Garage Conversion Company - how do you choose one?

Specialist garage conversion companies are springing up all over the UK due to the demand from home owners to use a poor quality space already attached to the main dwelling for that all important habitable room space - young growing families are perhaps the main driver in this niche area of residential development.

Each garage conversion company will have their own preferred methods of conversion in order to achieve compliance under the Building Regulations and the homeowner needs to understand and appreciate the pros and cons of each method. An experienced house extension designer or architect employed separately by the home owner will have these discussions as a principal. You may not with a garage conversion company.

An example of the different materials and methods that can be utilised are for the existing garage walls. Some designers prefer the use of lightweight concrete blocks while others prefer insulated timber stud partitions. Now offering the choice to the homeowner could be important. Some prefer the robustness of a masonry inner wall for say a child’s playroom or for hanging wall items or for that added extra sound absorption value.

So choosing a garage conversion company specialising in design and build contracts is one that you may need to consider carefully if you are not in control of the specification as you may be with your own house extension designer or architect.

Interview at least three garage conversion specialist companies and make sure that they provide you with their own outline specification of the works that will be included within the price. The more detailed and proactive they are at the beginning will probably demonstrate their expertise and ease of completing the works later one.

Obviously complete your own due diligence tests by taking up references (financial and previous clients) and establish some form of written contract with a defined time period. Never pay for works in advance and do not be afraid to seek independent advise from a surveyor or other building designer or architect if you feel that things are string to go wrong.