Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Converting Your Garage into a Granny Flat: Things to Consider

Though many people still own a garage, it's quite uncommon to park your car in it. Instead of keeping their vehicle in the garage, many people opt to park in their driveway or on the street. The garage either gets used for other purposes or is left empty. This may be because people are finding that their cars won't fit in the garage or because moving the car in and out is too much of a hassle. It might even be that the car doesn't go in the garage because the space is being used for something else, and not the other way around.

Since garages aren't as highly desired as they once were, why not put yours to better use? Converting it into a granny flat or annexe is not only practical but could also increase the value of your home. People having their home valued by estate agents in Buckingham could find that the extra living space makes their house both more valuable and more desirable. Plus, if you're not using the space for guests or a family member, you could rent it out for some extra income.

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Image courtesy of Matt's Homes

Approval

Depending on where you live, you may need approval to turn your garage into a spare living space. This could depend on whether it's a completely self-contained flat.  Whether there is access to the main house and whether that access is necessary for certain facilities could matter too. Check with your local council or authority to find out what you need permission for and what rules you need to follow.

Plumbing and Electricity

When thinking about major structural changes, before you begin to refurbish, you will need to have plumbing and electricity. Your garage likely already has electricity, but you might need extra plug sockets. You'll need plumbing so you can set up a bathroom and kitchen.

Facilities

At the very least, you want to provide a small kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and some living space. If there's loft space above the garage, you can use that for extra space. There may not be room for some things like laundry facilities, in which case whoever stays in the flat would need access to the main house.

Insulation and Heating

Your garage might not be insulated as well as your house, so that's something you need to think about installing. You also need to think about the system that will be used to heat the flat, as well as whether you will install something to cool it too.

Walls and Floors

It's unlikely that the current walls and floors in your garage are at all suitable for a living space. You'll need interior walls, both to help insulate the space and separate the different rooms, and some proper flooring. The flat will need a ceiling too, or you'll need to insulate and clad the interior of the roof.

Plan your garage conversion carefully before you begin. It may turn out to cost more than you first thought, so do your research and make a budget.

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