Smith & Sons Home Renovation ServicesGarages & Carports

Drive through any housing estate nowadays and you’ll likely see that many double garages house a vehicle on one side while the other side is home to kids’ bikes, storage tubs, perhaps a kayak, or even a desk or home studio area. Due to the shrinking of housing blocks over the last decade, a lot of our storage and some of our living has, by necessity, spilled into the garage. Properly organised, a garage can be a functional, practical space that serves many needs, but ill-considered and ad hoc it can be a nightmare.

There are two approaches to creating a garage or carport to suit your needs.

  1. Garage renovations or carport renovations On larger blocks, there is space for a shed out the back to house the kids’ bikes, the kayak, the lawnmower, and even the gym set for the energetic. But in modern homes, particularly in estates, storage is limited and that means that the only place for all that stuff is the garage. If the family has two cars this puts one of them out in the weather all day. A garage or carport renovation often happens in conjunction with a face-lift or makeover of the façade since the garage or carport is usually at the front and it makes sense to do them together. Sometimes it is as simple as a new roller door, but in other instances a renovation will enlarge the garage in whichever direction there is room to move and add storage solutions for all those essentials. Having an easily accessible place for everything makes things stress free and safe.
  2. Construction of a new garage or carport Many older homes do not have any type of garage or carport so we are engaged to build one. In some instances, an old garage or carport attached to the home is converted into a living space so we are required to build a new garage or carport in front of the new room. In other cases, a carport or garage was just never considered at the time the home was built and the new owners require protection for their vehicles and some storage space. In any case, the new garage or carport is designed to work in with the aesthetic of the current home and to blend seamlessly. It is important to provide shelter from the parking space into the home, this may require additional roofing areas which can either be designed to match the original home or can become a feature of its own.

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FAQ

  • Want to Convert Your Garage into a Liveable Space? Here’s What You Need to Know.

    A garage conversion is a cost-effective way to add liveable space to your home without the full expense of a home extension. Your existing garage has the potential to become anything your family’s lifestyle requires—work space, living space, a self-contained unit.
    If you’re thinking a garage conversion might be the way to add extra floor space to your home here are some things you should know.

  • What’s the Difference Between a Garage Renovation and a Garage Conversion?

    A garage renovation improves the functionality, safety, or aesthetics of an existing garage. The renovated space is intended to remain working as a place to house your car and stash your bikes, scooters, and unused gym equipment. Renovation of a garage may include things like adding in storage in the form of shelving, cupboards or overhead racks. It could also involve repair of deteriorating roofing or structure, or be part of an overall aesthetic improvement of the home’s street appeal. The point is, it will remain a garage.
    A garage conversion turns your existing garage into a space with a whole new function. The car is out and the humans are in. This will require a significant amount of work to turn it into a space fit for living in.

  • Do I Need Planning Permission for a Garage Conversion?

    Yes. You will require council approval to convert your garage into any type of living space. Council areas have different requirements, including some that require a covered space for your car, so you’ll need to have this in mind before you get too wrapped up in planning. A renovation builder is a great initial port of call. They know what restrictions are in place in your local area and they are able to take care of all applications and approvals on your behalf.

  • What’s Involved in a Garage Conversion?

    Converting a garage into a space fit for habitation will involve a number of fundamentals before the fun stuff happens.
    Insulation
    Internal cladding
    A ceiling with a minimum height of 2.4m
    Waterproofed and termite resistant flooring
    Natural light and ventilation—at least 10% of the wall space allocated to windows
    Walls within 900mm of the boundary to be fire rated
    Lighting and power

    In addition to these basic requirements there may be more involved works needed if you intend to include bathroom plumbing or a kitchen area in the new space.

  • Popular Garage Conversion Ideas

    That large space that currently houses your car has the potential to become many functional living areas. Exactly what it evolves to be depends on what you family requires. The space that once was your garage should be finished in a way that offers a seamless transition into the rest of your home.

  • Consider whether the location of the internal door makes sense in the new room—should it be relocated? For instance, a new bedroom leading off of the laundry is less than ideal.

    There’s no reason that a converted garage should look like anything less than a natural extension of your home. It’s important to get a clear picture of what you want the space to be so that when it’s completed no one will ever know it was once a garage.
    Here are some popular garage conversion projects:
    A home office
    Games room
    Granny flat
    Master bedroom and ensuite
    Studio space or home business
    Open-plan extension to create a larger space
    Outdoor room
    Home gym
    Teenage retreat
    Additional bedroom
    Laundry
    Multi-purpose room

  • How Much Does a Garage Conversion Cost?

    On average, a garage conversion can cost between $10,000 and $40,000. Of course, this depends on what the garage is converted into. A home office will be on the low end of the range while a bedroom with an ensuite, or a granny flat will be on the high end or beyond. One thing you can be sure of, the overall expense of turning your garage into the space you require will be significantly less than having an extension built onto your home for the same purpose.

  • What About My Car?

    Now that your car has been booted out of the garage you’ll need to consider where it’s going to live. Parking it on the street is unlikely to be the best long-term solution. Some council areas require provision of undercover, off-street parking. Even if this isn’t mandated in your area it’s the best option for your car if you can manage to swing it.
    Your solution will depend on your local zoning and the space you have available. It might be possible to construct a new garage in front of the original one, or to build a carport over your driveway. These are things your renovation builder will be able to shed some light on.

  • Should I Remove the Garage Door?

    Whether you get rid of the garage door or keep it in place will depend on what type of room your garage is. If you’ve constructed a home gym it might make sense to keep the roller or lift-up door in place. This will allow a buyer to easily convert the area back into a garage later down the track.
    If however, you’ve created a bedroom or granny flat it’s unlikely that retaining the roller door is the best option. In this case you’ll want to a make a full commitment to the new room. If your intention is to make the renovated area a logical extension of your home, the garage door should go.

  • Get Professional Advice

    With so many tantalising possibilities for your spider-infested, junk-strewn garage it can be easy to get carried away with planning. A logical first step is to talk to a renovation builder. They are a wealth of knowledge and experience. A renovation specialist will be able to offer advice and suggestions that you may not have known were possible.