A garage renovation, where you use existing garage space as a living area can free up some much-needed space in your property. Buying a new home when you run out of space is a costly business, and there are also many reasons why you may not want to move. So, if you are already living in your dream home, the challenge you have is to find space to convert to living space. You could convert a loft, basement, or a garage. In this article we will concentrate on the cost of a garage renovation.
Garage Renovation : The Affordable Option
When looking at the prices of loft, basement, and garage conversions, converting your garage is certainly the most economical option. Getting a few quotes from local tradesmen supplied to you by BBN can ensure you get the best price for your garage renovation. The price for your conversion will depend on many factors, these including whether you will need to lay new flooring and whether you will be fitting new doors, windows, and insulation.
Benefits
There are a lot of benefits of choosing a garage renovation over other projects such as a loft conversion. Asides the cost, a garage conversion is actually quite quick to complete. If you have a double garage, you will also have the option to keep some space for your car, and convert only half the area into new living space.
A garage conversion is relatively quick and simple to carry out as you don’t need to worry about laying new foundations or building walls from scratch. Also, your existing garage will most likely already have an electrical supply and running water. When compared to the price of building an extension to the same dimensions as a standard garage, it is easy to see why a garage conversion is popular. Whereas a garage conversion could cost you as little as 5K to complete, a simple 3 x 4m extension will cost you upwards of 13 thousand pounds.
Structural Changes
The overall price of a garage conversion is relatively low as there are few structural changes necessary. You will need to remove the garage door and add a replacement that is water-tight. This could be done simply and cheaply by blocking up and a adding a small window, the overall cost being just over 1000 pounds. Your garage will need doors and windows, and an escape route. Your windows will cost you upwards of 500 pounds each, depending on the style and size.
Floor
What you need to do to the floor will depend on what floor you have already. You may need to bring up the floor level to that of the rest of your home. This can be done by pouring some new concrete. The floor of your choice can then be laid over your new concrete slab.
Stud walls can be built inside your garage space to create rooms. To ensure your garage is more energy efficient you will need to add some insulation. The price for your walls will depend on how many you need, and whether or not the existing walls already have insulation.
Utilities
Your existing garage will already have electricity, and possibly water. It is unlikely your garage will have a gas supply, and this is a consideration you need to think about for central heating and for garage conversions that will be used as a kitchen.
The overall price you pay will depend on a lot of factors, and your tastes and choices. If your intentions are to convert your garage into a living room and you already have electric, the overall cost can be kept down to just over 5K. Of course, this price will begin to rise steeply when you are adding a kitchen, bathroom, or expensive fixtures and fittings.
Although it may be tempting to carry out your garage renovation yourself, you won’t actually save money in the long run. When your garage space is completed by a professional conversion team it will be inspected and added as living space to the plans for your home. This will increase the market value of your property. A DIY conversion that does not come up to standards will not be able to be certified as living space, and will not add much, if any, value to your home.