What do I need to know about extending over a garage?
Extending over a garage can be an efficient and cost-effective way to gain more space. It can also help balance out the appearance of your home.
If you’ve been considering enhancing your property in this way, you’ll find some tips to help you in our latest article.
We’ll look at a range of factors, including the cost of extension plans for your garage conversion, to help you plan your exciting project.
Will I need planning permission?
A project to extend over your garage will need planning permission from your local authority. They will need to check out how close the extension is to your neighbour’s boundary and ensure that there is sufficient space to avoid a “terracing” effect.
Your local authority may have a number of other requirements too, for example compliance with any provisions relating to a conservation area.
If you need help with the planning permission process, consider enlisting the services of a planning permission consultant with experience in your local area. They will have a good understanding of similar projects that have been passed and what the requirements are.
What about building regulations?
Your project to extend over your garage must also be compliant with building regulations. This means that it should meet any requirements relating to foundations, wall and floor separation and energy efficiency.
The foundations are of particular concern in this type of project since garages are not built to bear extra weight on top. A building control inspector can check your garage’s existing foundations and make recommendations to underpin the garage for extra support if necessary.
You may also need to reinforce your existing garage walls to bear the weight of the extension. A structural engineer can make an assessment and advise you how to achieve this.
How do I design my over-garage extension?
If you want to get the most out of your extension project, it’s a great idea to appoint an architect to help you design your space. Think of the architect fees for your small extension as an investment in your project, helping you to make the most of your space and achieve the best outcome.
An architect will offer suggestions to design the space to suit your aims and lifestyle, according to your budget and specifications.
If you choose an architect from a multi-professional practice like Humphreys & Sons, they will also be able to link with planning permission and building regulations consultants to help inform your project. Know that our professionals can also manage your project from beginning to end, creating a seamless and efficient service.
How much does an extension cost?
It’s impossible to put an exact price on the cost of an over-garage extension — it will depend on a number of factors such as whether you have to reinforce your foundations, how you intend to use your extension (installing a bathroom can cost more than creating a simple extra room, for example) and so on.
It’s best to work closely with your builder and architect to get a realistic idea of how much your extension is likely to cost, so you can budget accordingly.
Reach out to Humphreys & Sons for extension design
If you’re considering extending over your garage, then this type of project can enhance your home inside and out.
Reach out to us here at Humphreys & Sons for a free consultation on how we can help you achieve your dream.
We’re a family-owned architect and chartered building surveyor practice with expertise in many other areas of building projects including planning permission and building regulations.
We love nothing more than helping our clients achieve the best for their homes, so give us a call to learn how we can work together towards your goals.
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