Anyone here converted a garage into a utility room?

[lostindubai]

Part of it anyway. I'm looking for ideas for a compact utility, with washing machine, tumble dryer, space for an airer and a washing bin, and I'd also like a chest freezer in there if possible! No sink necessary.

The space available is approx 2m x 3m. Can it be done?? Ideas welcome!

[TheFormidableMrsC]

Yes, we did that. Garage too small for the car but long enough to have a reasonable little room at the back. Contains washing machine, tumble dryer and a cross trainer! I did once have a freezer in it. I would say measurements sound approximately the same. My garage is separate to the house but I can access utillity room via it's own door from the garden. Easy and cheap project I believe (although I can't ask him, ex-husband now!). The one thing we did do for airing was have a wall mounted Brabantia washing airer that folds out and can be put away again. Hugely space saving.

[HeddaGarbled]

Yes, we split ours 2 thirds study at the front and 1 third utility at the back. Wall with garage door changed into wall with window for study, plus added door from entrance hall. Put a bi-fold door between the kitchen and utility to save space. We didn't put a window in the utility to save money but if I were doing it again, I might put one in. We have room for washing machine, tumble dryer and sink on one side and fridge freezer and cupboards on the other, so if you don't need a sink and have less cupboards, I think you could get a chest freezer in. Floor levels are slightly different between the kitchen and utility because of something to do with building regulations but this isn't a problem, just a small step up to the utility.

[OhTheRoses]

Yes. It was integral. Part downstairs cloakroom, a chunk for utility, w/m, t/d, sink, storage for ironing board, hoover, etc, bit at front for bigger storage.

[FinallyGotAnIPhone]

Yes I had a joiner do this for me earlier this year. I took about 1/3 of the garage and have a small utility (just space for a washer, a dryer, the boiler on the wall above the washer, and a load of hooks for coats), and a small downstairs toilet. Really pleased with it.

[Mrsladybirdface]

We've done it. Was I detached garage but we had it attached...two thirds is a snug/office and the back is utility. Probably slightly smaller than yours. Have a toilet, small sink, washing machine and tumble dryer, under counter freezer and cupboard

[lostindubai]

This all sounds good thanks for your replies. Did any of you put a radiator in too?

Finally, we're also planning to move the boiler! Can I ask how much the work cost you as it was so recent? Might give me an idea.

[Kaisha02]

We are looking at doing exactly this, but converting the back 2/3 of the garage into an insulated proper internal room. We also need to move the boiler. Total estimate about £8k

[user1471549018]

Work starts for us on monday to convert half our garage to a utility. So excited!! I'm having units along one wall (including tall unit for ironing board etc and a sink), tumble dryer and washing machine on the other side (with a worktop on top) then the rest of that wall will have a radiator. Floor space will be for clothes horse and do ironing. I decided to squeeze the chest freezer into the remaining garage as I wanted to prioritise a utility 'dirty' sink (so many times i need one!) and space for doing laundry and a radiator. Cost approx 5 k including fitting kitchen units and all plumbing and elec. I had considered moving the boiler there out of the kitchen but it would have been too much hassle/cost. DH is currently empting the garage/going to the tip and my concern at the moment is will we fit everything we still need into our mini garage (bikes, 3 recycling boxes, freezer, tools etc etc) At one stage we were going to turn this half into an office, but so glad we're keeping it now :)

[lostindubai]

Yes Kaisha we'd be looking at a proper internal room too, with insulation, a door into the house etc.

Thanks for the input guys, very helpful. Did you add it to the mortgage or get a separate loan?

[Kaisha02]

It will be savings for us mostly

[imjessie]

We converted the back of ours to a utility room.. I love it !!!

[imjessie]

Ours was around £2500 all in . My dh did a lot of it but we got someone to do the stud wall . We used enough of the garage to make it work but left enough to fit a car . ( big new build garage ) . We have a washer / dryer / freezer and drinks fridge in there . Also I keep my ironing table up and and airer . We bought kitchen cupboards and work tops from a local kitchen place and boxed in the boiler which is in the garage .

[imjessie]

I got a few quotes in Ans it was around £5/6k!!! We had to have sockets etc moved though so this may be relevant .

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

My dad and I just did something similar. We built an internal wall to make a third of the garage into a freezer/storage/larder room with drying space. One other change is that internal door from the house now opens into the house instead of into the garage iyswim. We heavily insulated the wall and put in a sliding door to access the garage. All in it cost us a couple of hundred quid and a few days graft.
As it's internal and a relatively low ceiling I put in an airer like this www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B008OW2Y3M/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1477856055&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX280_SY350_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=ceiling%20airer&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21
And also a dehumidifier.

[FinallyGotAnIPhone]

Yes I've got a radiator in the utility (i.e. The room with washer and dryer and boiler plus hooks) and a small radiator in the toilet. Because I can't stand it when you go to a downstairs loo and it's freezing!

Boiler- as a separate project I had the boiler moved from the kitchen to this newly created utility and I got a new boiler. It cost me about £3.5k. Ugh!

[karimdee]

Hi everyone, we have in the process of converting part of our garage into utility room with washing machine, dryer and a sink, do we need planning permission??

[mangocoveredlamb]

We used our garage as a utility room at our old house. We painted the concrete floor and then put some old carpet down. Installed a sink and counter and put the washing machine and tumble dryer underneath. That was it!
Worked really well!