Check out the Real Life Architecture website, its full of free advice and you can book a consultation with me if you need to discuss your project - www.RealLifeArchitecture.co.uk
Great video to come across with sound advice! We have a single skin garage which is already converted into a habitable room but we're thinking of going up another level so I've already come across the exact dilemmas you talk about. One option I have explored, and I don't think you mentioned, is using a timber frame upper so the weight/load is less on the foundations. Would you say this is more feasible to pass single skin garage foundations or is the safer option to assume underpinning/steels is still the way forward?
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. I think someone asked as similar question a while back. Using lighter weight materials won’t solve the problem of ‘live load’, that is people, furniture, snow and wind etc. That load will be the same regardless of what the building is made from and it all has the be carried by a foundation never designed for the task. I strongly suspect you will need underpinning or some other type of reinforcing to carry the extra load.
@@RealLifeArchitecture Great point, I never thought about the actual 'load' of everything! One thing I don't quite understand in the video is that if the steel beams are inside the structure on 4 concrete pads, then how does that take the load of the external skin walls which need to be built up to two storeys? Is it because the existing foundations 'should' be able to take a double storey single skin wall ok, but would not be able to take 2 walls and the load of everything else? Therefore you used the steel to take the load of the first floor, build up an internal second skin wall on the steels, and support the roof off this too i.e. all the load above the first storey is on the steel (and 4 concrete pads) and the only extra load on the existing foundations is another single skin storey on the existing outer brickwork? Or is there something fancier going off!
Is there any quick and dirty checks a homeowner can do for checking foundation under garage? I have a concrete slab under home and a concrete slab that looks like a separate pour next to the skirt path. The garage actually straddles the path and the dedicated slab pour for the garage. The garage was almost considered non permanent due to construction from metal frame and corrugated metal panels. No asbestos luckily. Actually as I have been here before, if I wanted a quick sniff check of what I can do with my property. What and who could I talk to?
I suggest contacting a structural engineer for this. You may need to find a local architect first, as structural engineers seldom advertise direct to homeowners and typically need architects drawings or instructions to get started. They will need to know what you ultimately plan to build on that existing slab, and that’s where your architect comes in. It gets extra complicated with slabs because while the depth and thickness are easy to establish, it’s very difficult to establish what kind of steel reinforcing is inside that slab.
This brings in a dilemma for my parents wanting to extend upwards on a single skin garage with close neighbour proximity. A builder has suggested looking into lightweight structural systems and a ring fence, but first they want to extend out to match the front of the house as not to lose a form of front garage space. Could a lightweight extension be done forwards? Or is it worth proper brick work and new foundations for that, then address the upwards later, by fortifying the remaining section of garage. Its only a 1950s built home. Not particularly big. The extra up space is really the only possibility.
Thanks for getting in touch. There are a couple of things to unpack from your questions. Getting planning permission to build upwards when close to neighbours often poses issues of overlooking and overshadowing that can lead to refusal. Building outwards can also fall foul of planning requirements that extensions be subservient to the original house. Building in proximity to a boundary requires the construction to be fire resistant. That is difficult to do with lightweight construction methods. The foundations will need to support load, not just weight. That includes wind, snow, people and furniture. Whether the new structure is made of brick or not will have little impact on the load imposed on the foundation.
@@RealLifeArchitecture thanks, a lot to think about indeed. They're in the talking stages as the house is a semi detached in a cult de sac. So far every house in the small street has had no issues with planning bar 1 who is too close to the neighbours (on the curve of the street) for a full front so they had to "cottage" the extension back a little and lose maybe 5 foot. Luckily everyone in the street has lived there over 30 years or more, or even from when built so there's never been objections to people's projects as they all discuss before hand. Very close knit. But now I understand the lightweight issues - two builders had initially suggested this was possible with further planning, but, they never mentioned the potential pitfalls. I can relate it back to my parents to consider the possible restrictions that may pop up now. I do know the footings on the single wall of the outside of the garage definitely aren't deep enough, however, the back of the garage has already been fortified as there was a rearward extension done in the 80s to expand the kitchen into a kitchen/diner. So maybe the ring fencing may work. Either way I've learned a lot here that the wont have or been told about. Thanks for the video and the reply, very informative.
What other options would you have suggested other than internal layout changes. Wouldn’t a loft conversion or a rear extension give them what they wanted and some
An extension is feasibility but it’s beyond the budget the client had for the project. Especially when the other internal work is taken into account. Check out this video I made about house extension costs th-cam.com/video/OVSzq0lde5c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nMfdZ4fcnQy6cWyA
The point is to build above the garage and keep the garage for cars. I can’t advise on house prices, that’s not my area, but I think adding bedrooms usually adds value provided the remaining facilities are sufficient. That is, big enough space for kitchen, living and dining.
I guess my question was about converting the garage, I.e. losing a garage to add a bedroom (which is what the owners opted for at the end) as opposed to keeping it and building a bedroom over (which is what the video is originally about) would add/take away value to/from the house
@@omaribraheem6763 you have a point but in this case there is a separate garage, detached from the house (I don’t know why but it’s on the estate agents plan) plus there is ample parking on the driveway, something the planners care about and which I spoke about in another video, check it out Why Planners Refuse Permission for Garage Conversions in the UK th-cam.com/video/GcMSnhM48oM/w-d-xo.html
That is true but the point of the video is to address a common query homeowners have about adapting what they have, rather than demolishing and starting from scratch. The most sustainable building is the one that already exists.
Check out the Real Life Architecture website, its full of free advice and you can book a consultation with me if you need to discuss your project - www.RealLifeArchitecture.co.uk
Thx Niall, great advice (guidance) as always 👍🏿
Thank you
Great video to come across with sound advice! We have a single skin garage which is already converted into a habitable room but we're thinking of going up another level so I've already come across the exact dilemmas you talk about. One option I have explored, and I don't think you mentioned, is using a timber frame upper so the weight/load is less on the foundations. Would you say this is more feasible to pass single skin garage foundations or is the safer option to assume underpinning/steels is still the way forward?
Hi, thanks for getting in touch. I think someone asked as similar question a while back. Using lighter weight materials won’t solve the problem of ‘live load’, that is people, furniture, snow and wind etc. That load will be the same regardless of what the building is made from and it all has the be carried by a foundation never designed for the task. I strongly suspect you will need underpinning or some other type of reinforcing to carry the extra load.
@@RealLifeArchitecture Great point, I never thought about the actual 'load' of everything! One thing I don't quite understand in the video is that if the steel beams are inside the structure on 4 concrete pads, then how does that take the load of the external skin walls which need to be built up to two storeys? Is it because the existing foundations 'should' be able to take a double storey single skin wall ok, but would not be able to take 2 walls and the load of everything else? Therefore you used the steel to take the load of the first floor, build up an internal second skin wall on the steels, and support the roof off this too i.e. all the load above the first storey is on the steel (and 4 concrete pads) and the only extra load on the existing foundations is another single skin storey on the existing outer brickwork? Or is there something fancier going off!
What about a rear garage ?
Is there any quick and dirty checks a homeowner can do for checking foundation under garage? I have a concrete slab under home and a concrete slab that looks like a separate pour next to the skirt path. The garage actually straddles the path and the dedicated slab pour for the garage. The garage was almost considered non permanent due to construction from metal frame and corrugated metal panels. No asbestos luckily.
Actually as I have been here before, if I wanted a quick sniff check of what I can do with my property. What and who could I talk to?
I suggest contacting a structural engineer for this. You may need to find a local architect first, as structural engineers seldom advertise direct to homeowners and typically need architects drawings or instructions to get started. They will need to know what you ultimately plan to build on that existing slab, and that’s where your architect comes in. It gets extra complicated with slabs because while the depth and thickness are easy to establish, it’s very difficult to establish what kind of steel reinforcing is inside that slab.
Probably cheaper to start new build
This brings in a dilemma for my parents wanting to extend upwards on a single skin garage with close neighbour proximity.
A builder has suggested looking into lightweight structural systems and a ring fence, but first they want to extend out to match the front of the house as not to lose a form of front garage space.
Could a lightweight extension be done forwards? Or is it worth proper brick work and new foundations for that, then address the upwards later, by fortifying the remaining section of garage.
Its only a 1950s built home. Not particularly big. The extra up space is really the only possibility.
Thanks for getting in touch. There are a couple of things to unpack from your questions.
Getting planning permission to build upwards when close to neighbours often poses issues of overlooking and overshadowing that can lead to refusal.
Building outwards can also fall foul of planning requirements that extensions be subservient to the original house.
Building in proximity to a boundary requires the construction to be fire resistant. That is difficult to do with lightweight construction methods.
The foundations will need to support load, not just weight. That includes wind, snow, people and furniture. Whether the new structure is made of brick or not will have little impact on the load imposed on the foundation.
@@RealLifeArchitecture thanks, a lot to think about indeed. They're in the talking stages as the house is a semi detached in a cult de sac. So far every house in the small street has had no issues with planning bar 1 who is too close to the neighbours (on the curve of the street) for a full front so they had to "cottage" the extension back a little and lose maybe 5 foot. Luckily everyone in the street has lived there over 30 years or more, or even from when built so there's never been objections to people's projects as they all discuss before hand. Very close knit.
But now I understand the lightweight issues - two builders had initially suggested this was possible with further planning, but, they never mentioned the potential pitfalls. I can relate it back to my parents to consider the possible restrictions that may pop up now. I do know the footings on the single wall of the outside of the garage definitely aren't deep enough, however, the back of the garage has already been fortified as there was a rearward extension done in the 80s to expand the kitchen into a kitchen/diner. So maybe the ring fencing may work.
Either way I've learned a lot here that the wont have or been told about. Thanks for the video and the reply, very informative.
What other options would you have suggested other than internal layout changes. Wouldn’t a loft conversion or a rear extension give them what they wanted and some
An extension is feasibility but it’s beyond the budget the client had for the project. Especially when the other internal work is taken into account. Check out this video I made about house extension costs th-cam.com/video/OVSzq0lde5c/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nMfdZ4fcnQy6cWyA
@@RealLifeArchitecture thank you!
What software did use to create those white and red 3d models of the house and how long did it take ?
Sketchup, 20 minutes.
Would converting the garage as proposed in the video devalue the house? I thought having a garage usually adds value
The point is to build above the garage and keep the garage for cars. I can’t advise on house prices, that’s not my area, but I think adding bedrooms usually adds value provided the remaining facilities are sufficient. That is, big enough space for kitchen, living and dining.
I guess my question was about converting the garage, I.e. losing a garage to add a bedroom (which is what the owners opted for at the end) as opposed to keeping it and building a bedroom over (which is what the video is originally about) would add/take away value to/from the house
@@omaribraheem6763 you have a point but in this case there is a separate garage, detached from the house (I don’t know why but it’s on the estate agents plan) plus there is ample parking on the driveway, something the planners care about and which I spoke about in another video, check it out Why Planners Refuse Permission for Garage Conversions in the UK
th-cam.com/video/GcMSnhM48oM/w-d-xo.html
In the past I have built above single skin garages in timber frame clad with boarding, is this not possible now?
Aside from practical issues, getting an engineer to certify the new structure is increasingly difficult.
I guess you could always not knock the garage down and start from there if its not adequate.
That is true but the point of the video is to address a common query homeowners have about adapting what they have, rather than demolishing and starting from scratch. The most sustainable building is the one that already exists.