WHY CONVERT A GARAGE?

Bigger Homes are available for Essex garage conversions on 01268 553648. Get in touch today to speak to our professional team.

The Advantages of a Garage Conversion

Garage conversions are a great way of creating that additional space you need, without increasing the overall footprint of your home. Unlike an extension, where you may need to give up some garden, a professional garage conversion in Essex simply involves repurposing your existing and underused space. Additionally, a garage conversion to provide additional living space can add as much as 10 per cent to the value of your home according to property experts.

As far as the building work goes, garage conversions offer minimal disruption, as around 90-95% of the work is done within the existing garage space. In the case of attached or integral garages, the opening of the space into the main house is often the last thing done. This helps to ensure that noise, dust and general inconvenience is kept to a minimum.

Creative Ideas for Garage Conversions

As a popular alternative to moving house, a garage can be transformed into just about any room you need for your home. The garage is often overlooked but can be easily be converted into a playroom, office or a bedroom with en-suite – all at an affordable price. Whatever your needs, Bigger Homes can help you create that space. After all, very few of us still keep our cars in the garage!

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What Type Of Garage Do You Have?

The options for your garage will depend on the size available as well as where it is located. Most garages fall into three categories — attached, integral and detached. All come with their own pros and cons when converting:

Attached or Integrated Garage

Both of these are connected to the main structure of your house, sometimes only on one side, but also often projecting out from the front of the house with a room above, most commonly these are bedrooms. Attached garages can usually be accessed from inside the house via a door which makes the conversion so much easier. Entire knock through’s from the garage opening up into the main house and fully open plan are also possible and are now very popular choices of attached or integrated garages.

Detached Garage

Detached garages are more likely to have to apply for full planning permission to change its intended use if it is a separate building. This does not stop some amazing options for conversion including games rooms, annexes, man-caves and garden rooms. Please get in touch with our garage conversion specialists Essex team to explore some more ideas.

How much space will you get?

Standard Single Garage

A standard-sized single garage is ideal if you are looking to create a home office, playroom or guest bedroom with en-suite with your garage conversion — or even a downstairs bathroom or shower room and a utility. It would give you around 14m² of extra space, so you may also be able to fully knock through the walls and extend into an existing kitchen or lounge for instance.

Standard Double Garage

A double garage offers many options for conversions due to the 28m² of space it creates. It even allows to keep part storage and part living space.

DO I NEED PLANNING PERMISSION FOR MY GARAGE CONVERSION

It will generally be possible to convert a garage into habitable space, without requiring planning consent. The instances in which planning consent would be required are if a specific covenant relating to the property advises that it should be retained as a garage (often the case with newer dwellings or where off-street parking is limited), or if the garage in question forms part of a previous extension to the property. If planning consent is required, then, subject to the number of bedrooms in the property and the existing parking arrangements, it may often be necessary to provide additional off-road hard standing to replace the garage.

Garage conversions require building control approval as per standard house extensions, although it is generally a straightforward process of installing additional insulation to existing floors, walls and ceilings. To get your project started why now get a free quote in under 2 minutes by using our Garage Conversion Cost Calculator?

Choosing A Specialist Garage Conversion Team To Work With

Bigger Homes would be delighted to take on your garage conversion project. Our team of professionals work all over Essex and in some areas of London. What sets us apart from other competitors in the industry is our experience and the fact that the majority of our work comes from recommendations and repeat customers. When it comes to conversions, we are the leading company by far in the area due to our highly skilled team who apply great care and craftsmanship to every job we work on. To demonstrate our talent, we have show homes available for you to visit so you can explore the potential of what can be achieved. In the meantime, please see our Testimonial and Gallery areas. To get your project started, why not get a free quote in under 2 minutes by using our Garage Conversion Cost Calculator?

FAQ’s

Will I need planning permission for a garage conversion?

Before beginning work on your project, it is important to check with the planning department of your local authority to find out what is possible with your garage conversion. The two main options available to you will be permitted development or full planning permission. In the case of permitted development, your garage conversion project can proceed so long as the works meet the specified regulations. Full planning permission may be required if a covenant relating to your property requires the garage to be used for parking. Additional off-street parking may need to be built instead before you can proceed.

How much does it cost to convert a garage into a useable room?

The cost of your project will depend on the type of garage you wish to convert, such as a detached or integral garage, the size of the space, and whether you wish it to be a single or two-storey conversion. As well as the structural changes required to change your garage into a useable room, your personal finish preferences will also impact the cost of the proposed works.

Bigger Homes offers transparent quotes and can customise the proposal until you are 100% with it.

Does a garage conversion add value to a property?

It is widely acknowledged that a garage conversion could add as much as 20% to the value of your property. However, this will depend on the size and scope of your project. You might choose to ask a local estate agent on the possible value increase a garage conversion could offer your property, and then weigh this up against the build cost of the project. If you have additional off-street parking and are adding much-needed space to your home, then this could increase both the personal value to your lifestyle as well as the property’s resell value down the line.

Garage Conversions Essex