GARAGE, LOFT, KITCHEN & BATHROOM CONVERSIONS IN CHELMSFORD & ESSEX

Garage & Loft Conversions in Chelmsford & Essex:

We have some of the smallest homes in Europe in the UK and more than often, the limited space we have is completely wasted. Whether it’s a Garage that’s not seen a car in decades and has become a dumping ground for household items or the loft space which is the ideal location to store those things you just didn’t have the heart to throw out when you definitely should have.

Converting rather than extending has the added benefit of not requiring planning permission, providing the work is internal and doesn’t involve enlarging the building. Instead the work can be carried out under permitted development and usually under a Building Notice Application rather than a Full Plans Application which means you only have to inform the Council that work is starting and the building control officer will meet with your builder to ensure the work is carried out correctly.

Be aware that in some circumstances and especially listed and newer houses in recent developments permitted development rights can be removed by the local council so it’s always best to check with your local authority. You Can Contact Chelmsford’s planning department about your conversion here.

Garage Conversions:

A garage conversion is a great way to turn an underutilised space into premium living space. Whether you’re looking to create a home office or study, want a playroom for the kids or need to squeeze in another bedroom, then converting a garage into a room is an excellent idea and guaranteed to add more value to your home than the garage conversion cost itself as Garage Conversions are at the lower cost end of the home improvement spectrum.

If you’re lucky enough to own a double garage then the space you can reclaim is significant, with space to even subdivide, keep and retain some space for storage. With a detached garage conversion you could add a separate WC and bedroom for elderly relatives or guests.

Garage Conversion Ideas:

While most people tend to convert their garage to create an office/study, play room or bedroom, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy your new space.

and considerations like plug points & lighting should be made accordingly, an extra family room, extension to the kitchen, utility room, granny annexe or gym through to the more exciting games room, home cinema, music room (additional sound insulation can be built in) or man cave to keep hobbies out of the main house. For example:

An extra family room
Extension to the kitchen and utility room
Granny annex
Gym
Games room
Home cinema
Music room (additional sound insulation can be built in)
Man cave to keep hobbies out of the main house

Whatever you decide, considerations like plug points and lighting should be taken into account and arranged accordingly.

Garage Conversion Costs:

The great news, is that garage conversions are at the lower cost end of home improvements, the only area likely to need foundations is under the former garage door and in the ground is where things can get really expensive on a traditional extension.

While it is impossible to provide an exact figure without seeing the complexity of your project we can say from experience that Garage Conversions in Chelmsford & Essex can vary from £450 - £650 per m2 + VAT depending on the scale and complexity of the work.

A small garage conversion would typically be 2.4m x 4.9m = 11.76m2 which would result in an average cost of £6,174 or £7,409 including VAT.

A medium garage conversion would typically be 2.7m x 5.5m = 14.85m2 which would result in an average cost of £7,797 or £9,357 including VAT.

A large garage conversion would typically be 3.0m x 6.0m = 18.3m2 which would result in an average cost of £9,608 or £11,530 including VAT.

According to Virgin Money, which bases its estimate from the Nationwide House Price Index, that your Garage Conversion can add 10 – 20% to the total value of your home which in Chelmsford & Essex will be a significant number.

Costs to Consider when Converting a Garage:

Bricking up the front of your garage will require foundations to current regulations. The wall will also need insulating and a new window will have to be installed.

If a structural opening is required, it will have to be properly supported with an appropriate lintel and a new doorway formed. This will, of course, have an impact on your current home.

Any existing garage doors may need to be blocked up or replaced to provide the suitable protection from the elements and avoid heat loss.

Insulating all exterior walls and floors, is incredibly effective but also also quite expensive. The larger the area requiring insulating the higher your costs will be.

As far as flooring is concerned, you’ll need the floor brought up to height, a new membrane laid down and a new concrete slab poured, which can swallow a lot of material.

Any additional stud walls required as partitions (plus any doorways in them) wouldn’t normally be covered in the estimated per m2 cost.

The existing roof may require upgrading and will certainly require insulating. You may wish to swap from a flat roof to a pitched roof for longer life and additional storage space.

Plumbing and electrics are the largest contributors to the cost of any garage conversion. Building Control will need to see completion certificate signed off by qualified professionals so it’s not a good idea to do any electrical or plumbing work yourself. The cost to move boilers and gas mains can have a real impact on the project cost.

Do I need planning permission for a Garage Conversion?

Converting a garage into habitable living space normally falls under permitted development, although you will need building regulation approval. It’s likely that your current foundations will be a shallow slab requiring a new foundation to infill the garage door. Your garage will also require a new flooring membrane and insulating throughout to confirm with the latest building regulations.

More information about the requirements for Garage Conversions can be found at the Planning Portal here.

Loft Conversion:

Providing you have the sufficient roof height, a loft conversion is one of the most straightforward ways to gain extra space. You’ll need sufficient head height: a measurement of 2.3 metres at the highest point will be sufficient. Although there’s no minimum ceiling height a headroom standard of 2 metres applies to staircases.

Loft Conversion Ideas:

The point of most loft conversions is to create one large master bedroom, the width of the entire house and with plenty of room for an en-suite bathroom. However, what you do with the space is entirely up to you. A guest bedroom, a home cinema, games room- anything is possible with the considerable space you’ll reclaim with a loft conversion.

Loft Conversion Costs:

You will also need to consider obstructions like water tanks which will often contain asbestos and chimney stacks which may need to be removed. They can add to the overall cost. If your water tank is still in use you may need to switch to a combi boiler adding approximately £3,000 to your build cost.

While it is impossible to give an exact price without surveying your property, please be aware that a simple room in roof conversion is likely to cost upward of £15,000 including skylights, reinforcement, insulation, staircase, fire compliance, electrics and plumbing.

A Dormer Loft Extension including a double bedroom and en suite will cost in the region of £20,000 - £45,000 depending on complexity.

Should your Loft Conversion require ‘Raising the Roof’ or changing the roof structure completely you could be looking up to £50,000 for an entirely new roof structure including living space.

Will a Loft Conversion add value to my home?

Phil Spencer in the Telegraph considers Loft Conversions one of the best way to add value- “Spend £20,000 on a loft conversion and you can add £40,000 value to your house.”

Do I need planning permission for a Loft Conversion?

For your Loft Conversion to fall under permitted development and therefore not require planning permission, you cannot face a highway or include a balcony, The roof space created cannot exceed 40 cubic metres for a terraced property and no more than 50 cubic metres for detached and semi detached properties.

These limits include any previous additions to your loft by you or any previous owners.

The materials used in your Loft Conversion must match the original materials and the height cannot exceed that of the original building.

More information about the requirements for Loft Conversions can be found at the Planning Portal here.

Kitchens & Bathrooms:

The most straightforward way to improve your home would be to refresh or replace your Kitchen & Bathroom.

There are Kitchen and Bathroom options to suite every budget with the cost dependant on size and quality desired.

We can fit Kitchens and Bathrooms form any manufacturer, offering a full ‘turnkey’ solution, we’ll make any structural changes required, plaster, level, install, deal with all the plumbing & electrical requirements with the required certification. We’ll tile and decorate, handing over a finished new kitchen for your enjoyment.