Garage Setup & Use

According to a groundbreaking survey by the National Garage Organization, over 60% of United Kingdom garages are used to store everything but a car. The average garage has storage, DIY, tumble dryers, chest freezers, and acts as an overflow room. It is understandable as there is usually a lot to gain from taking the time to think about the garage space properly, despite there being no plans for a full conversion.

Conversions

One of the more cost-effective home improvement projects that adds usable, square footage to a home is a garage conversion. Since no new structure is built, the approximate cost is just to bring the garage up to a liveable standard. Simple conversions that create a basic garage living space start at about £8,000 and go up to about £15,000.

Planning permissions are not typically required for garage conversions, but there are cases when they are required, especially for properties that are listed, in a conservation area, or if the garage conversion would cause the home to fall below the local authority’s minimum parking standards. The local council should be contacted for confirmation. A garage conversion will be subject to building regulations approval, which will usually be the responsibility of the builder, but should be confirmed.

One permanent loss to consider is garage storage. Once converted, all storage space is gone. If the reason for not parking in the garage is because it’s stuffed full of stuff, you will have to answer the question of where to put the stuff.

Workshops and storage setups

Full conversion may not be the best option, but the garage can be a better space without full conversion. Sticky issues are cold, damp, and poor lighting. All of these can be fixed with minimal effort.

Adding a nice workbench, shelving, and some LED lighting goes a long way to making the space workshop ready. Consider adding a rubber mat and/or anti-fatigue matting to all or part of the space. Standing on a cold concrete floor for a couple of hours can be very uncomfortable.

Damp is caused more by condensation than by water intrusion. This can be improved with better ventilation. Something you may not consider is warm surfaces. An insulated garage door will help keep warm surfaces and not condense moisture.

Don’t separate security from the door. Many garages have side doors that would take about 10 seconds to kick-through. You should completely upgrade your security if you have valuables in your garage. Consider a reinforced door frame with a five-lever mortice lock.