Ever Considered a DIY Garage Conversion?

There aren’t many people who actually use their garages to store their cars.

The majority of the time, you’ll be able to open each garage door in a street and find what can only be described as a junk room. It’s ideal for additional storage, but if you really want to add value to your home, converting the space into a functional room is how to do it. Whether it’s a home office, guest bedroom or man cave, it’s sure to be useful.

However, there are many things you need to consider before going ahead with a garage conversion. The first thing is, what you will do with all the items currently being stored in the garage. The second is the cost of the job, and the third is getting the appropriate planning permission when needed. It isn’t an easy job to do, but it’s certainly a good investment. So, what do you need to do to get started?

Roof

Checking the roof before anything else is important. Most garage roofs will need to be repaired or upgraded in order to remain water tight. Don’t be tempted to use different materials and colours to that of the rest of the house. Your house will sell better in the future if the exterior matches. Maintaining a flat roof may mean you can get away without planning permission, but a pitched roof may need to go through local building control regulations.

Garage Doors

The easiest way to convert your garage is to remove the garage doors and replace them with a new door and windows. However, many people like the idea of keeping garage doors as a feature of the new space. If this is the case, for security purposes, you should invest in garage door repairs. Keeping the garage door also saves you from having to alter the foundations.

Windows

Adding windows won’t just be a case of choosing what you like and getting them installed. They’ll need to be double glazed and energy efficient. They should also be able to open to full extension so ensure you comply with fire safety regulations. It’s also important to match your windows with the rest of the windows in your home.

Ventilation

No matter what you use the space for, if you and your family spend a lot of time there, you’ll need a good ventilation system. The easiest way to do this is to install an extractor fan, but there are other methods, including air bricks and trickle vents.

Insulation and Heating

Making sure you get your insulation right isn’t just something building regulations will pick up on, it’s also something you need to do for yourself. You don’t want to be spending time in a cold and damp room during the colder months. For a garage space, electric underfloor heating is a good option if it’s too much work to run new pipework from your boiler. It’s fairly easy to install, so you could save money by doing it yourself.

Converting a garage can be a mammoth job, but it’s worth doing in the end.

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This is a contributed article written for WhimMagazine.com