[lpking2005]

As a avid reader of this site, which has made me spend far too much money on various setups troughout the last few years, im about to attempt the biggest project yet.

I want to convert my double garage into a proper home cinema.
I know it is going to be hard work, but it will be worth it, but i just need some headstart advice.

My plans were initially just to seal everything (door, walls, ceiling gaps), build a wall in front of door, build wood frame around the room for plasterboards to be fixed to, insulate it, install electrics and finally plaster it.
Probably wont be that simple though.
Im not sure about the floor or ceiling/roof, because of the steel beams and the roof is quite low.

Basically if anyone has any ideas, feel free to launch them at me and many thanks in advance!

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[bladster]

Hi and good luck, I would really reccomend having a chat with the local council guys as they have loads of info and can also give you a good idea if you think it's too much for you to do etc.

Must admit that I have used a builder for things that I thought were too big a job or stuff that would have taken me a month to do instead of a few days, but guess depends on your own time cnsteaints. I would suggest you set target finish date to keep you focused.

Finally I would say have a good idea what equipment your having in there and get key things earlish to keep your motivation high. Just coming to the end of mine and can't wait to set up and play with all my toys that's stashed away. Check out my page.

Good luck and enjoy.

[lpking2005]

cheers for the advice bladster! i have been thinking about getting building regs to have a look.
I already have most of what i want in it, all i want now is maybe a onkyo reciever and good 5.1 speakers and probably add the rumoured PS3 SLIM.


Does anybody have any ideas on how to do the ceiling, i originally wanted it to be flat across the whole ceiling, but the steel joists look a bit awkward.

[bladster]

No danger, take a look at sevenoaks clearance section picked up an onk607 for 375!

[lockdown81]

hi mate

it defo aint that simple lol is that an aspestos roof ?
im thinking once you start getting heat in there or loose the air flow ,damp will come through that floor , the ceiling height will be a problem , i think its not the best thing to throw money at due to loads of problems later , and even if you do most or all the work yourself it will still be alot of money and alot of work

to be honest you would of been better off it it had brick walls
its a shame cos you have the width and lenth in there
keep us posted mate
thanks lockdown

[lpking2005]

now you mention it, just had a proper look and a bit of research, i think it is asbestos roof.
Do you think there is anyway around this problem without touching the roof?
All i was going to do was going to build the wooden frame on walls and ceiling (but attaching to the steel girders for the ceiling) then put insulation in and plasterboard it.
Do you think this would be ok as long as i dont disturb the roof itself.
I was going to put vents and such in for the air flow by the way. Would that help the dampness problem?
I really hope i can make this work, im still living at home at the moment and i have so much av equipment taking over the house, this would be an ideal solution!
Anymore help and ideas is very much appreciated!

[yukichon]

It isn't cheap getting Asbestos removed and its not something you want to cut corners with .. click on the link in my sig and you can follow what i did from an old cast concrete garage into HC ... might give you an idea or 2

[lpking2005]

cheers yuki for the advice! only problem is i have not got alot of money to work with.

I just took some more pics of the garage:

I was going to bolt the wooden frame to these girders for the roofing plasterboard.

We are still clearing the garage, got to get moneys worth use of the skip. I can actually see the floor now!

Another close-up shot of the roofing from the inside of garage.

I dont seem to have alot of luck doing diy projects in this house, theres always something wrong with the property that gets in your way!

If i cannot find a way around this, im gonna save up for a massive shed and convert that into a home cinema. Probably easier!

[duffy78]

My advice would be just leave it be.

The garage is not fully weather proof, any work you do inside will eventually become water damaged.

I wouldn't even bother trying to weather proof it yourself, those roof panels are asbestos cement, nasty stuff.

I know you said you havent got the budget but have you thought about getting rid and starting again?

You'd need to dispose of the roof sheeting properly but the rest of it you could do your self.

If its a concrete base its all sat on now, i dare say you could build straight off it, keep the new build less the 30m2 and you wont need to get building regs involved, best check with planning to see if you require permission.

You could build it single skin brick, or even block and paint it, with a flat timber and felt roof. if you took your time you could build it your self. Start on the walls that are not visible from the front to get your practice in.


You will end up with something a lot more weather proof than what you have now.

[lpking2005]

cheers for the advice duffy.

Ive been thinking about the idea alot, because the end result will be so much better.
Does anyone know roughly how much it would cost to get someone to remove the roof?
I can get a easy start with the walls because my sisters boyfriend can give me about 1000 breeze blocks for free! , will probably need more, but its a good start.
I wish i knew someone personally thats in the trade, so i could ask someone to give me a hand.

This was my very basic design for it:

[lockdown81]

Originally Posted by duffy78

My advice would be just leave it be.

The garage is not fully weather proof, any work you do inside will eventually become water damaged.

I wouldn't even bother trying to weather proof it yourself, those roof panels are asbestos cement, nasty stuff.

I know you said you havent got the budget but have you thought about getting rid and starting again?

You'd need to dispose of the roof sheeting properly but the rest of it you could do your self.

If its a concrete base its all sat on now, i dare say you could build straight off it, keep the new build less the 30m2 and you wont need to get building regs involved, best check with planning to see if you require permission.

You could build it single skin brick, or even block and paint it, with a flat timber and felt roof. if you took your time you could build it your self. Start on the walls that are not visible from the front to get your practice in.


You will end up with something a lot more weather proof than what you have now.

i agree with duffy , the money spent in there you could build a nice size shed or cabin with , i have a freind who runs his dads aspestos removal firm il ask a rough price , but i know it aint gona be cheap proberly £1500 -£2000 best thing to happen is it fall in in the next storm i rekon , then let the insurance company deal with it lol [if you got insurance that is ] id defo try to get rid and start again but that aspestos is your problem befor you do anything mate ,,

[lpking2005]

cheers lockdown, would be much appreciated.

Ive got 2 last resorts, in the garden we have a shed which is 15' x 10' (not big enough), i can either knock it down and extend the concrete base to either build a room on it or put a bigger shed on it and then convert that.

Im just not really sure at the moment.

[lockdown81]

Originally Posted by lpking2005

cheers lockdown, would be much appreciated.

Ive got 2 last resorts, in the garden we have a shed which is 15' x 10' (not big enough), i can either knock it down and extend the concrete base to either build a room on it or put a bigger shed on it and then convert that.

Im just not really sure at the moment.

if you could get that aspestos gone then id take the concreate walls down and start again ,even better if you knew a bricky and a roofer or even someone with the skills.

by the time you fath about trying to get inside framed and boareded the head hight will be gone and the floor will still need to be dampproofed aswel and you wont have the room just be money wasted mate

[deansocial]

before thinking of getting people in to remove the roof etc at large cost have it tested. Its not as bad as everybody hypes up. i come across asbestos eveyday, it just depends what type it is to how dangerous it is, and the sheet stuff is not bad as long as it is kept in 1 piece.

[lockdown81]

Originally Posted by deansocial

before thinking of getting people in to remove the roof etc at large cost have it tested. Its not as bad as everybody hypes up. i come across asbestos eveyday, it just depends what type it is to how dangerous it is, and the sheet stuff is not bad as long as it is kept in 1 piece.

well to be honest ive seen people remove these roofs them selfs ,wearing a suit and mask is a must but you have to use a proper skip for aspestos and everything has to be watered down with a hose , to stop the fibers getting airbourne , if the sheets are kept in one peice it is much better , so this may be an option for you to look into ?

[lockdown81]

Originally Posted by lockdown81

well to be honest ive seen people remove these roofs them selfs ,wearing a suit and mask is a must but you have to use a proper skip for aspestos and everything has to be watered down with a hose , to stop the fibers getting airbourne , if the sheets are kept in one peice it is much better , so this may be an option for you to look into ?

i found this if it helps and i should see my mate tonight to make sure Asbestos Watchdog

[conan]

I removed an asbestos roof myself from my old garage before demolishing it. Its pretty straight forward, keep it damped down, leave the pieces as large as possible to minimise dust. I checked with the local TIP (recycling centre now), and they gave me special bags for bagging it up. I double bagged it and took it down for them. Overall it was pretty easy and I didn't see the need to be paying out lots of cash for somebody else to do.

[lpking2005]

A big thanks to everyone helping me out.
Im thinking about leaving the garage alone, and building where the shed is.

I would extend the concrete base to the back wall and chop the tree down to extend the base further outwards for more width to the room, as it stands its only 10' wide and 15' long.

Would i have to get planning permission? or can i get away with it, if its a certain size?

Does have any clue how far about 1000 breeze blocks would get me? Im rubbish at calculating anything.

[cram]

Simplest thing is to ring your local planning office and talk them through what it is you want to do. A lot of regs changed last October making it easier to build without planning permission but it's worth checking with them.

[lockdown81]

Originally Posted by cram

Simplest thing is to ring your local planning office and talk them through what it is you want to do. A lot of regs changed last October making it easier to build without planning permission but it's worth checking with them.

like duffy said keep it under 30m2 and all should be ok , i dont think youd ave any probs down there at the end of the garden anyway, a 1000 breeze blocks lol , dont think youd need half that ? if this is the way you gona do it you need to get your self a good sloid slab of concreate down first , dont forget a dampcourse aswel , and decide wat type of roof you gona have , have you got a budget ? , and have you got mates around ya that have any trades ?

[deansocial]

Originally Posted by lockdown81

well to be honest ive seen people remove these roofs them selfs ,wearing a suit and mask is a must but you have to use a proper skip for aspestos and everything has to be watered down with a hose , to stop the fibers getting airbourne , if the sheets are kept in one peice it is much better , so this may be an option for you to look into ?

also best to add a wetting agent like fairy liquid as this will make is soak in better aswell

[lpking2005]

cheers for the advice

My brother is a builder, so hopefully will get help from him.
Is damp-coursing easy to do yourself or should it be professionally done?

I just watched a little demonstration video and all it was is drilling holes along the wall near the bottom of building and then injecting the damp-course into the holes.

[lockdown81]

Originally Posted by lpking2005

cheers for the advice

My brother is a builder, so hopefully will get help from him.
Is damp-coursing easy to do yourself or should it be professionally done?

I just watched a little demonstration video and all it was is drilling holes along the wall near the bottom of building and then injecting the damp-course into the holes.

that depends on if you do a sinlge skin or double skin wall
if your brothers a builder then he would know all about it mate , this is the one thing you cant afford to mess up tho , and id say all the work you could takle your self if you got the confidence , theres plenty of how to guides and that on the internet if you get stuck ,and im sure plenty of people on her to give advice , and ive also seen some rooms done on here what people have built aswel so worth aveing a look at them too

[Da_Rude_Baboon]

Originally Posted by lockdown81

like duffy said keep it under 30m2 and all should be ok , i dont think youd ave any probs down there at the end of the garden anyway, a 1000 breeze blocks lol , dont think youd need half that ? if this is the way you gona do it you need to get your self a good sloid slab of concreate down first , dont forget a dampcourse aswel , and decide wat type of roof you gona have , have you got a budget ? , and have you got mates around ya that have any trades ?

Does it not depend on how close you are to the boundaries of your plot too? Plus that tree might have a TPO on it too.

[lockdown81]

Originally Posted by Da_Rude_Baboon

Does it not depend on how close you are to the boundaries of your plot too? Plus that tree might have a TPO on it too.

i think its only if you have a road of path at the back of the boundarie ,needs to be so many meters away

[cram]

Take a look at the planning portal

Planning Portal - Outbuildings

Some useful info on there - looks like it needs to be at least a metre away from a boundary