Creating your own garage – 5 Simple Steps

The garage has become so much more than somewhere to store the car when you aren’t using it.  For many of us, we add a garage to our homes for extra storage space, to protect the vehicle and yourself from the weather and to make use of that big driveway.  But how easy is to create your own garage?

Plan the space

The first thing to look at is the space you have, what you want to do with it and the regulations that might govern what you can do.  For example, under Permitted Development, you usually don’t need planning permission to convert an existing garage for another purpose such as to make a hobby space or storage.

Check planning permission

Creating a new garage falls under the general heading of ‘outbuildings’ and there are rules about what you can do.  So it pays to be aware of them before you start planning or you could get a visit from the local planning department.  Examples of the rules that will apply include:

• You can’t build forward of the main elevation (front wall) of the house
• Outbuildings shouldn’t take up more than 50% of the total area of the land around the property (all of the gardens, driveway etc)
• Wooden garages need to be a single storey structure and not used as a living space
• If it is within 2 metres of the boundary of the house, it should not be more than 2.5 metres high

If you are at all unsure it is always best to talk to the local planning department and walk them through what you want to do.  They will be able to advise you on what’s allowed and any restrictions. Even if no planning permission is needed, building regulations will still apply.

Choose the construction

There are lots of options when it comes to the material of the garage and the design.  What you plan to do with it will factor into these choices along with the budget you have.

Wood frame garages have become very popular as they are stylish, fit in with any type of house and are very practical.  You can also get DIY kits such as Trade Oak priced kits that are made from top quality oak and are easy to assemble – plus you can easily get a builder involved in the project if you aren’t a DIY fan.

Other options in terms of construction styles include brick or stone built garages, a metal such as aluminium or steel or even prefabricated concrete garages.  All have their pros and cons to consider.

Finishing the garage

Once you have decided on the construction, you will also want to look at the finishing elements.  Doors are top of the list – the garage door and possibly another access door too. Windows may be something you want to add.  You will also probably want to insulate the garage so that it is useful as a storage area and doesn’t become cold and damp.

Add accessories

The final step is to add the accessories you want in the garage.  This might be anything from shelving or storage units to hobby equipment.  Whatever you want to use in the garage can be factored into the planning, so you have a complete picture of the budget needed and what you want to use the garage for.  Once you have all these pieces in place, you are ready to get the project underway and to quickly have your own custom garage ready for your car, your hobby or all of that stuff you need to store!