Garage Self Build

[mic2876uk]

Currently in the planning stages of building a detached double garage at the bottom of my garden.

Approx 5m width x 7m length
2.5m eves and 4m at pitch

I plan to use breeze blocks and clad the house side with cedar the other 3 sides are hard against boundaries and private rear access road so I am hoping just to paint roof will most likely be tiled.

I'd like to insulate the garage, install power and mains water and if possible / cost dependant have a toilet.

plan view of current plan, kitchen extension shown is also a future project

Google maps view of my house, the road to the rear is privately owned. The existing garage will be removed to be replaced with plan above

Sadly I don't actually own a porsche

I'm aware I will need planning permission I am based in the warwickshire does anyone have any experience dealing with that particular planning office and how likely my plans will be approved?

Also I plan to build the garage myself having never laid a brick before. I am competent at DIY but this project exceeds anything i've done in the past. Please tell me I'm not mad.

Is there anything else I should consider?

What level of detail is required to obtain planning permission

 

[Bonni]

Over 30sqm, you need building regs.

 

[noseall]

I plan to use breeze blocks and clad the house side with cedar the other 3 sides are hard against boundaries and private rear access road so I am hoping just to paint roof will most likely be tiled.

I'd like to insulate the garage, install power and mains water and if possible / cost dependant have a toilet.

'Garage' my arse.

 

[nickjb]

Planning should be pretty straight forward. The only aspect that needs planning is the height of the roof and 4m isn't crazy, especially if others in the row are that height. As mentioned it will need building regs for the structure as it is over 30m2. The electrics and plumbing will also need sign off. What do you mean by "breeze block"? Actual breeze blocks don't exist any more, if you mean aerated lightweight blocks then I'd reconsider. They wouldn't be great as a finished face and there is a high risk of cracking. It should be OK to DIY. It'll take you a lot longer than a pro to lay the blocks but if you do it methodically, carefully set up the corners to be plumb, keep checking with a level, etc you should get a good building. You'll need access to the outside of the wall to get a good finish.

 

[mic2876uk]

'Garage' my arse.

Why do you think it isn't a garage? The building will most definitely be used to house and give space to work on a car. The power is required for lighting and to power tools and the water so I can wash hands without bringing it in the house. Same reason for the toilet also will be useful during garden parties.

Over 30sqm, you need building regs.

I thought so what is involved?

Nickjb;
I was hoping planning would be easy, currently there are other garden buildings (see photo below) but non with a pitched roof however as it is at the end of my garden it wouldn't impede on the light to my neighbours.

I should have easy access to 3 sides of the building but one side I plan to build close to the boundary (which the neighbour has an existing garage next to)

I think i do mean Aerated blocks, the plan is to clad the house side in cedar and just paint the other sides as it won't be easily visible the main reason being keeping cost as low as possible. As I'm hoping to get it water tight for around £5000 and finished for £7000.

The garage will start where the existing garage starts and come as far forward as the neighbours to the right which is just over 7m.

As you can see the neighbour 2 doors down to the right has already constructed a substantial building.

I actually own right back to the second fence which is the shared access road.

 

[noseall]

Why do you think it isn't a garage?

Sorry, it just sounds like a back-yard dwelling to me. A bit like your neighbours.

​

As I'm hoping to get it water tight for around £5000 and finished for £7000.

Untitled

• noseall
• 17 Jan 2015
• 3

 

[mic2876uk]

Untitled

• noseall
• 17 Jan 2015
• 3

I assume you're suggesting substantially more than £7000 worth of materials?

 

[noseall]

I assume you're suggesting substantially more than £7000 worth of materials?

...and skips, grabs, machinery, hire equipment - yes. A heck of a lot more. For an example - the garage door, the cloak suite, the concrete for the slab and the concrete for the foundations will remove half the £7k budget immediately.

I suggest you re-think your budget by adding another £14k even if you do EVERYTHING yourself.

 

[nickjb]

Mine cost about £3k. Its a bit smaller at 4m x 7m. That was doing everything myself. Using a mix of materials including from eBay, freecycle and Gumtree. Eg £40 for the garage doors, £10 for the pedestrian door, £10 for a lintel. It was approximately £1k for the base and foundations, £1k for the structure, £1k for the roof and cladding. I spent another £300 or so fitting it out (OSB cladding inside from old building site hoarding, comes ready painted), worktops are fire doors from a skip, no plumbing though. Hard work and a lot more effort to source materials this way but I'm very happy with the result.

 

[mic2876uk]

Mine cost about £3k. Its a bit smaller at 4m x 7m. That was doing everything myself. Using a mix of materials including from eBay, freecycle and Gumtree. Eg £40 for the garage doors, £10 for the pedestrian door, £10 for a lintel. It was approximately £1k for the base and foundations, £1k for the structure, £1k for the roof and cladding. I spent another £300 or so fitting it out (OSB cladding inside from old building site hoarding, comes ready painted), worktops are fire doors from a skip, no plumbing though. Hard work and a lot more effort to source materials this way but I'm very happy with the result.

Thanks nickjb.

I was getting worried when noseall said it would cost closer to £21k

I was expecting around £1500 for base £1000 for block work, £500-1000 for garage door. £100 ish for patio door from FB marketplace, which still leaves £1400 for roof and mortar and miscellaneous

For fit out I've seen several whole kitchens for sale for under £200. You can get while bathroom suites for £150

In terms of foundations I can hire a mini digger with driver for a day for £150. I could buy a cement mixer for around £100 then sell after

How did you find dealing with planning / BC?

 

[geraldthehamster]

Get the internal area down below 30 sq m and you won't need building control, which will save some money

 

[nickjb]

I could buy a cement mixer for around £100 then sell after

That's what I did, except I haven't sold it as I keep starting new projects. Easily paid for itself. Worked out great. In fact I've bought a few tools which have proved very useful. Didn't hire much at all.

How did you find dealing with planning / BC?

Mine was under 30m2 so didn't need building regs. No plumbing. Just the electrics which was easy enough to deal with. Planning was very simple. I did my own drawings, took a few photos and annotated them. Chatted to the neighbours to make sure they were happy and knew it was coming. Council took the full 8 weeks to approve. I did plan to start straight away anyway, because even if was rejected I'd still build the same thing, just with a lower roof under PD, but life got in the way and I actually started about a year later

It was hard work but very satisfying. It genuinely still make me smile when I walk down there to use it.

 

[nickjb]

One other thing. Looks like the garage on the right over sails your boundary then drops its rainwater. This isn't really allowed but I suspect there is little you can do about now. You will however have to think about how your building will abut this and deal with the rainwater. You don't want to just let it pour into the gap

 

[mic2876uk]

Get the internal area down below 30 sq m and you won't need building control, which will save some money

Just had a response from local BC for a garage is £305 which includes 4 site visits, planning is £206 so £511 all in. Probably worth it for the extra height and space

One other thing. Looks like the garage on the right over sails your boundary then drops its rainwater. This isn't really allowed but I suspect there is little you can do about now. You will however have to think about how your building will abut this and deal with the rainwater. You don't want to just let it pour into the gap

I don't know if that is on / or over the boundary however the boundary fence which they own is further into my land than the garage is. They have been great neighbors so no point upsetting them by complaining about a garage that's stood there for at least 20 years plus. When I removed a chimney on the party wall they only asked me to stop after i'd be at it for 8hrs plus with the SDS (only discovered afterwards from this forum about the party wall act whoops).

I plan to leave a small gap anyway on that side other side want to leave around 500mm so I can access drainage etc

I want to do it for the satisfaction of doing so and the cost savings, as in my head an extension is only one step up from a garage so that could be the next project if the garage project goes ok... glutton for punishment lol

Thanks for all your help so far

 

[Mobo_14]

Mine cost about £3k. Its a bit smaller at 4m x 7m. That was doing everything myself. Using a mix of materials including from eBay, freecycle and Gumtree. Eg £40 for the garage doors, £10 for the pedestrian door, £10 for a lintel. It was approximately £1k for the base and foundations, £1k for the structure, £1k for the roof and cladding. I spent another £300 or so fitting it out (OSB cladding inside from old building site hoarding, comes ready painted), worktops are fire doors from a skip, no plumbing though. Hard work and a lot more effort to source materials this way but I'm very happy with the result.

That's like saying you can walk into a garage and buy a nice new shiny car...

Or you can walk around several scrap dealers get the parts together take them back with you and build the car yourself.

£3000 isn't a realistic price for a job that's been described whether he's building it by himself of not.