How to convert your garage and gain an extra room in your home

telegraph.co.uk:

house-hunter, it appears that most of us who do own one are not using it for its original purpose.Research by Admiral Loans prior to the pandemic showed that only 33 per cent of garage owners actually use theirs to house a car – this may be because for everyone else there’s no room, as the garage is already stuffed with tools, old furniture and other household clutter.

Add to that the fact that modern cars have grown wider by a third over the past 55 years, according to the RAC Foundation, which makes it harder to actually fit them in, and it seems clear that the typical garage isn’t much more than a dusty waste of space.That could be changing, however, thanks to a national home-improvement drive that launched in 2020, with garage conversions being among the most popular projects.‘Converting a garage into living space offers a quick and simple way to add square footage to your home without extending,’ says David Westgate of property consultants Andrews. ‘It could add 10 to 15 per cent to the value of your property.

Plus, as you aren’t starting from scratch, you may not have to spend time and money on laying foundations, and constructing walls and a roof.’ If the garage is attached to the house, you may not even need planning permission to convert it.‘It’s not completely straightforward though,’ adds Westgate. ‘If you’re planning to turn it into a living space, you’ll need to consider light, heating and insulation.

Garages are generally dark and cold, so you’ll need to lay pipes and fit radiators.’The conversion of a garage that already opens off the house can cost as little as £9,000, which includes insulation, blocking up the door and a basic fit-out, according to Checkatrade.