CAN I TURN MY DETACHED GARAGE INTO A GARDEN ROOM?

A detached garage can be quickly converted into a garden room. Before beginning a conversion, you need to check to see if you need to apply for a building permit.

If you are not changing the garage’s footprint or height, you should be able to convert it without a building permit. If the garage is located in front of the house, or if it is part of a listed property, or if it sits within a conservation area or national park, you will need to apply for a building permit.

Building regulations independent of building permits comes into play for garage conversions. If there are changes in the electrical system, heat modifications, or if the room will be used as habitable space, you will need to abide by building regulations. A building control officer from the local council will come to the job site to inspect before the signing of the conversion as “complete.” It should be mentioned that a property with unauthorized modifications can be a problem when you attempt to sell. So, consider the job of building control officer important.

Prior to any renovations, the existing garage’s structure must be taken into account. Concrete block walls are easy to deal with. Timber-frame construction must be evaluated for the presence of rot and structural stability. PU board insulation of at least 100 mm, added to the walls and between the joists of the roof, along with a floating floor system, can achieve comfort for all the seasons of the year.

There is also a benefit to the location of the garage. It won’t impact the thermal envelope for your main garage and will help the project compartmentalize. Depending on required finishes, the cost for at least a basic conversion of a garage, purchased from a vendor, is about £8,000 to £15,000. Effective May 2020, the Planning Portal at planningportal.co.uk has an interactive guide covering almost all of the typical examples, so if needed, check out the website to get a better idea of the scope of your project.