Home Improvement Advice for Garages

Building Over Your Garage Do it Yourself Tips for Garages

The first thing is to have plans drawn up and gain planning permission. The second thing to consider is - are the footings to your existing garage adequate to take the extra weight?

This can be checked by digging inspection pits either inside or outside the garage. The contractor will have to do this to allow the local authority building inspector to check and either fail them or approve them to be built upon. As already stated, if they are not adequate it is usually cheaper to knock the garage down and start again, rather than incurring cost of underpinning. If this is the case see our section on extensions.

If by some luck your footings are adequate the stages will be as follows:

The roof will have to be removed off the existing garage.

The building inspector will advise the contractor on whether or not he wants the existing structure to be strengthened in any way - this may involve piers being built inside the structure and RSJ's inserted to take the weight.

Remember - if you were to employ a surveyor to oversee the works you could have peace of mind that the works are being carried out safely and in accordance with the approved plans. this will not work out as expensive as you think - possibly as little as 2% of the actual project (or less!) You will probably have to allow for blending in the new build with your existing exterior finish.