Does anyone know the rough cost of converting an internal garage?

[atticusclaw]

We have a double internal garage which I am toying with the idea of converting. It already has electrics and plastered and painted walls with a damp proof course to the walls and insulation to the ceiling since there is a room above. We'd probably put french doors in place of the current up and over garage door.

Anyone been down this route and know a rough cost?

[VeryStressedMum]

I'd be interested in this as we're thinking of converting our single integral garage. We're waiting on a price which is taking ages...

[Lelivre]

We have done this and very affordably under £5,000 making a fourth bedroom. The main problem is it is being converted from non habitable space into habitable so the insulation, foundations etc has to meet current building regs to receive sign off. It seemed the inspector was here loads when we did ours. We had a tight budget and a local contractor (friend) took care of the whole thing.

Sometimes services are in the garage and if you want to move them (gas meter for example) this can be expensive.

[MrsMaturin]

Interesting. We'd like to do half of ours making a small study.

[VeryStressedMum]

Thanks lelivre, I'd done some research and I thought it would be under 5k, though we are looking to move the boiler out of the garage which may bump it up a bit more.
How long did it take to finish yours?

[Lelivre]

Ours is L shaped and had a 5ft RSJ so that added to it. I think about a week or just over? It's 3 yrs ago now.

The electrics was quite a bit as we had lots of extra sockets spotlights dimmers and a new consumer board and outside lights put in. The insulation required in external walls was the bit that surprised me.

[VeryStressedMum]

Think we need a new consumer board and external walls need insulation too. The floor needs to be raised and insulated and obviously the garage door needs to be bricked up and a window put in. I don't know what RSJ is...
Just want to get started!!!

[Lelivre]

We took down load bearing solid wall where there was a built in storage area at the back of the garage the doorway then went from the existing hall so this was the first area to walk into it made the room more spacious doing it this way, rather than making it a built in cupboard. A RSJ is like a steel beam that holds up the ceiling when you take load bearing walls away. It had to be inspected as subject to building regs. It was at least a full days work so extra cost there.

[atticusclaw]

This is encouraging. Our walls and ceiling are already insulated and plastered with a damp proof course. Electric have recently been looked at. We'd put a stud wall up to make a small room at the back to house the boiler and chest freezer. Looks like for us the main expense would be the floor and the french doors. Ours is a double garage so we will need a five metre span of windows and french doors.

[Yvonne99]

We are having it done at the moment ( garage downstairs+ utility, bedroom above - both part of extension built 10 years ago). Garage converted into an office.
Floor needs to be insulated, walls needs insulation, window instead of garage door+ some wall around. Architect & planning permission required, then building control. Got a quote for £8k.

[settingsitting]

Unashamedly joining this thread. I have been thinking about an extra very rough bedroom for non fussy guests.

[VeryStressedMum]

Yvonne99 do you mean architect and planning permission to convert the garage?

[LilRedWG]

About £5k, architect not required, just a builder who knows what he's doing.

[VeryStressedMum]

Yeah, I thought planning permission wasn't needed, just building regs.

[Dumpylump]

Did our integrated double garage last year....but possibly more than most people would want. Have made a small but perfectly formed "granny flat". Living room/galley kitchen, and en-suite double bedroom.
Although the original garage was plaster boarded, insulated, and had room above, current building regs meant that this still wasn't adequate, and all had to be changed. The window had to be replaced, as it was too small to use in the event of a fire, and is the escape from what is now the bedroom.
One garage door was replaced with new external door and living room window, and the other was completely closed off. We had the whole of that outside wall re-harled to avoid a patchwork effect!
The total cost, including other windows for kitchen area and bathroom, new flooring, radiators, fitting of bathroom, washing machine, fridge, cooker and hob, furniture, blinds, and decorating, was just short of £25,000, but definitely money well spent.

[MissSmiley]

We did double attached garage. Cost about £5000.

[Lelivre]

Apparently we breached a restrictive covenant by changing the appearance of the front of the property (putting a window in) we only know this now that we are selling so check your deeds.

[VeryStressedMum]

The lady up the road has hers converted, so I think we'll be ok but may check anyway (if I know where the deeds are!)

[Lelivre]

Most of the houses of our design, on our street have converted but nonetheless we should have sought permission from the original builder.

[VeryStressedMum]

Ah! Is checking on the deeds enough, ie will it say something on there about it? Thanks for that advice

[clam]

we did ours about 4 years ago - best thing ever, now we have teens who want their own space but not to be in their bedrooms.
Integral single garage, I think it cost around 7K.

[Yvonne99]

I am not sure if we needed a planning permission ( possibly got confused) but surely we had to have an architect and some sort of approval from council.

[Lelivre]

Verystressed - you would have had sight of any restrictive covenants when you purchased. I think yes just the deeds. And call planning/building regs for an informal chat. Ours are always helpful on the phone. Maybe your neighbour can give you advice too. We didn't need planning or an architect but the changes we made internally and externally were minor.

[VeryStressedMum]

I can't remember what restrictions, if any, were on the deeds! I'll find out though before we start.
To convert the garage no planning is needed and you don't need an architect. Just needs to comply with building regs so someone will need to come out at various stages to check..this is according to the research I've done.

[VeryStressedMum]

Lelivre, what happens now that you want to sell? Do you have to change it back or get retrospective permission?

[Lelivre]

We provide the buyer with an indemnity policy. It's probably a similar cost to request permission from the house builders but I would have preferred not to have the extra cost now when we are spending out so much on conveyancing fees - and the rest!