Sorry to resurrect an old thread that I totally forgot to check. Thanks both for suggestions :-). We did eventually put a door from hall into garage to get things moving in the right direction but life gets in the way. We now want to extend the kitchen into the passage that runs down the side of the kitchen, which is just part of the garage so we can create a U shape kitchen with breakfast bar. The kitchen had already been extended into the garage by 1.5m when we moved in, so the wall we want to knock down is non supporting. The extension would only be 1 x 3m into the garage, we'd brick up on both sides to block from garage and the bit that juts out onto the patio. Would need pipes & electrical cables re-routing and all the works associated with making it into a liveable area. It would also mean we'd need to knock through to the patio from the kitchen, the existing window is 1.2m wide and 2.05m from floor to lintel, figured we wouldn't have too much trouble replacing this with a door? Looking for an idea of cost really if anyone has any idea? We are Midlands based. Any advice much appreciated :-)

Hi, The extension over the garage should be relatively straightforward in terms of layout but you would have to apply for planning permission. You would also need a structural engineer to check that the existing structure of the garage is sufficiently strong, or could be strengthened to support the new first floor. The first-floor layout I have shown mirrors the top of the stairs so that there are another 2 steps so that the first floor is all the same level. this has to be a small landing at the top of the stairs so i have used this area as a new bathroom and then the front makes the 3rd bedroom significantly bigger. the existing bathroom could be turned into a decent-sized bedroom by taking some of the room from bedroom 2. At the ground floor, the shower could be removed to leave just a W/C and allow easy access from the kitchen to the utility. I would also block up the door in the kitchen to give more space for units and worktops and possibly enlarge the island. Please let me know what you think? And I wish you all the best with your project!! Phill

Outside definitely does not need treating unless you want to stain or paint it. My house is larch cladding and is silvering nicely at 4 years old. Insulation should be relatively simple to install. What is the inside composed of? We have a timber garage which has insulation and plywood over it internally. Decide how you would get the most use from it first for example if it was to become an office you would need wifi and maybe additional sockets. How much you can do yourselves depends on how much building experience or time and youtube videos you could watch for advice. I love the idea of doing a lot yourselves. It makes a space yours.

Hi there! Yes, there are a few ways to improve the thermal performance of your garage floor without completely digging it up or raising it too much: Thin insulation layers above the slab – High-performance rigid boards (like PIR) combined with a thin screed or floating floor system. This only raises the floor by 20–30 mm in some cases, so it often still works with existing door and skirting heights. Surface treatments – Products like insulated coatings or dense rubber mats don’t perform like full insulation but can make the floor more comfortable without any level change. Perimeter and draft sealing – Sometimes, improving the perimeter insulation and sealing air leaks helps retain heat even if the main slab stays uninsulated. Regulations also play a big role here – for example, in the UK, Building Regulations require a damp-proof membrane and insulation for certain conversions, while requirements in the US or elsewhere may be different. And in many cases, a U-value calculation will be required, especially if you’re using non-standard products or aiming to meet specific thermal performance targets. The good news is that most suppliers can run these calculations for you and advise on the right build-up to meet code.