[stripe]

Hi

I've just started work on converting my built in garage to a home cinema/office/quiet room, after watching others on here build some excellent rooms I have convinced the wife to take the plunge. It's a pretty small garage at only 5.4m x 2.4m but it should be big enough for a family matinee or two.

So far the spark has been in and done the electrics and the builders started this morning. I forgot to take a few pics of the state it was in before but as they are out for lunch I've nipped in and taken a few pics. The plasterboard on the walls was already there

Hopefully the room will be finished for the weekend, with the external brick work and window going in at a later date, once the planning permission gets approved but for the time being it will be a windowless room (excellent for the PJ not quite so wife friendly)

[Kenny Glasgow]

Keep us all posted Michael! Good luck

[Mr Bump]

Avoid all windows if at all possible!!

As for planning permission, you shouldn't need that, only Building Regs. However, the building inspector usually likes to see all the insulation in place before you put up the plasterboard.....

[stripe]

Cheers guys, the lads are back in and on the job. Hopefully the floor should be in by tonight.

Mr Bump - I spoke to the permissions people about only using building control and I was told that they wanted full planning permission as it's classed as a change in use. I thought I was going to get away with saving a few quid, but no, I have to get an architech involved which cost a few £££, probably the most expensive part of the build. Should be worth it in the long run though.

Planning vs Regs. This seems to different with every council

[stu mcc]

Maybe it's different in Scotland?

[stripe]

Dunno Stu, the rules seem very strange. My neighbour managed to build an extention to his house with only building regulations, although his brother in-law owns the company who built all the houses in the estate So I thinks it's a case of who you know rather than what.

Anyway the beams are in place for the floor to be laid and the garage door sliders are removed. Just waiting on the flooring to be delivered.

[Mr Bump]

Looking good!

As for the Building Regs/PP thing, it certainly does seem to differ from council to council - my one insisted on Part P cert for the electrics, whereas I know for a fact that councils in Nottinghamshire aren't insisting on it yet! Typical

[stripe]

The builder have been back in and laid the floor and put in the door. I have blocked up the garage dor with some plaster board until the bricky does his work.

Moved my speakers and PC into the unfinished room and partially moved in, as it will be about 8 weeks till the planning permission goes through and the room can get finished.

I will post more pics this afternoon.

[stu mcc]

Michael,
just keep going - starting up is the worst bit I reckon!
stu

[richjthorpe]

From what I know about PP and BR for a change of use, you need PP but you necessarily need PP for building an extension. If the extension volume is less than a certain percentage of the volume of the house, then you don't need PP. If it is, then you do need PP.

If you have already obtained BR before the beginning of the year but start building sometime this year, Plan P does not apply because the BR was obtained before Plan P came in to order.

Richie.

[stripe]

Hi

Some updates as to what is going, I have also moved the old PC in and started using it as a room.

[stripe]

Hoorah, the planning permission has finally come through

Even though it did take 6 blooming months for it to come in. The builder are coming up on Friday afternoon to price the job and give me a start date, which will hopefully be next weekend.

Here's hoping it finished for Christmas

[Dai B]

Good news about the planning permission - harder than getting permission from the wife?

Looking forward to seeing the project complete.

Dave