Thoughts on partially converting integral double garage

busymumof3

I've had a search on previous posts and know garage conversions are an area where opinions are divided. I'm in two minds myself so thought it might be useful to canvass views.

We have a four bed detached house with integral double garage which projects forward. Above the garage is a bedroom with dormer window. Downstairs is a large lounge, dining room, dining kitchen and study. The garage has a large single automated door and no windows. We currently have a utility area built into one side with the washing machine and tumble dryer, otherwise the garage is used for storage, houses the boiler, fuse box and meters. We have never used the garage to house a car. There is a double driveway for parking in front of the garage with scope for enlargement.

We are in an area where houses are in demand with desirable schools etc. We have decided to add a porch at the front of the house to rid the hallway of clutter and to knock a large double cupboard through to the garage for coats and shoes etc. The external measurements of the porch will be approx 2.5 x 2.5m. Whilst considering the porch build I wondered about converting approx half of the double garage. My thoughts are to put a window to the side projecting wall and to leave the existing garage door to the front. Stud walls and ceiling would be properly insulated, heating installed etc. I would have a doorway from this new room to the remainder of the garage. The gross dimensions of the room would be about 3 x 2.8m with access from the hallway. I reckon that we would be left with a single size garage housing the utility area, plus, on the other side, an area to the front of the garage, approx 2m long. My intention would be to use the room for laundry/ironing/crafts in a further bid to declutter other rooms. I know there are a couple of neighbouring houses where similar part conversions have been done for a study and a gym and this did not seem to have an effect on recent sales. There are also a handful of full single or double garage conversions with removal of garage doors and front windows being added although some of these do have scope for detached garages to be built which is not the case with us.

I would appreciate any thoughts before meeting with the architect. I would add that the changes would be done 'properly' by a reputable building company and we live in an area where building work costs are very high so I don't want to spend if there is a risk of devaluing our property.

bouicca21

Do you have any off street parking? Some councils won't allow garage conversions unless there are two off street parking places.

If you go ahead I doubt it would devalue your property, the very fact that others have done something similar suggests it is worthwhile.

busymumof3

Thanks bouicca21 - yes we have a driveway in front of the garage with 2 parking places. We also have a grass strip to the side that we will probably use to enlarge the driveway when we eventually renew it. Garage conversions seem to be slowly creeping into the area - one house nearby has recently converted into a gym, sauna and hot tub. The houses are largish 4 bedroom so it's not a case of garage or dining room for example more an extra, nice to have playroom or gym or study where the houses don't already have one.

I just don't want to do something that works for us but others would find odd!