Questions about garage conversion for a beginner

missimaxo

There is a very significant chance that we may have to have a family relative move in with us following a bereavement. If this is to happen, the only way it can happen is to convert our integral garage. There will be funds to do the conversion once the sale of the other house has completed so money isnt an issue. However I dont know where to start to work out if it is feasable and we need to make that decision before the other house is sold.

This is an old Google street view of our house to help me explain - although its changed loads since then:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.5792396,-1.0067855,3a,75y,208.34h,81.57t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxg-3J1Kg6cFfFgsli3utKw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

For info, the front now has a new porch that opens forwards, the wall is gone, we have a second drop kerb and the whole front garden is pattern imprinted concrete. The garage is essentially still the same but we swapped to an up and over door.

The whole side extension according to the paperwork we have dates from the late 1970s. Inside the garage is single brick walls with pillars (and rsj's I presume). Upstairs is cavity wall. The concrete slab for the base is not the original from when the house was built as this is still in the back garden but I dont know how deep it is. The floor is approx half a foot lower than the house.

The house also has a rear extension in which is a single loo (no sink or hot water at present) which is at house floor level. The current access door is at the back of the garage.

Our plan was, brick up the rear door and convert the toilet/ small corridor to a shower room. The boiler pipes can be diverted as they run just inside the garage in the ceiling. Knock through a door at the front of the garage to meet our house just inside the inner front door in the hall. The hall radiator would have to go to accmmodate this but I presume we could divert the radiator pipes to heat the new room. Raise the floor of the garage with insulation. Walls converted by insulation, timber frame and plaster. Replace door with a window (no idea how to match brick lol!).

The garage would need a new electric ring main as what is in the extension wouldn't cope with extra sockets. The fuse box can be accessed.

What I dont know is where to start to see if its feasable. Ive checked the councils website and I dont think planning permission is needed, but I know we will need building regs for the bathroom/ doorway/ garage door/ floor/ insulation. Do I approach an architect? A builder? Bearing in mind the work cannot start to after the other house is sold and we dont know when this will be, but we do need to know if the conversion is possible.

Sorry if I sound confused - theres so much on our minds at the moment and to be honest we really dont want to do this but cannot see an alternative.

Doozergirl

You sound like you know almost exactly what needs to be done.

I wouldn't personally use an architect as you seem to know what to check for. You could liaise with the building inspector yourself.

Whst you do need, of course, is a reliable builder that will also help and a full spec written out, window sizes agreed etc.

I wouldn't try to match the bricks. Probably set the new wall back ever so slightly, by perhaps an inch, fill side to side with window and render the area beneath the window.

missimaxo

Thank you - Ive been trying to read as much as I can its just the logistics that I cant get straight in my head. When we did the porch/ windows the window company did everything so it was dead easy. I'm happy to self manage, I know a good plasterer and plumber will just have to find a builder. Window wise I'd hope to match the one above as it was only done a couple of years ago and the same company could probably do it. Render sounds a possibility, irritatingly I could have matched the brick to the porch but I found where they got them from and they're discontinued... I bought the last few to build a step. I think I'll try and contact the building inspector to see what we need to consider.