How Much to Convert a Garage?
What does a garage conversion involve exactly?
A garage conversion involves converting a garage into a usable living space, such as an additional lounge, dining room or in many cases, extending a current kitchen into a larger kitchen diner.
So what can you expect to pay for a garage conversion?
The average garage conversion costs around £13,000 to £18,000 for an 18m² single garage, while a 36m² double garage ranges from £27,000 to £36,000.
Be aware that like most home projects, every garage conversion is different, with conversion costs depending on your existing layout and ideas.
If you have a large garage that is around 52 square metres, then you should expect to pay around £39,000 to £54,000 for a garage conversion.
Converted Garage Prices
| Type of Garage Conversion | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Kitchen garage conversion | £10,000-£20,000 |
| Bathroom garage conversion | £2,700-£7,000 |
| Living room garage conversion | £6,000-£7,000 |
| Double garage conversion | £27,000-£36,000 |
What are the Supply Costs of a Garage Conversion?
If you plan to convert your garage yourself or wish to buy your own construction supplies, then you will need to consider the average cost of garage conversion supply materials including:
Garage Conversion Flooring Cost
When converting your garage, you may need to have the floor prepared, which may involve laying concrete slabs that will cost around £800 to £1,000.
The cost of garage conversion flooring will vary depending on the type of floor you want.
For instance, if you are planning to convert your garage into a dining or living room, then you may opt for laminate flooring which costs around £8 to £50 per square metre. You may also want to opt for carpet, which usually ranges from £5 to £70 per square metre.
If you are converting your garage into a bathroom or kitchen, then you will need to consider the cost of tiling, which is generally priced at £5 to £365 per square metre.
Garage Conversion Heating Cost
Another significant cost you need to consider is heating, as more than likely your garage will not have any radiators or a heating system in place.
The supply cost of heating will vary depending on the type of heating you want in your garage, as well as whether the room your converting can be connected to the current heating supply in the property.
If the room has access to the main supply, then you may just need to purchase new radiators which cost around £95 to £850.
If your garage conversion cannot be connected to the mains supply, then you may need to have a new central heating system installed.
For a combi boiler, you should expect to pay around £500 to £2,800, while a system boiler costs around £600 to £1,400.
You may also consider purchasing an electric boiler which typically ranges from £500 to £1,200.
Garage Conversion Lighting Cost
Lighting is another essential supply cost you need to consider when converting your garage.
The price of lighting will vary depending on the type you choose, for example, downlights cost around £1 to £80 per light, while ceiling lights range from £2 to £60.
What are the Additional Costs of a Garage Conversion?
There are various other costs to consider when calculating the price of a garage conversion, including:
New Boiler Cost
If your garage conversion does not have access to hot water or the main central heating system, then you may need to have a new boiler installed.
The cost of installing a new boiler will vary depending on the type of boiler you choose. For example, a combi boiler costs around £1500 to £3500, while a heat-only boiler ranges from £1500 to £2500.
Other options include a system boiler which is usually quoted at £1500 to £2800 for professional installation.
Underfloor Heating Costs
Another heating option is underfloor heating which can be installed under carpet, tiles and laminate flooring.
There are two types of underfloor heating - wet and dry – the first uses heat pipes to pump hot water through the floor, while a dry system has electric wires or mats which are connected to the main electric supply to heat up the floor.
The average cost of wet underfloor heating is around £90 to £190 per square metre, which includes both supply and labour.
Dry underfloor heating systems tend to be priced at £50 to £80 per square metre when installed by a professional.
New Kitchen Garage Conversion Cost
If you plan to convert your garage into a kitchen, then you should expect to pay around £10,000 for a small kitchen and up to £20,0000 or more.
This usually includes the price of kitchen worktops which range from £20 to £50 per square metre for budget worktops.
High-quality granite worktops cost around £300 per square metre, while corian worktops costs up to £500 per square metre.
You also need to consider appliance costs, for example, a fridge-freezer can range from £160 for a basic model, while a smart fridge-freezer can cost up to £7,000. For a new gas cooker, you should expect to pay around £350 to £1,000, while an electric cooker ranges from £150 to £2,000.
New Bathroom Garage Conversion Cost
For a bathroom garage conversion, you should expect a quote ranging from £3,000 for a small lower end bathroom, while a large luxurious bathroom can cost upwards of £15,000.
This will involve the price of tiling, which generally costs around £800 to £1,000 for wall tiling.
You may also have to consider extra plumbing costs which range from £700 to £900.
This includes fitting a toilet, taps, bath or shower, along with pipework installation.
Tradesmen Costs for a Garage Conversion
One of the most important elements you need to consider is the labour and tradesmen costs for a garage conversion.
This job involves assistance from a number of tradespeople, including:
Joiner
When converting your garage, you may need to hire a joiner to construct and install new doors and windows.
For a kitchen garage conversion, you may also need to employ a joiner to fit kitchen cupboards.
Joiners tend to charge around £160 to £240 a day, or they may prefer to quote on an hourly basis which usually costs around £20 to £40.
Painter & Decorator
If you want to have your walls painted or wallpapered by a professional, then you will need to hire a painter and decorator.
They usually charge around £15 to £40 an hour, or for a large room, they may quote a daily rate of £100 to £300.
Electrician
To ensure your lighting fixtures or electrical appliances are fitted properly, you should consider hiring a qualified electrician.
You should expect to pay around £30 to £60 per hour or £170 to £340 a day.
Plumber
If converting your garage into a bathroom or kitchen, you will need the help of a qualified plumber to install any plumbing fixtures.
Plumbers tend to charge a daily rate between £200 to £400 or for smaller jobs they may only quote an hourly rate of £30 to £60.
Kitchen Fitter
When converting your garage to a kitchen, you may want to consider hiring a kitchen fitter to install your worktops and cabinets.
They usually charge around £120 to £200 per day or £10 to £20 an hour.
Heating Engineer
Converting a garage may involve installing a new heating system which will require the help of a heating engineer.
You should expect an estimated quote ranging from £150 to £500 a day or £30 to £50 per hour.
Plasterer
To ensure your walls are prepared and in good condition, you should hire a plasterer.
Qualified plasterers tend to charge around £150 to £200 per day or for one wall they may only quote you an hourly rate ranging from £10 to £20.
How Long Does It Take to Build a Garage Conversion?
The time spent on building a garage conversion will vary depending on several factors, including size, as a small single garage conversion may take around one week to complete.
In contrast, a large double garage could take up to a month to convert.
The type of garage conversion will also determine the time frame, as a bathroom garage conversion could add on two weeks, while a new kitchen could take up an additional five days or more.
Types of Garage Conversion
There are various garage conversion ideas to choose from, including:
Kitchen Garage Conversion Cost
Many homeowners choose to convert their garage so they can accommodate a larger kitchen. This may involve knocking down a wall to extend the current kitchen or creating an entirely new space.
The main benefit of converting your garage to a kitchen is that it provides more space to cook and can also provide more room for dining.
However, despite kitchen garage conversions being useful, they can be quite expensive, as they cost around £10,000 to £20,000 or more, although, in the long run, this may offer you a good return on investment.
Pros:
- You can create an entirely new kitchen and space
- Can provide dining room too
Cons:
- It can be one of the more costly conversions
Bathroom Garage Conversion Cost
If you only have a small garage that is not much use, then you may opt to convert it into a downstairs bathroom. This will be more practical, especially if you have guests, as having a ground floor bathroom will prevent visitors from venturing upstairs and ruining your stair carpet.
Bathroom garage conversions tend to add on around £2,700 to £7,000 to a standard garage conversion which includes everything from plumbing fixtures to lighting and tiling to decorations.
However, you may find that you need to pay more for additional plumbing, as you may not be able to connect your new bathroom to the primary central heating system.
Pros:
- Great option if you only have a small space to convert
- Provides a downstairs bathroom space
Cons:
- Can be more costly than an extra room as there will be additional costs for plumbing
Living Room Garage Conversion Cost
A great selling point of any house is more living space; therefore, you may decide to expand your current living room by knocking down a wall into the garage to make the room bigger.
Living room garage conversion prices range from £6,000 to £7,000, although this will depend on the size of the space, the type of flooring and wall decoration you choose, and whether or not new heating appliances are required.
Pros:
- Cheaper option than a kitchen or bathroom
- Provides extra living space
Cons:
- None
Double Garage Conversion Cost
If you have a double garage that you want to convert, this can be a big and costly job, which ranges from £27,000 to £36,000.
However, the price is worthwhile if you want to expand the living space in your home, as this can add value to your property.
You will also need to consider planning permission and building regulations, as you may incur a cost if you have to apply for authorisation.
An extensive job like this can also be very disruptive to your home life, as well as affecting your neighbours, so you should consult with them before beginning any work.
Pros:
- Provides extra living space
Cons:
- May have to apply for planning permission
- Can be disruptive to your home while the work is being carried out
- The most expensive of the options
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Garage Conversion?
If your garage conversion does not meet building regulations, you may need to remove it with the help of a professional.
The cost to remove a garage conversion is around £500 to £2,500. You will also need to add on around £200 to remove kitchen cabinets plus around £12 to £20 for tile removal.
To get rid of a bathroom garage conversion, you should expect to pay around £1,000 to £1,500.
To remove the demolished construction from your property, you will need to hire waste removal experts who tend to charge around £70 to £180 per removal.
FAQs
Q: Do I need planning permission for a garage conversion?
A:Garage conversions usually fall under permitted developments so generally do not require planning permission.
However, if you live in a listed property or are planning to convert a garage into a completely separate property and enlarge the building, then you will need to apply.
Q: Can I do a garage conversion myself?
A: If you are an experienced DIY enthusiast, then you may want to consider converting your garage yourself, which will involve removing the garage door and demolishing parts of the garage.
If you are just converting your garage into another lounge area, then this is much easier to do than installing a new bathroom or kitchen.
As this involves connecting water and heating to the main supply in the property, so you may want to hire a professional to do this for you.
Q: Will a garage conversion add value to my property?
A: Converting your garage can actually up to 20 per cent onto the value of your property, which is beneficial if you plan to sell your home in the future, as you will get more than what you paid for it.
Q: What insulation is needed for a garage conversion?
A: To ensure your garage conversion is adequately heated and protected from damp, you will need to install fibreglass insulation or polyisocyanurate insulation.
These are high-quality types of insulation which will prevent heat from escaping from your property, while also stopping the cold from getting in.
Q: What is an integral garage conversion?
A: An integral garage is a form of extension which is built within the main property’s walls, with access to the rest of the home through an integral door.
This type of garage is much easier to convert, as it is already attached to the home and should already feature high-quality insulation to keep the cold out and the warmth in.
Sources
- https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/underfloor-heating-cost
- https://www.warmup.co.uk/blog/electric-underfloor-heating-vs-water-based-underfloor-heating
- https://www.theheatinghub.co.uk/guide-to-boiler-installation-costs
- https://uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/living/article/how-to-add-value-to-your-home/
- https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/25/garage_conversion
- https://www.mikefoyhomes.com/2016/04/28/7-pros-and-10-cons-of-converting-a-garage-to-a-living-space/
