With an increasing number of people working remotely and spending more time at home, we are demanding more from our homes and sometimes even needing extra space. One of the best ways to increase the amount of space available, without moving house or building an extension, is to convert your garage. The Store Room’s Salford self storage team have come up with a few things to think about when planning your garage conversion.
What Factors Should I Consider?
You need to think about what you want to use the space for; will it be used for a home gym, a new bedroom/bathroom, or maybe office space. Based on what you want to use the area for you will need to consider planning and building regulations, for example the condition of the existing structure. It is always best to consult a professional when it comes to converting garage space, but once an architect and builder have looked at your plans, you can save a lot of money by doing some work yourself!
Will A Garage Conversion Add Value To My Property?
Depending on the circumstances, a garage conversion can increase the value of your home, by up to 20%. While this increase is dependent on other factors such as having access to alternative off-road parking, it does mean you can have more liveable space and your property’s value is likely to increase.
How Much Does A Garage Conversion Cost?
Of course this is dependant on the size of the garage, condition of the existing structure, building regulations and what you want to use the garage for, but you can make it as cheap or expensive as you want.
A DIY conversion usually costs around £4,000, whereas a professionally done double garage conversion usually costs around £30,000.
Other factors to consider are the cost of structural changes, design costs, and planning permission expenses.
What Regulations Do I Need To Consider?
As mentioned, the main two regulations are planning regulations and building regulations.
Examples of building regulations to check are; ventilation, escape routes, structural integrity, insulation, heating, plumbing, electrics, fire safety, damp-proofing, thermal performance and acoustics.
What About All The Stuff In My Garage?
A conversion means you will be getting more liveable space, and it’s a great time to sort through all your belongings that have been forgotten about in the garage. Use the clearing-out time to sort through you belonging and sell, donate or throw away any items you don’t want anymore. All the items you want to keep and either find new places for them in your home, or alternatively you can use a storage unit. The Store Room is open every day of the week and in convenient locations so you can come and access anything you need at whatever time suit you.