Garage Conversions in Manchester and Greater Manchester

Garage Conversion Services Across Greater Manchester

How many times have you actually parked your car in the garage? For most people, the garage becomes a dumping ground for bikes, boxes, and things you might need someday. Meanwhile, you're short on space inside the house.

A garage conversion is one of the most cost-effective ways to add living space. The structure already exists. The roof is there. Three walls are standing. You're not extending your footprint or digging foundations. That's why garage conversions typically cost 40-50% less per square metre than a traditional extension.

We've converted garages across Greater Manchester into home offices, bedrooms, playrooms, home gyms, utility rooms, annexes, and more. Integral garages, attached garages, detached garages. Single and double. We handle everything from design through to completion, including Building Regulations approval.

What Can You Use a Converted Garage For?

Home Office

Working from home is normal now, but not everyone has a spare room. A garage office gives you separation from family life, space for proper desks and equipment, and somewhere you can close the door at the end of the day. Sound insulation means you can take calls without household noise in the background.

Extra Bedroom

Growing families need more bedrooms. A garage conversion adds a ground floor bedroom without eating into your garden. Good for teenagers wanting their own space, elderly relatives who struggle with stairs, or guests who visit regularly. Add an en-suite shower room if space allows.

Playroom

Keep the toys out of the living room. A dedicated playroom means kids have somewhere to spread out and make mess without taking over shared spaces. As children grow older, it becomes a games room or hangout space. Easy to clean floors and wipeable walls make sense.

Home Gym

No more gym memberships or excuses about weather. A garage gym has space for weights, machines, and workout areas. Rubber flooring protects against dropped weights. Good ventilation keeps it comfortable. You can work out whenever suits you.

Utility Room

Move the washing machine, tumble dryer, and laundry baskets out of the kitchen. A utility room gives you space for household tasks without cluttering living areas. Add a sink for hand washing, extra storage, boot room area, and maybe a second fridge or freezer.

Granny Annexe

Self-contained living space for elderly relatives. Bedroom, wet room, and kitchenette all on one level with no stairs. Close to family but with privacy and independence. May need planning permission depending on the layout and whether it's truly self-contained.

Rental Unit

A converted garage with separate entrance can generate rental income. Studio or one-bed accommodation suits the rental market in many areas. Check planning requirements carefully as creating a separate dwelling usually needs permission.

Planning Permission for Garage Conversions

Good news: most garage conversions don't need planning permission. Converting an integral or attached garage to living space is usually classed as a change of use under Permitted Development rights.

You can typically convert without planning permission as long as:

• The work is internal and doesn't enlarge the building
• You're converting to residential use (not commercial)
• The garage is part of the original house or was built under permitted development

You will need planning permission if:

• Your property is a listed building
• You're in a Conservation Area and changing the external appearance significantly
• Permitted Development rights have been removed by the council
• The garage was built with a planning condition restricting conversion
• You're creating a separate dwelling (not just a room in your house)
• You want to change the roofline or extend the building

Even without planning permission, we recommend getting a Lawful Development Certificate. This confirms your conversion is legal and is useful evidence when you sell the property.

Building Regulations for Garage Conversions

All garage conversions need Building Regulations approval regardless of whether planning permission is required. Building Regs ensure the converted space is safe, warm, and properly constructed.

Key Building Regulations requirements:

Floor

Garage floors are typically 150mm lower than the house to stop water and fumes coming in. This needs raising or the internal step addressed. The floor also needs insulating to meet thermal requirements. Options include insulated screed over the existing slab, raised timber floor with insulation, or excavating and replacing the floor entirely.

Walls

External walls need insulation to meet current thermal standards. This usually means dry lining with insulated plasterboard. Cavity walls can sometimes be cavity filled instead. The garage door opening is bricked up or fitted with a window and wall section, all properly insulated.

Ceiling and Roof

If the garage has a flat roof or the ceiling is the underside of a room above, insulation is added. Pitched roofs with no room above can be insulated at ceiling level. Ventilation in the roof space is maintained to prevent condensation.

Damp Proofing

Garages often don't have a damp proof course at the right level for habitable rooms. A new DPC or tanking may be needed to prevent rising damp. We check existing damp proofing and address any issues.

Ventilation

Habitable rooms need adequate ventilation. This usually means windows that open plus trickle vents. If the room doesn't have enough openable windows, mechanical ventilation is required.

Electrics

New electrical circuits for sockets, lighting, and heating. All work must comply with Part P and be certified. Garages often have minimal existing electrics, so substantial new wiring is usually needed.

Fire Safety

Fire doors may be required between the converted garage and the rest of the house, depending on layout. Smoke alarms must be installed. If creating a bedroom, an escape window is needed.

We handle all Building Regulations applications and arrange inspections throughout the project. You get a completion certificate when the work is signed off.

The Garage Conversion Process

1. Survey and Design

   We visit to assess your garage, discuss what you want the space for, and check for any issues. We produce a layout design and advise on planning and Building Regs requirements.

2. Quotation

   You receive a detailed, fixed-price quote covering all work. Everything included: structural work, insulation, electrics, heating, plastering, flooring, and decoration. No hidden extras.

3. Approvals

   We submit Building Regulations applications and obtain a Lawful Development Certificate if recommended. Any other permissions obtained before work starts.

4. Structural Work

   Garage door opening is bricked up with a window or doors if required. Any structural modifications made. DPC installed or repaired if needed.

5. Floor

   Floor raised and insulated, or new insulated floor installed. Level brought up to match or near the house floor level. Threshold detailed properly.

6. First Fix

   Electrical wiring installed. Plumbing roughed in if including a shower room or utility connections. Heating pipes run if connecting to existing central heating.

7. Insulation and Dry Lining

   Walls and ceiling insulated and plasterboarded. Vapour barriers installed where required. Ready for plastering.

8. Plastering

   Walls and ceiling skimmed for smooth finish. Allowed to dry properly before decoration.

9. Second Fix and Finishing

   Sockets, switches, and lights fitted. Doors hung. Skirting boards and architraves. Flooring laid. Room decorated.

10. Final Inspection and Handover

    Building Control conducts final inspection. You receive your completion certificate and we hand over your new room.

Integral vs Detached Garage Conversions

Integral Garages

Built into the house with rooms above or beside. Easiest to convert because you're already under the same roof. Often shares a wall with the hallway or kitchen, making internal access straightforward. The main work is filling the garage door opening, insulating, and finishing.

Attached Garages

Joined to the house but structurally separate. Still relatively easy because you can usually create a doorway through into the house. May have a flat roof or lower ceiling than the main house. Insulation and damp proofing often need more attention.

Detached Garages

Separate building in the garden. Conversion is possible but more involved. No internal access to the house means going outside to reach it. Heating, water, and electrics need running from the house. May need planning permission if creating habitable accommodation. Works well for home offices where separation from the house is actually a benefit.

What Happens to the Garage Door?

The garage door opening needs filling in. Options include:

• Brick up with window: Most common choice. The opening is bricked in matching the existing brickwork, with a window and sill installed. Looks like a natural part of the house.
• Full height glazing: French doors or a glazed screen where the garage door was. Brings in lots of light and provides garden access. Popular for living rooms and home offices.
• Part brick, part window: Brick dwarf wall with window above. Practical balance of light and wall space inside.
• Match existing: If the front of the house has a particular style, we match materials and proportions so the conversion blends in.

We always insulate properly around the new window or door. The filled opening meets the same thermal standards as the rest of the conversion.

Garage Conversions Across Greater Manchester

We convert garages throughout Greater Manchester:

Different eras of housing have different garage types. 1930s semis often have integral garages that are now too small for modern cars but perfect for conversion. 1960s and 70s houses frequently have attached single or double garages. Newer estates sometimes have detached garages. We work with all types and know the common issues with each.

Will a Garage Conversion Affect Property Value?

This depends on your area and parking situation. In locations where on-street parking is easy, losing a garage rarely matters. Buyers value living space more than storage. A well-converted garage adds usable square footage that typically increases overall value.

However, in areas where parking is difficult or on streets where garages are still used for cars, removing parking space might affect value. Some properties have covenants requiring a garage to be kept. We can advise based on your specific situation.

The quality of conversion matters too. A cheap, poorly finished conversion that doesn't match the house can detract from value. A proper conversion that looks like it was always part of the house adds genuine value.

Why Choose Renovate for Your Garage Conversion?

• Complete service: Design, Building Regs, and full construction. One company handles everything
• Fixed prices: Detailed quotes with all work included. No surprises or hidden costs
• Building Regs handled: We manage applications, inspections, and get your completion certificate
• Quality finish: Converted space that looks and feels like part of your house, not an afterthought
• Experienced team: We've converted dozens of garages and know the common challenges
• Proper insulation: Warm, comfortable room that's economical to heat
• Quick turnaround: Most garage conversions completed in 3-4 weeks
• 12-month warranty: All workmanship guaranteed