How to Carry Out a Successful Garage Conversion Project

Step One: Figure Out a Budget

As with any major renovation project in your home, you must create a budget to guide your decisions. Get to know exactly how much money you have, and ensure that it is always up to date as a most recent reflection of circumstances. Money, after all, has a key role to play in conversion projects, because it will be the thing that pays for everything. Running out would risk the whole project being left incomplete. Aim to include factors like materials and cost of labour and any furniture or similar that will be needed to make the room feel finished and functional. 

Step Two: Decide on a Purpose
Once your budget is up and running, it is time to figure out why you actually want to convert your garage. If you’re going to spend the money and pour energy into a garage conversion project like this, it has to have a reason so that you can feel motivated and have something to look forward to if things ever feel a bit stressful. Some top ideas include an extra bedroom, a snug room, a playroom, or an office. 

Step Three: Call in the Experts
Garage conversions done by professionals are often the best way forward. Unless you have extension knowledge around how to plan, build and successfully convert a garage, you probably need to bring in a crew to help things along. Check reviews, portfolios, and length of time in the industry so that you can create a shortlist, and then begin phoning around. Try starting your search with https://wygarageconversions.co.uk, a West Yorkshire Garages Conversion Company with plenty of experience and know-how. Ideally, a strong company in this industry will be able to assist you with everything from sourcing materials to planning and structural investigations if necessary. 

Step Four: Check With Your Local Council
The majority of garage conversion cases do not require planning permission; however, some still do. It varies and shifts depending on how high you want to build, the structure of the main property, and so on. Your local housing department is the one to turn to, so make an appointment and run it past them. 

Step Five: Clear Your Schedule
After making sure all of the above is in place and ready, it is time to carve out some time in your busy agenda. You are going to want to be around for a lot of the main conversion works, and while they shouldn’t take too long to be completed, it could be a few weeks at least in some cases. It all depends on the complexity of the work in question. Clearing your schedule is about protecting your mental space too, as everyone knows and appreciates exactly how stressful these experiences can be until they are finished. 

Top Reasons Why People Convert Their Garages
What are the top reasons that garage conversions have become such a popular option? The first point is that it is the perfect way to gain some space on a pre-existing structure on your land that you already own. So there are no extension costs or considerations because the structure is technically already there. This means you probably won’t need planning permission and that is great as it can really hold a project up. Though do make sure you check with the local council before commencing with the work, as you don’t want to get fined or have your project stopped because you have started something you weren’t allowed to. The last reason is that it can add significant value to your property, which is great for your future self. 

When Is it Not an Option?
There are only a few circumstances where converting your garage is not an option. These are when the converted room would severely impact another room in the main house, for instance, structurally, and make the property unsafe. The second is when there are extra costs that you didn’t predict in the budget and the project has to be canned until a later date. 
Converting a garage is a great idea for so many reasons. Not only does it add value to your house when it comes to selling it, but it also makes for the perfect answer to the problem of not having enough area in the main house. Make sure you set a great budget and ask the experts for help to ensure the project is completely viable. 

So, you are wanting to add a room or area to your home. Yet, the thought of contracting a whole operation to build an extension and everything that comes along with that fills you with dread. A garage conversion is a cost-effective way to maximise the space and layout of your property. More and more people are switching on to the advantages of these spaces, and if you are thinking you might just be one of them, these steps will help you get the ball rolling.