To want to convert our garage into living space?

[EmmelineLestrange]

We (me, DP, and my 2 kids who are with us half the time and with their dad the other half) have a 3 bed house. It has a lounge, and a kitchen/diner. It's mid terrace, with a small garden at the back, off street parking outside the house for 1 car, and there isn't much storage space in the house. Low pitch roof so no opportunity to go up into the roof.

We have an integrated garage which is just used for storage, we don't put a car in there.

Kids are currently 12 and 9, and the lounge is a shared area to watch TV and they have their computer in there.

We are looking to either convert the garage into living space (probably a "grown up" lounge with a sofa bed to properly be able to accommodate guests), or to put a cabin in the garden, but that would be a lot smaller, take up a lot of the garden, and not get any direct sunlight.

As well as improving the living space for us, I'm mindful of what potential buyers might prefer in the future - this is not our forever home.

So, if you were buying a house, would you prefer it to have a garage, or another area of living space?

YABU - would prefer to have a garage
YANBU - not bothered about the garage and would prefer to have more living area

With that layout I would definitely convert the garage.

Do you have usable loft space for storage and space for a shed? I would not miss a garage for a car but would miss the storage for garden furniture, tools, bikes etc.

@Allywill

Do you have usable loft space for storage and space for a shed? I would not miss a garage for a car but would miss the storage for garden furniture, tools, bikes etc.

Very little loft space, it has a very low pitch and is difficult to get far enough in to store much up there. We have an existing shed which we could swap for a bigger one without taking up too much garden

We did this years ago and it’s been great. Kids don’t use it much now they’ve got older but it’s become my office. We’re considering either an extension or moving to get more space still and the estate agent has said more and more people are doing this now more are working from home, and more are looking for this extra space in a house. You might not get your full money back on it but it won’t be a complete loss of money if you sell.

We just got a large shed in the garden for the stuff from the garage (and got rid of a ridiculous amount of junk!)

I'd only agree if it complies with planning permission- and I'm really not sure it does in my area as no one has done it!

Yes a space to wfh would be helpful too - I currently work in our bedroom but it’s not ideal!

Your downstairs living space is very small for a 3 bed so I would do it.

@RandomMess we do have a lounge on the first floor as well

Ah that makes more sense 😂

So actually that lounge could become a 4th bedroom when you sell.

Anyone just sealed floor, painted that and walls, and lined floor to use as gym or doesn't it work?

@RandomMess

Ah that makes more sense 😂

So actually that lounge could become a 4th bedroom when you sell.

If we were thinking of doing that, would you also put in a shower/sink/toilet in that room as well, even if we would rarely use it ourselves? Or just kit it out for what we need it for right now and let any future buyers change it if they so wished?

Yes we have converted an integral garage. Just recently finished having started October 2019 and delayed by COVID.

Front of garage / big door replaced with normal window, that half is home office.
Other half is big utility room and downstairs loo.
Bonus is that the central heating plumbing was done separately from rest of house so when DH and me wfh, we aren't heating the whole house just the old garage.

The lounge on the middle floor would be a 4th bedroom - is there a bathroom on that floor or just an en-suite in the bedroom on that floor. Have you got a floor plan?

Half way through this now, our eldest, my teendsd is going to have a lovely new room & 2 youngest will have bedroom each as they share now (boy & girl). Best decision. We bought a couple of sheds for storage.

Looking at your plan I was wondering if I would try and get at least a toilet on that floor. Maybe in the utility room. Thing is if you are not staying there long term you don’t want to spend too much money.

You could partition off the area under the stairs for storage and have a big window where the garage door is. Don’t make the new room too small by putting in en-suite or large storage area. Unless the garage is really big.

Anyone just sealed floor, painted that and walls, and lined floor to use as gym or doesn't it work?

We're considering doing this. I was thinking about some rustic panelling to help keep it warm. But now I'm tempted to make it an office. Our garage is actually already half converted (by the previous owners), the back half is a shower room and utility room. Makes a massive difference to the house.

We bought a house with a converted garage - it's brilliant. Quite a big room, really useful, including as my current office space.

I have to admit this was our bug bear when buying houses. A garage is non negotiable for us and everyone has bloody converted it into living accommodation! It's a very popular choice but there will be a few of us who get put off.

I’d want a garage as DS uses it as a gym, and DH has more tools than B&Q.

We did this, turned it into a dining room and a utility. It was well worth the money, and I think it's added value on to the house as our downstairs is so much bigger now. We did have to clear out a lot of junk, and we've had to get a big storage box thing for the garden for bikes and stuff, but it was DEFINITELY worth doing!

I don't like garage conversions. They are usually cold and not very attractive. I wouldn't do it.

It’s quite narrow. Is it double or single skinned? If you need to add kingspan and plasterboard that will take up some of the internal dimensions.
Have you been inside your neighbours? I would try and mark up the width in another room and see how it feels.
It would work for office space but it would be a long thin living area that could be difficult to get right

We have just bought a house with a double garage with the intention of converting our garage into our sons future home. He has severe autism abs leaning disability and we want him to have 'independent living' beside us.

We did this best decision we made. Let’s face it none of the garages fit a car anyway. It actually helped us have a clear out. Built a bigger shed in the garden to put all the items we needed to keep. I was shellshocked of the amount of crap we had in it!

What I don't like is when this is followed by taking up all the front lawn and so there is just paving in the front. Denying any plants or grass and in a small way reducing biodiversity in our towns and cities.