These days we are far more likely to use our garage for extra storage, rather than its original intended purpose. But after a little decluttering, your garage can be freed up and then converted into quite a substantial area of additional living space, without enlarging your property footprint.

The benefits of a garage conversion are numerous. It is a relatively easy way of extending your home, normally without requiring planning permission. It is also a fairly unobtrusive way to add extra space, given that the vast majority of the building work will take place in a part of your property that is not currently inhabited. A garage conversion can also be extremely cost effective, since the foundations and external walls are already in place. Finally, aside from the additional space and comfort it will add to your home, it should also increase its desirability and financial worth; all while not affecting your council tax band.

An integral garage conversion does not normally require planning permission, providing the work is internal and the structure is not made any larger. Sometimes however, permitted development rights may have been removed from a property, particularly if it is part of a new housing development, in a conservation area, or is a listed building. You may also need to apply for planning permission or a change of use if the garage you want to convert is detached. Similarly, significant external changes, such as modifying the roofline, will also need looking into from a planning perspective. Rest assured, your architectural designer will be able to perform all these necessary checks and advise accordingly.

It is worth noting that even when the work can be conducted under permitted development, we always advise our clients to obtain a lawful development certificate. This certificate will prove that the work was carried out in accordance with the correct local authority planning procedures.

If you are interested in finding out more about converting a garage, talk to our team for further advice. We can provide guidance on full and part-conversions for both integral and detached garages.

Clients often ask us this question so we thought we would tackle it in a blog. Once explained, it is extremely easy to spot which is which!

Conservatories

Conservatories were once deemed almost unusable, being piping hot during the summer and freezing cold in winter. The arrival of temperature controlled glass and superior insulation materials greatly reduced this problem and you can now enjoy a relatively even temperature year-round.

Conservatories sit on a brick base but are fully glazed, using glass panes for the sides and roof. They can be added to the rear or side of a property to increase the usable space, for example by adding a dining room. Subject to size, planning permission is not normally required for a conservatory but your architectural designer will be able to advise for your specific case. Overall, conservatories offer a practical and cost-effective solution to adding more space and comfort to your home.

One of the benefits of choosing a conservatory over an orangery is that additional glazing will mean you benefit from more natural light and perhaps also gain a wider view of your garden. Conservatories are also normally a more cost-effective solution.

Orangeries

Orangeries, as the name suggests, first came about as a method of cultivating citrus plants during the northern European winters. The brick walls used in orangery construction provided a substantial barrier against the cold, while southerly facing large glass windows brought in the warmth of the sun. Orangeries are still constructed using brick walls with large windows and doors, and now have a glass lantern embedded in the traditionally flat roof to let in yet more light.

Unlike a conservatory, an orangery can either form an extension to your home, or it can stand as an entirely independent structure and be used as a summer house, home office or separate accommodation. On the whole, the use of brickwork tends to make an orangery look more like a traditional ground-floor extension. A few simple tweaks however, like adding bi-fold doors, can help ensure the orangery still benefits from a maximum of sunlight.

Orangeries do not normally require planning permission, as long as they fall within the permitted development guidelines. Your architectural designer will be able to advise on your specific case as there are some exceptions.

In Conclusion

From an architectural and structural point of view the benefits of choosing an orangery far outweigh those of a conservatory.

With an orangery, the increased amount of brickwork means a far more effective level of insulation, which in turn provides a more consistent and controllable temperature. The structure of an orangery also more closely resembles a standard home extension and so normally adds more financial value to your home.

We are not blessed with lengthy summers in the UK, however, so adding any glass based extension to your home, be it an orangery or a conservatory, is an ideal way to maximise living space, increase the natural incoming light and potentially also add financial value to your home.

BetterLivingSpace had the pleasure of once again providing structural engineering expertise on Sarah Beeny’s Renovate Don’t Relocate show series 2 episode 28, advising on a Wiltshire based Victorian property owned by IT Consultant Jon.

The four-storey townhouse, situated in Old Swindon, is home to Jon, his step-daughter Bee and two young children. The narrow galley-style kitchen is out of odds with the rest of the open-plan layout and a cramped outrigger building at the back, which was tacked on to provide a utility and downstairs bathroom, blocks the view out to the garden.

BetterLivingSpace worked with Jon and the Renovate Don’t Relocate team to provide the structural engineering expertise to redesign the back of the property and integrate the outrigger into the rest of the house. Walls were also removed to create a large open-plan space in keeping with the rest of the property and falling within the existing footprint. The structural work was complicated by the fact that the house has a basement, so we had to ensure that the foundations were at a suitable level so as not to impact on it. The presence of a basement also meant we had to be a little clever in our use of supports to ensure we did not compromise the design.

Catch the Sarah Beeny Renovate, Don’t Relocate show – Monday on Discovery+ 8pm, or free to view HGTV 9pm

BetterLivingSpace had the pleasure of providing structural engineering expertise on Sarah Beeny’s Renovate Don’t Relocate show series 2 episode 28, advising on a Woking property owned by local resident Irene.

Irene moved into the property with her husband in 1976. Now living on her own and a grandmother to a pair of lively 3-year old twins and a 7-year old, Irene plays an active role in the daytime supervision of her grandchildren.

“My daughter has a demanding career as an accountant and often works from home. The ideal scenario for me was to be able to bring my grandchildren back to my house, so that they could run around and make noise during the working day. But in order to do this, several changes needed to be made to the property.”

“I used to have a fireplace in the living room and the adjoining kitchen was laid out in a L-shape, making it near impossible for me to keep an eye on the grandchildren while I was preparing food. I was constantly worried about the twins approaching the the fireplace, so I used to barricade around it with cushions to keep them away!”

“I was a long term fan of the Sarah Beeny show ‘Renovate, Don’t Relocate’, so when I received a small retirement lump sum I was inspired to take the plunge and apply; never once truly believing I would be successful. I have very little flair for design or colour, so when I received the phone call to say I had been selected for filming I was over the moon.”

With Sarah Beeny providing the architectural design to reconfigure the existing kitchen and living room, BetterLivingSpace was called in to supply the structural engineering expertise. We provided the structural calculations and design framework to allow Irene to open up the back of her house and obtain a flush finish on each side, using a picture or box frame structure.

“The day BetterLivingSpace came at my home to film I was absolutely delighted. Being able to walk through my existing home with Ed and talk through how the changes would take place from a structural perspective really brought the designs to life and gave me the full perspective of how the changes would integrate with my existing home.”

“Working with Ed was fantastic. He really took the time to ensure everything was clearly explained and when I had questions I was absolutely confident I could reach out to him for answers. Going through this project on my own was quite overwhelming, so I really appreciated his calm and informative approach. All in all, I felt very lucky to be able to benefit from Ed’s professional knowledge, guidance and support.

Irene’s renovation project is now complete and she is delighted with the results.

​”I cannot believe how this renovation has changed my life. Having a spacious, yet cosy, modern environment makes me so happy and relaxed in my retirement years. Better still, I can now bring the grandchildren to my house because the new more open and safer layout makes this possible.”

​Catch the Sarah Beeny Renovate, Don’t Relocate show – Monday on Discovery+ 8pm, or free to view HGTV 9pm.