Major Projects Garage Conversions

Date Published:

18/06/2008

Are you considering converting your garage into living space? If so then read our guide on making it into the ideal living space.

What Should I Do First?

To make your garage space into an ideal living environment, you should line the walls and ceiling with insulation board and then create a drop ceiling. Dry-line the walls and ceiling and plaster the lot. If you haven't done this sort of thing yourself before, get a professional to do it for you.

Where Can I Find Someone To do The Work For Me?

First port of call when looking for someone to work for you is to ask around your friends and work colleagues - has anyone else had this type of work done on their properties? And if so, can they recommend or warn you against the tradesmen they employed? If that doesn't give you any leads, look in your local paper or the yellow pages and always get a handful of quotes.

Remember that when comparing quotes, don't just look at the price - always factor in what you know about the companies and any recommendations you have been given. You wouldn't believe the number of stories about people receiving lukewarm feedback on potential tradesmen, but hiring them anyway because they gave the cheapest quote. Not surprisingly, those stories don't have happy endings.

What About Heating The Garage?

When choosing a radiator, don't forget that this may have an impact on the rest of the house as pipes will need to be connected from the existing central heating system to the garage. You could consider an electric or oil-filled heater. Although easier to install, this may well prove more expensive in the long run than plumbing into the existing system.