Replacing garage roof from flat to trussed.

tommyedinburgh

First pic is what we have, second pic is what we would like. 

Anyone have any experience of changing a flat garage roof to a trussed roof? We want to create a small studio in the roof space. The existing internal measurements of the garage are 5m x 4.8m. 

Final question, any suggestions on a realistic budget?  

Section62

tommyedinburgh said:

First pic is what we have, second pic is what we would like. 

Anyone have any experience of changing a flat garage roof to a trussed roof? We want to create a small studio in the roof space. The existing internal measurements of the garage are 5m x 4.8m. 

Final question, any suggestions on a realistic budget?  

You'll need an architect, possibly a structural engineer.

The first job will be working out whether the walls and foundations can take the extra load of the pitched roof, plus whatever loading from the studio.

The budget will depend to a large extent on whether the walls/foundations are adequate, and if not, what remedial work is needed.

FreeBear

You'll probably need to apply for planning permission, and you will want Building Regulation sign-off when complete.

markin

A insulated Garden room could be cheaper and bigger, or go for a full side extension.

EssexExile

I think your terminology is a bit off. You want to go from a flat roof to a pitched roof. With the pitched roof it would be better to be a "cut roof" not trussed. You can Google the difference.

Section62

EssexExile said:

I think your terminology is a bit off. You want to go from a flat roof to a pitched roof. With the pitched roof it would be better to be a "cut roof" not trussed. You can Google the difference.

I agree about 'pitched', but whether the structure is better as a truss or cut is largely down to economics and need for speed.  An 'attic truss' may be a viable/ideal solution, depending on the amount of space needed.

tommyedinburgh

EssexExile said:

I think your terminology is a bit off. You want to go from a flat roof to a pitched roof. With the pitched roof it would be better to be a "cut roof" not trussed. You can Google the difference.

Will do - thank you. 

markin

Or just do this....



 

tommyedinburgh

markin said:

Or just do this....



 

We don’t want to lose the double garage under any circumstances. 

Bendy_House

tommyedinburgh said:

First pic is what we have, second pic is what we would like. 

Anyone have any experience of changing a flat garage roof to a trussed roof? We want to create a small studio in the roof space. The existing internal measurements of the garage are 5m x 4.8m. 

Final question, any suggestions on a realistic budget?  

Your house doesn't look to be old? '80s? '90s? And the garage looks to have been added afterwards, so even newer?

I wonder if PP was required for it? Is there any information about it on the LA's Planning Portal? (In the remote chance it provides details of the garage's construction and foundations.)

I guess you can ask a few general builders/roofers/joiners to quote - they should be able to give you a ballpark figure. Work out exactly what you want them to do, and if there's anything you can do yourself (can you plasterboard, put down a chipboard floor, skim, do basics electrics?) This job looks to be pretty much 100% a joiner's job, or a roofer. Very often these trades are individual/self-employed, and are regularly sub'd to larger general builders, so try and track one down who might want to take on a nice job on their own. They will have all the necessary contacts for things like tiling, wiring, plastering, etc if needed.

How will you access this space - via steps inside the garage, or through the house - the latter adding a significant extra cost (unless there's a window there you can adapt!) and the former requiring fire doors and all that stuff. In any event, the garage ceiling/studio floor will need fireproofing too.

It surely cannot be a 'big' job? It's just timberwork, surely?!

tommyedinburgh

The house was built in 1980. There are no historic planning documents of any nature on the local authority portal. I suspect the garage was added very early in the 80’s as we know someone who lived in the street mid-80’s and they say it has ‘always’ been there. 

Like you have suggested, I want to do as much as I can myself. Really just want a contractor to do the new roof structure, leaving it watertight. I would do all the internals myself with the help of a couple of close contacts. 

I spoke to an architect technician in the last hour. He has advised that with the garage currently being 5 x 4.8m we would expect to have a new loft room at around 3.05 x 4.46m. This would be perfect for what we need. It would be accessed by a new staircase in the garage - will need to look into traditional and spiral etc.