Garage conversion - garage below house level

Bigphil1474

No you can't. The garage is higher inside than outside. I'm sure the OP will confirm either way.

Albermarle

With little work, you can make it a very comfy room, nicely insulated, with your choice of access - a ladder, spiral, fireman's pole, or even a proper staircase - and use it for whatever you want; cinema, chill, music, guest room, whatevs. But, bear in mind it won't 'conform', so it'll always be just 'a fancy garage'.

Would you not have the same problem as when there are loft conversions without BC sign off.
In that you should not use it as a habitable room/bedroom, especially due to fire issues.

Silvertabby

Would using it for storeage really be a waste?  It could actually free up living space in the house by clearing out things that are needed but not used every day.

We used to put our car in the (integral) garage, but it was becoming harder and harder with each new 'improved' model.  We finally called it quits when we bought a VW T Cross (Polo on steroids) so we changed the up and over door to side openers, painted the floor and fitted a work bench and storeage racks.  Mr S is chuffed to NAAFI breaks with his man cave, and I have a storeage rack for all the bits and bobs I need, but don't use on a regular basis. 

Working_Mum

My friend had a similar set up in her old house. She decided to keep a portion of the front of the garage as easy access storage for bikes, etc - this was accessed by nice double doors. She had a great storage set up and it kept lots of things handy and neat.

The rear half of her garage she converted into a downstairs loo and utility room. From memory it was at the same height as the rest of her ground floor.

I converted an integral garage in my previous home - the renovations naturally brought it up to the same height as the rest of the ground floor and we used it as a family room off our kitchen - we installed a beautiful bay window at the front. 

I would definitely suggest getting things done properly and with the proper permissions and sign off. It saves so much time and hassle at selling stage.

I think it's quite an exciting project for you - as Stephen Covey says "start with the end in mind" so I'd give some serious thought as to what you want the space to be when completed and work backwards from there.

WM

Albermarle

My friend had a similar set up in her old house. She decided to keep a portion of the front of the garage as easy access storage for bikes, etc - this was accessed by nice double doors. She had a great storage set up and it kept lots of things handy and neat.

It is a good point. We had our ( separate) garage knocked down and a proper extension built.
One disadvantage is that everything is now stored in two garden sheds and it demotivates me to get my bike out as it has to go through the house, the new alleyway being too narrow.

casper_gutman

We had our separate garage knocked down and a proper side extension built. We made the front part of the extension an externally-accessed storeroom with side-opening double doors. It's too short and too narrow for a car, but it's really useful for all our bikes, roof racks, camping gear etc.

If I had your garage I would consider building a raised floor in the back part and adding a utility, downstairs loo, study or whatever at the same level as the rest of the house. Then I'd use the front part of the ex-garage as a storage room accessed via new doors where the garage doors used to be.

I'd also look into how best to use the space under the new utility/whatever room. The height will only be, what? 1.5 metres or thereabouts? But perhaps it could be used for storing something, e.g., a trailer, bikes. Possibly it might be a useful space in future for something like a battery or thermal energy store to complement solar panels.

Ectophile

Bigphil1474 said:

No you can't. The garage is higher inside than outside. I'm sure the OP will confirm either way.

It's a Tardis garage?

jennifernil

Bigphil1474 said:

No you can't. The garage is higher inside than outside. I'm sure the OP will confirm either way.

It may be higher inside than the wee bit of roof outside , but it is not higher than the level of the upstairs floor.  Therefor,  putting in a floor at the house  ground floor level will give a room with a ceiling height the same as the rest of the house.     Then no need for stairs into the new room, just a door.

You cannot sensibly retain the area, with the sloping roof that projects forward of the rest of the house,  but it can be divided off to use for storage,  accessed from outside, useful for cycles, lawnmower etc.

And as suggested above, you could make access to the low area that would be left under the new floor, if it would be a useful space.

ascoli

Bigphil1474 said:

No you can't. The garage is higher inside than outside. I'm sure the OP will confirm either way.

This is true sadly!

ascoli

ascoli said:

Bigphil1474 said:

No you can't. The garage is higher inside than outside. I'm sure the OP will confirm either way.

This is true sadly!

Wrong post!

Thanks for everyone's replies - the idea of adding a floor is definitely attractive. I will have to look further into this