[dUnKle]

Well by "interactive" I guess I mean

"your suggestions and advice needed as I dont have a clue"

All I know is this

(1) I am in no rush to get it done (have a dedicated, small room, at moment)
(2) Dont have a huge budget to do it with
(3) Despite not being in a hurry still need it easy and simple as possible
(4) Want to leave the existing Garage door in place
(5) Dont want to add any windows
(6) Do want to soundproof as best I can
(7) Ideally would like some for of air conditioning

So any help and advice on where I can start or any potential pitfalls people can see ?

I have included photos of how the Garage looks at moment - the TV and PJ screen will be at the end that garage door is at

[cybrey]

Garage conversions aren't cheap.. mainly because when they're built they're not designed to be lived in. If not converted properly you'll get a whole of heap of problems due to the weather coming in.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by cybrey

Garage conversions aren't cheap.. mainly because when they're built they're not designed to be lived in. If not converted properly you'll get a whole of heap of problems due to the weather coming in.

I dont mind it not being cheap but dont want to spend silly money (does that make sense ?) - also would quite like to do it "little and often" - rather than save up all the money and get the work done over a few weeks I dont mind if the project actually takes 12 months to complete.

Between myself, my Dad and family members we have all the skills do actually do the build but just need advice on how to go about doing it.

The first photo is the view from the door to house to the garage door. The wall to the left is the external wall and that to the right is that of the house.

My initial idea would be ....

(1) Build a breeze block wall along the left hand side of the garage (possibly with sound proofing material between in and existing wall)

(2) Build a new false wall infront of the existing garage door (and also the drain pipe you can see in the bottom pic) again behind which would have some form of insulation


Again its not set in stone and that just an idea, not even sure if its a good one. My first concern would be the floor. Would I need a new one (from the bottom pic you can see it seems below the damp course)

Any hints and tips be welcomed

[cybrey]

I think if you put a breeze block wall in you'll lose a lot of width from the room, single garages aren't particularly wide. Most of the conversions I've seen put a stud partition onto the existing brick walls. You can use membranes or special baton isolation fixings to prevent sound travelling through the walls.

I'm not an expert but I'd say you'll definitely need to come above the damp course and I think apply a damp course to the garage exterior walls as well ( if not already).

Have you thought about the sell potential of the house afterwards ? ( ie ripping out a structural wall could be quite costly).

I'll probably get told off for linking to another forum but this guy did the same as your planning.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by cybrey

I think if you put a breeze block wall in you'll lose a lot of width from the room, single garages aren't particularly wide. Most of the conversions I've seen put a stud partition onto the existing brick walls. You can use membranes or special baton isolation fixings to prevent sound travelling through the walls.

I'm not an expert but I'd say you'll definitely need to come above the damp course and I think apply a damp course to the garage exterior walls as well ( if not already).

Have you thought about the sell potential of the house afterwards ? ( ie ripping out a structural wall could be quite costly).

I'll probably get told off for linking to another forum but this guy did the same as your planning.

Cant seem to get link to work

How would I go about installing new floor ?
Also how would I go about sealing up the edges of garage door ? (from outside still want it to look like grage is there)

[Dr Force]

I would agree with the comment not to put up a breeze block wall.

Use strips of timber from floor to ceiling creating a thin stud wall, fill with rockwool and then use soundproof boarding overlapped and then seal the joins.

This will give a decent insulation and the soundproofing required without compromising space.

You will need to add a damp proof to the flooring by the garage door,brickup,and then do the same as above with the boarding etc.

Use electric underfloor heating rather than radiators and Insulate the roof void (if there is one) to help keep heat in.

Re-route the drain pipe outside.

get rid of trunking and conduits that carry the electrics and put them into the fabric of the new walls, its good you have small power and lighting feeds already in.Just make sure you look at uprating the MCB when adding amps,DVD players,PJ's etc.

It all looks very straight forward to me, clear it out an get going.

[albriscoe]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

How would I go about installing new floor ?
Also how would I go about sealing up the edges of garage door ? (from outside still want it to look like grage is there)

Hi Dunk

I would put 9x2 floor joists on hangers at 400mm centres to form a new floor which follows the same level as your existing floor from your house. Remember to allow for 18mm green 2400x600 floor boards and your finished flooring surface.

to seal up the garage door I would use a clear outdoor silicon on both inside and out (keeping it neat especially on the outside) and then would build a timber frame wall insulating it with kingspan or similar, I would also build timer frame on the other walls and insulate the same way to save on space.

cheers Allan

[dUnKle]

cheers all

sure will come in helpful

pity I have kitchen and bathroom to do first

[inzaman]

Hi Dunkle if you have a look at the faqs at the top of the page there are a few links to some excellent and detailed garage conversions. These should give you some additional ideas, especially with regards to the floor and stud walls etc.

[albriscoe]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

pity I have kitchen and bathroom to do first

Now listen here dUnkle, you asked for our help and then get your priorities all wrong. You must have a plan and on everyone elses no.1 is the cinema room.

Take me for instance, last night we watched transformers in ours and we`ve no kitchen, no working toilets, lights that don`t do what we want them to and no handrail leading down to the basement. But the cinema rooms done with heating, flooring and a nice leather sofa to laze about on, we`ve a 50yds trip to get the beer from the caravan and use the loo every 20 mins but thats one of lifes little hiccups

So priorities priorities

[dUnKle]

Cheers all

In no hurry as have one dedicated room already

Just going to do it over time to ensure I dont rush it and get it done properly

What should I do first though ? Floor or walls ?

Floor down touching existing walls and then new "walls" on top of this
Or new "walls" down sides and then floor between this ?

Guess would also need to damp proof the walls and floors so need to look into how to do that

[Dr Force]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

Cheers all

In no hurry as have one dedicated room already

Just going to do it over time to ensure I dont rush it and get it done properly

What should I do first though ? Floor or walls ?

Floor down touching existing walls and then new "walls" on top of this
Or new "walls" down sides and then floor between this ?

Guess would also need to damp proof the walls and floors so need to look into how to do that

I would do the floor first, then the internal walls.

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by Dr Force

I would do the floor first, then the internal walls.

cheers

so I am guessing 6" floor struts is that correct ?

Is there a rule of thumb for how many I need ?
Also what do I use as the floor ?
Do I need anything under the struts for damp proofing ?

[dUnKle]

Originally Posted by dUnKle

cheers

so I am guessing 6" floor struts is that correct ?

Is there a rule of thumb for how many I need ?
Also what do I use as the floor ?
Do I need anything under the struts for damp proofing ?

Anyone ?
May go shopping this week for shed and once that has been got can start the conversion