When designing a garage conversion, it’s important to keep various design essentials in mind. In this guide, we’ll explore four design essentials for a successful garage conversion before touching on other design keys.
Sufficient Insulation
Many of the design essentials for a successful garage conversion are unsurprisingly required per building regulations. This applies to insulation. Specifically, the building regulations (and good design standards) necessitate wall, floor, and loft insulation for your garage conversion.
Naturally, a well-insulated garage ensures a high level of energy efficiency by keeping the heat in. This is one of many reasons why you must hire professionals to fully design. While you can build a garage DIY, the structure, that is, many jobs will require professionals to add specific elements to the garage. Regardless, even for work that can be legally done DIY, you should only attempt it if you have the right skills and knowledge, as an enormous amount of precise work is involved.
Heating and Electrics
Your garage conversion design must also consider how to include electrics and heating. What’s more, you’ll also want to make sure that all safety requirements are adhered to. For instance, a gas boiler must be installed by a Gas Safe Register engineer by following the manufacturer’s instructions and complying with industry standards.
A garage will need a suitable source of heating. More than likely, you’ll simply want to extend your household’s central heating to the garage (e.g., with the installation of radiators) rather than having a new boiler installed in your garage. Whatever the case, all design requirements must be followed.
Along with having new electrics added by a qualified professional, it’s crucial that they are tested for safety reasons.
Damp-proof Course
All garage conversions require a damp-proof course to minimise the risk of water damage. If a garage lacks damp proofing. A damp-proof course can come in the form of a damp-proof membrane or DPM. This must be installed atop the concrete base to prevent water from rising up through the base and into the garage’s interior. Damp-proof membranes are available in liquid and solid forms. Liquid DPMs tend to work best for garage conversions.
Structurally Sound
This design essential is pretty obvious for any new construction. There are specific requirements for building a structurally sound garage conversion. This is yet another reason (one among countless) why a garage conversion design must be completed by a professional. Again, you may not need professionals to undertake the bulk of the work, but building any part of a garage DIY should only be performed by those with the right skills and knowledge.
Other Design Essentials
Along with the design aspects discussed above, you’ll want to ensure you consider the following:
- Proper ventilation.
- Fire-proofed with clear escape routes for an emergency.
- Ensure the garage will be spacious enough for all your needs.
- Include the correct lighting arrangement for a comfortable living experience.
Of course, the exact requirements for your garage will also include whatever is necessary to bring your specific vision to life and any other applicable building regulations and local legislation.
When it comes to having a garage conversion built, be sure to consider more than just the design essentials. You’ll also want to consider the average garage conversion cost and hiring the right professionals. In each case, we recommend obtaining three quotes to weigh up your options before determining which contractor/company offers the best value for money.
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