Garage conversion - blocking the door from inside

Bendy_House

_Sam_ said:

Picture speaks a thousand words? 

Only just seen the photo. Yes, that helps a lot (or, it will others - I find it very hard to 'visualise'...)

I'd do some Google-imaging, and see what comes up with house or extensions with beige brick. A contrasting brick was mentioned above, and again I think a charcoal colour could work well. But I'd also look at continuing the theme to other parts - I dunno, charcoal window cills, soffits that sort of stuff? But I'd need to see it before I'd know...

Brick and breeze block? That sounds like a good build, ripe for proper conversion. You either do it 'cheaply' and avoid build regs - tho' you might have to disguise the change - or surely worth doing properly, now you have a good start? I'd have thought that the ext walls could be brought up to standard by simply D&Ding insulated p'board to the insides.

Potential for a sky-lantern on the flat bit?!

Bendy_House

(That photo is ripe for a bit of 'Paint'ing - get images of windows, cladding, charcoal brick, etc, resize and stick it over the garage door using basic MS Paint. Darken the windows, soffits to see. I also think the house would look sleeker if the below-DPC layer wasa dark contrast, but this would be tricky to do as it's currently the same type of brick right down to the ground - if the lower part had been rendered, then yes. Anyhoo, have a 'play'! It's a neat-looking bungie, but I think could be given a further boost. Ok, this might be carp, but if you were to add charcoal cladding to the garage door along with a window, what would it look like to have matching clad sections coming down from the existing two windows to DPC level? Awful? Possibly... :-( )

Section62

Bendy_House said:

Brick and breeze block? That sounds like a good build, ripe for proper conversion. You either do it 'cheaply' and avoid build regs - tho' you might have to disguise the change - or surely worth doing properly, now you have a good start?

Not disagreeing with you, but it is worth pointing out that it is usually unlawful to "avoid build[ing] regs" - it isn't just a case of doing a job cheaper.  The law requires compliance with the regs (for good reasons).  Not notifying or getting approval is a separate thing, also done to avoid costs of course.

In the former case, given that building regs are effectively a minimum standard for safety, durability, efficiency and comfort, a homeowner doing work that doesn't comply with the regulations is likely to be making a false economy, or storing up a problem for later (either having to do the job again, or having problems when the property is sold).

Silvertabby

What about French doors?

_Sam_

Thank you all for suggestions and tips, lots of useful info! Had no idea about the size of the bricks, that's great to know. Having thought further about this, we decided to go for a proper conversion with front door in place of the garage door, and then use the space as a large hallway with concealed utility (washing/dryer).

This is a rough idea of how it could look, hopefully also including a pitched roof in place of the flat portion (aesthetically it looks nicer I think above the front door)



Though it'll be more expensive, it kills two birds with one stone as I didn't much like the side entrance and tiny hallway there. Will look into selling the garage door and the electrics to help fund the project. Thank you all again!

FreeBear

That design certainly avoids the need to source matching bricks, although you may need some if you are planning on blocking up the side door. Fortunately, there are companies that make imperial size bricks (for a price) - I had need of some to rebuild a soldier course on a pre-war house. At £1.80, I was grateful that I only needed 25. In the end, it was worth it to get 6mm mortar joints all round.

Section62

_Sam_ said:

This is a rough idea of how it could look, hopefully also including a pitched roof in place of the flat portion (aesthetically it looks nicer I think above the front door)

The pitched roof idea is good in principle, but in your case will be fiddly to do and consequently add quite a lot to the cost of the job.  You will need an architect and/or structural engineer to work on the design (and building regs) and with a hip and two valleys to create, the job will be hungry on materials and labour.  You'll also have the issue of matching the tiles as there won't be enough stripped from the existing roof to cover the whole of the additional roof area.

The question is whether the value of the aesthetic improvement is going to be worth the expenditure (and hassle).

_Sam_

Thanks FreeBear, yes planning to block up the side door as its not needed and less one point of entry for security reasons. Was thinking to run few wires for a trailing plant that would help disguise new brickwork, it being on the side it should not be too visible. 

_Sam_

Section62 thanks! I was thinking the design similar to this one above the window, but if it's likely to be expensive it'll be a "no" at least for now. I suppose later (few years on) I should be able to come back to it if I decide and funds allow, and change the roof? 

Section62

_Sam_ said:

Section62 thanks! I was thinking the design similar to this one above the window, but if it's likely to be expensive it'll be a "no" at least for now. I suppose later (few years on) I should be able to come back to it if I decide and funds allow, and change the roof? 

It is certainly worth thinking about from the aesthetic POV, and you might find a builder who doesn't think it is a problem and can knock up a pitched roof for very little money.  But you'll really want the job done properly with all the paperwork sorted, which is a rather more involved project.

E.g. don't underestimate the weight of a tiled roof - even a small one - and the amount of timber (and lead) it takes to construct hips and valleys.  All of that load will be imposed on the existing roof structure and walls - which will need to be checked and modified if necessary to deal with the additional load.  With a garage particularly there is no guarantee the walls and foundations have been designed and built for the greater loads of a complex pitched roof vs the existing flat roof.