Garage Conversion begins at last

[pure_geordie]

At last got a bit of funding from "Somewhere" to start.

This is an internal garage in a new build house by Miller Homes so decided to convert into a room and yes you guessed it!!

where you see the window was the garage door and dug founds out to lay bricks to place the window on...obviously!. An internal lintel was placed above where we had to knock a wall through..
image_00022.jpg

Building inspector has been out twice and everything ok so far apart from window doesn't open wide enough but hey...I'm not fat so whats he on about.
anyways got new brackets to fit so will sort that out soon..

Just for your information this new HCR is starting from scratch..I Don't even have any kit or anything..so any ideas will be appreciated

Room size is 16ft by 8ft and basically will have a projector with screen in front of window to come down .. seating will be at other end of garage so when we are not watching DVD's we can sit and see out of the window.

not thought of what type of amp/speakers/dvd/projector but have decided to use cat5 cable for speakers 8core times 3 runs...i think.

probably there will be a lot more things to add here when i Fire this thread off for you lot to see my progress, but one Q I have is that building regulations are a right pain in the bum...I have a few Q to ask here...but first Q is what can/can't do regarding installing lighting/mains points in a room like this...I know you cannot spur off from kitchen but whats stopping me and how would an inspector know this if there is plasterboard already up as has told me to do..so he can do one final visit...I may spur off from living room which is ok but from kitchen will be easier ..

Anyways hope that makes sense.....and will hopefully get an answer

Cheers lads

[inzaman]

Looking forward to seeing the progress on this, its been a while since we had a garage conversion (i think )

Originally Posted by pure_geordie

I know you cannot spur off from kitchen but whats stopping me and how would an inspector know this if there is plasterboard already up as has told me to do..so he can do one final visit...I may spur off from living room which is ok but from kitchen will be easier ..

As regards to the above question, would an electrician refuse to spur off the kitchen anyway and choose the living room instead.

[Johnny Thunder]

If you have building control involved, then at some point they will ask to see
certification for the electrical work. There is no way around it mate.
If you have not gone the way of planning permission, and this is still in effect
a garage, then it is regarded as a special location and must be carried out by
an approved contractor.

[pure_geordie]

Inzaman..wanting to do as much work as possible myself...Building Regs
require an non-qualified persons not to use kitchen to spur off thus using living room/bedroom instead as another option.

but the building inspector said I will inspect the mains socket when you have done the plastering/skirting etc..but how can he tell if i've spurred of from the kitchen!!!!if the plaster and stuff is already up...so he says!!

cheers

[pure_geordie]

J Thunder...I Think they only ask for a certificate or something like that if you spur off from the kitchen, to or from the bathroom as these are controlled points....

Other than that it will not come under there control the building regulations officer said...

cheers

[Johnny Thunder]

What exactly are you planning to install, electrical wise, in this new room.
Are you only putting in one socket?

What sort of lighting are you planning on?
Part P starts to get a little strict if you are planning on low voltage spotlights.
The only type of low voltage spots that a non-approved person should legally
be installing, are the CE marked, pre manufactured ones from the likes of B&Q.

[pure_geordie]

J Thunder....you sound like you know what your talking about here...

thanks for your input, I will just be putting probably only one single or double socket at the opposite end of window for the AV kit etc.
I might just even plug a mains extension in my living room hide the cable and just drill a hole through the wall and hide cable between wall and plaster board, then just put the extension socket mounted neatly on wall above skirting. would that be ok!!

for lighting trying just to keep everything simple will probably just change light fitting....BUT would like to add spots on ceiling or maybe around wall..not so sure if a qualified elec. would have to do that?

any thoughts cheers mate

[pure_geordie]

Spoke to Building regulations officer today and he tells me that he would only be involved if you were adding additional circuits to the mains, doing any electrical work outside in the kitchen or in the bathroom...

Anywhere else and thats ok but he did say that it would be good to have an electrical test certificate if you were going to sell...Cheers

[Johnny Thunder]

The certificate for a future sale of the house was what I was getting towards.
With your house being new, I am assuming you were given an installation
certificate when you moved in.(you should have been, if not, chase it up)
Sometime next year,(June I think) the sellers pack comes into force.
This will mean that to sell your proprety, you must have certification for gas,
electricity and double glazing.

While you are going through the hassle of renovating this room, personally, I
would kit it out properly with regard to the electrical installation. If Building
control are not bothered about notification, then do it yourself if you feel
confident enough. You will get plenty of help here. If you want to keep your
certificates up to date, then just get an approved spark to test it and issue
you with one. That keeps it all right, and will save you a packet.

If you put more than one socket in, then this rules out spurring off.
You will need to break into the ringmain. This sounds more complicated but
it isn't. The hardest part is finding a cable to break into.

For lighting, it sounds like you already have a centre light in there.
If you want spots, let us know what sort of light it is (ie ceiling rose, fluo etc)
and we can talk you through wiring the spots up.

Good luck mate.

[pure_geordie]

Thanks JT for your comments/advice...not sure what the wife wants yet, I don't think the electrical work will be a problem. BUT

will probably get 4 slush mounted spot lights...flush mounted spot lights put into ceiling but again not exectly sure what I'm buying yet but will just use the existing ceiling point then connect 4 lights from that...I've put up probably around 50 replacement lights up for me and my family over the years so I think I should be ok.

I think also I will just spur of one point from the bedroom above this new room
and install one double electrical socket..should be ok

what d u think...cheers

[pure_geordie]

Forgot to mention don't know if you can see in the picture on first thread..not a very good photo.."Crappy Phone with built in camara". But I've got the main fuse box on right hand side...not sure if i can use that in anyway

Cheers

[Johnny Thunder]

If the bedroom wiring is easily accessible, break into the ring, and fit sockets
wherever you need them.

[pure_geordie]

Ta

[Johnny Thunder]

If the fuseboard is there, that makes things much easier mate.
All you have to do, to break the ring, is take one leg of the ring main
out of the board and take that to a socket. From this socket, loop cable
to the rest of the sockets, and take one back into the board from the last
socket.

[pure_geordie]

Sorry...that sounds a bit more hassle, cables back and forth!! ..think i'll just spur off from room as i've done that before...Cheers matey!!