Partial garage conversion

[IncidentsAccidents]

We're thinking of partially converting our detached garage to create a storage room and garden room/teen den. Garage is 5mx5m. We're not looking for anything fancy - just a nice space for teen dc to hang out/garden reading room.

Has anyone else done this and did it work well? Any potential pitfalls? How much did it cost? Thank you!

you say partially converted? how much of the area will be converted if its 5 x 5m? Also, where in the country are you? I know someone doing a garage conversion of about 15m and its looking about 40k for a bare shell painted white. mine is about 65k for a bare shell for about 15m2. both I. South east. both prices are plus flooring and fittings

Wow, that's a lot more expensive than I was hoping for! Converted space would be 15m2 and we're in the North West. Our original idea was to build an extension but it felt a bit like using a sledgehammer to cracked a nut when we just need a hangout space.

That’s a scary price! What work does it cover?

Check that the garage can be converted without planning permission. There may be conditions on the original PP restricting it's use to garage only.
You may also need approval under the Building Regulations.

There’s a few things to take into consideration here.

1. will it add value or take value way from your home?
2. do you even mind if it takes value away?
3. Would you want it to be useable in winter?
4. would you still have enough space left to use as an actual garage after the conversion?
5. does it already have power?

I know of some people who’ve converted part of their garage and been left with 2 spaces that aren’t really big enough for the purpose intended. Not enough room for a car in the garage and not enough space for a chill out room.

If you want all year round use, it will need good insulation - walls, floor and ceiling.

Hi,

We converted our garage, but its part of the house, rather than detached - so not sure if this will be much help really.

We did it ourselves. Luckily hubby can pretty much do anything DIY, and I don't mind getting stuck in.
It cost us about £4k.
So that covered everything, including planning permission and building reg fees.

We took out the garage door, dug foundations and built a wall (put a window in), then plasterboard for all the walls, underfloor heating and a new floor.
knocked a door through into the house, so a door .. then all the paint, new lights and plug sockets etc.

We didn't have to do much with he ceiling, but as yours is detached you would probably have to insulate that as well.

Really good points, thank you.

We wouldn't mind if it didn't add value to our home but would reconsider getting an extension instead if the quotes were very high.

It does have power and we wouldn't plan to use the unconverted part as a garage (just for storage). We'd want to use it all year round so, yes, good insulation is essential.

It's all down to the price, I think!

That's fantastic value, well done. Really wish we were as handy as you, but we're definitely not, unfortunately!