We want to build a new Garage, but we want to do it gradually, as funds allow.

So, we know where we want it and we know we'll need planning permission, but whats first? I assume we need plans drawn up before we apply for permission? Does it need to be an architect do these? Or someone else cheaper? Me??!!

I'm really only interested in getting the foundations in at the moment, possibly getting it to floor level.

Any help appreciated.

 

Deep pockets

 

You don't need permission on an extension if its no more than half the length and width of your house, so maybe that applies to a garage aswell. You'd still have to have the building inspector round though.

 

I'm not sure there is any advantage to doing a garage in stages. I suspect you would be better to put the cash away in a savings account until you have enough to do the whole thing.

I suppose that, if you need some hard standing, it might make sense.

Plans can be drawn by anyone but you need to know what the rules are for your area - here, for instance, the roof-pitch had to match the house. Also, depending on the size you might need one or more reinforcing piers in each wall - they can be a bugger if there isn't enough space between them for your bench/toolbox/compressor/whatever, or you keep bashing the door against them.

 

firstly, you need a decent car to keep in it!

 

first thing is speak to your local council. I did and they were spot on, from memory if it was more than 3m away from the propery I could have it with an internal area of 30m sq, and 4m high.

One phone call and I had the green lights to build mine.

Ideally look at what you can do yourself, ie put the base in yourself etc.

 

true lol

 

I drew my own. I got photo copies of some examples from council dept. They were very helpful and only cost a couple of pound and gave me a good idea what the drawings had to like. Also talking to building regs as mine was quite large and had to have large joists due to the width and being a flat roof.

Regards Richard

 

I paid for the drawings, I thought it would be better than something on the back of a fag packet, and more likely to get passed. It passed, not sure if it helped or not.

If you get intouch with the council, they'll let you know all the rules. Sometimes it won't need permission, but you'll still need to get building regs done, and submit saying what your building how big and where etc etc.

 

start getting quotes from the builders as it will take you 6 months to get one to a, commit to
a) actually turn up to have a look at the job,
b) be bothered to submit you a quote if they have bothered to carry out (a)
c) take approx 4-8 weeks to get you a quote if they have gone to the (a)&(b)
d) for you to laugh at the variation in price - will ad another 4 week to try and justify the differance in quotes.

then you can start with getting the architect to follow the same steps above.

then the council to charge there farsical fees for fook all.

if your thinking of starting to build then you have a 3-4 month window of preparation to go through, approc Ł2k in fees before you even dig a hole to start

 

their must be loads of guys on here christian who would give you their old drawings and just change the dimensions to suit your space.

 

Well, it appears that the most frustrating rule on our council is that we need planning permission if it is to go closer than 2 metres to the boundary. So, that in itself appears to be enough to mean that permission will be necessary.

Our train of thought was that if we can get to the stage of having the plans all done, then getting someone round with a mini-digger to dig the foundations isn't hard and it will be useful in planning the rest of the garden, being able to see how it all fits in. Coupled with the fact that whatever comes out of the garage footings, will be used to fill the air-raid shelter that we have and it would be nice to get that done too fairly soon.

So thats why I'm curious about getting it that far. The big costs start when we buy large quantities of bricks/blocks and need a builder to lay them, am I right? I know it's not the conventional approach, but compared to just sitting there and waiting until we have the money to do the whole job, we thought we could make a start. There are other preparatory things we can get done that way too, things that rely on the garage being started.

markk - You sound so positive!! LOL.

 

Yes, I was wondering that. Or are there templated plans available on the net somewhere?

We want to build a large single garage, not a double. So, had figured around 8 metres x 4 metres, as a ball-park. Others that have built garages, what size did you build? Our will be close to next doors garage which is a not shy 8.5 metres by 8.5 metres or thereabouts!! LOL.

 

the system is an arse, see my thread, im in the middle of my build, the builders are in my garden right now building the walls, ive had to leave 2m all round the garage, what a waste of fooking space

the size I wanted the council would not let me have, so we had to fook the plans off and go for permitted development.

the money is from my experiance a 50/50 to the builder and the materials.

 

Forgive me if I don't go rushing out to sell my 2008 R26 "Fastest FWD production car to lap the Nurburgring" in favour of a 20 year old Ford that can barely make it to the end of the road without some kind of problem.

 

speak to chip. he knows some good garage builders.

 

you know im only taking the piss, even tho its a birds car, i actually quite like the R26!