work that was completed.

All finishing touches will be completed to a high standard, so you can rest assured the on-hand professionals will help to ensure a crisp and clean-cut final finish.

Even when the project is completed, our service doesn’t end there. We will complete a satisfaction walkthrough of the newly finished garage conversion.

This gives you the opportunity to ask any final questions are raise any concerns which can be resolved.

Thank you for taking the time to read this  – we hope you’ve found the information helpful and can use what you’ve learned to understand a little bit more about whether or not a garage conversion is the right option for you when it comes to adding more space to your home.

At New Home Improvement Group we specialise in tailoring projects specifically to achieve the dream vision your have in mind.

If you’d like to explore further and gain a better understanding of what is achievable with your garage, we’d like to offer you a completely free, no-obligation, detailed garage conversion design session.

During the session, one of our friendly team will talk through what you’d like to achieve, answer any questions you may have regarding your project and provide you with stacks of valuable information.

If you’d like us to quote you for the works that’s great. If not, you will finish the session with all the information required to make your own informed decision.

Hit the button below to book in for your free garage conversion design session: