Garage Project - part garage/part office

[roccles]

Stage 1 - Replace garage door

Before replacing the garage door for my house there was no access other than via the main garage door itself which was a bit of a pain especially if you just wanted to get the kids bikes or something out of the freezer. I had decided a long time ago that I wanted to replace it one that included pedestrian access but I put this off for many years as they are not cheap. But in September last year I eventually replace it.

I assume this was the original garage door, I have been here ten years and was definitely starting to show its age and have replaced the springs twice in that time.

During

My new Alutech Insulated sectional door with pedestrian access!

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Can't say I like the aesthetic but the function is a major plus.

Edit: it is also good you have power to your garage (presumably en bloc?). My pal has one that is 4 garages away from his house which precludes running power and it is nailing him for electric car etc.

 

[roccles]

Stage 2 - Garage office build

With the new door in place I started on Stage 2 of the project in May this year. A small office for work. I currently have an office in the house but wanted an area that could solely be used for work without any distractions. So I set myself a deadline of the start of the summer holidays to get this finished.


WARNING! I am a complete amateur at DIY so expect to see plenty of mistakes. I learned everything from YouTube and a couple of great projects on here especially @Matt-Page (https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/t...ffice-workshop-thread.18932259/#post-34922113) and @kai (https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/garage-conversion-office-utility-room.18878076/) I kept returning to these posts to check what they did. Thanks!


I still want a useable garage that I could work in and park my car if needed so went as small as possible (2.4m x2.4) this also meant that I would not have to worry to much about cutting the sheet material

Inspiration for the final result

Tidy up time - Garage before, bit of a mess!

Few trips to the tip and I had a workable space

Moved Gym equipment to the other side, this will be sorted at a later date.

Trip to Wickes to get a load of Studwork CLS Timber - 38 x 89 x 2400mm and started laying out to get an idea of the size.

After ordering an impact driver (best purchase of the project) I started building the frames

I added a damp proof membrane under the walls and wrapped in house wrap (later discovered it is the wrong way round, also unsure if this is needed buy hey ho…)

At this point I ordered a 2nd hand UPV door and window. I needed the door to open inwards into the office which is not ideal but the garage door framework meant it would be impossible to install a outward opening door.


Door and window ordered from https://uuwd.co.uk/ I had no idea how heavy a door was until it came to moving it!

Now that I knew the size of the window and door I set about designing the studwork for the front wall

Checking the window for size

With the studwork in place I ordered the sheet material

OSB attached to external walls. I like the look and think I will keep it plain. Due to size of office I did not have to do much cutting other than some notches at the top so that it would slot into the garage rafters.

Next job was the insulation. Have to say I did not enjoy this part at all!

Insulation of ceiling was initially going to be rockwool in the ceiling to cut down on costs but due to poor ordering/measuring skill I had 2 left over sheets of PIR so I decided to use this in the ceiling as well. I will lay the rockwool over the top as plenty of room in the eaves and cant hurt to over insulate.

After going through many cans of expanding foam and many rolls of foil tape the insulation was complete and I got the electrician to lay the wires

Vapour barrier installed (felt like I was building a Dexter kill room) and first sheet of plasterboard installed, again was surprised by the weight of these! probably should have got some help but just wanted to get it done.

Damp proof membrane laid down for start of floating floor

50mm PIR for the floor

Floor boards installed with expansion gap. I used a expanding glue which was pretty cool. Think I may have used a bit to much as I had quite a bit of scrapping to do after.

Lower part of plaster board fitted

Ready to start tape and jointing.

Ceiling painted ready for sparky to come in and fit the ceiling lighting and sockets

Sparky back in today to install a new fuse box and the Lights (2 x 600x600 led panels) and 3 double sockets.

As well as the office I had three dual led tubes installed in the garage area and an additional 4 double sockets. It only had a single double socket before

Window installed this evening and its starting to look like an office!

Just need to finish painting the walls and get a floor laid, I am thinking carpet to dampen some of the sound but still undecided.


So it looks like I will be in for the summer holidays but it may not have a door. Bit annoyed as I have built it single-handedly but just can not get the door sitting correctly so will need to call in some assistance from the father in law.

Then I need to think about decorating and adding some colour to make it less sterile

Have had a great time building it, made a lot of mistakes but have learnt a ton.


Stage 3 is to build a work bench storage unit on the side wall of the office

 

[roccles]

Can't say I like the aesthetic but the function is a major plus.

Edit: it is also good you have power to your garage (presumably en bloc?). My pal has one that is 4 garages away from his house which precludes running power and it is nailing him for electric car etc.

The garage is right next to my house but is attached to my neighbours garage. So electric is just run in from the house.

 

[Mysterae_]

Good progress! - Head's up, your address is visible in one of the images.

 

[roccles]

Good progress! - Head's up, your address is visible in one of the images.

Thank you good spot!

 

[roccles]

Installed the flooring last night which again was a first for me.

Was recommended the click system planks with built in underlay which is not something I knew about before, but very glad I went with it.

All I needed was a Stanley knife, speed square and a rubber mallet and it went down very quickly, around 2 hours of which 30 minutes was probably spent making sure I got the first planks in perfectly straight.

Product I used

Hoping to get the skirting board installed this evening.

 

[Yaayuh!]

Looking good so far! Nice project.

I do have one question, though. What's stopping this quickly going up in flames and fuelling a garage fire? Doesn't look like you've used fire-boarding or anything.

 

[Semple]

Looks good. Assume you can't add a window at the back - you mentioned neighbour garage on the side. Natural daylight can certainly make the environment more comfortable.

Edit: Also to add, when you're working in there do you plan to leave the garage pedestrian door open? If not you might find it gets quite stuffy in there - especially if you're working in there all day, and perhaps even worse in hot weather. Might want to consider some ventilation.

 

[roccles]

Looking good so far! Nice project.

I do have one question, though. What's stopping this quickly going up in flames and fuelling a garage fire? Doesn't look like you've used fire-boarding or anything.

Nothing I read suggested using fire-boarding, what would make this more likely to go up in flames than another other room as I have tried to build it to the same specs. I am not trying to be smart but genuinely concerned/interested?

 

[roccles]

Looks good. Assume you can't add a window at the back - you mentioned neighbour garage on the side. Natural daylight can certainly make the environment more comfortable.

Edit: Also to add, when you're working in there do you plan to leave the garage pedestrian door open? If not you might find it gets quite stuffy in there - especially if you're working in there all day, and perhaps even worse in hot weather. Might want to consider some ventilation.

Unfortunately I am unable to put a window anywhere in the office but do plan to work mostly with either the pedestrian door or main garage door open to let some air and light in.

 

[dirtychinchilla]

This is a cool project. Nice echoing @Semple I think you will find you desperately need some ventilation. That sort of room will fill up with CO2 very quickly, and you'll start to feel stupider. it could make sense just to put in a small intake/extract fan to get some air in fro mthe garage. Only problem is that it could be a bit chilly in the winter. But you'll need ventilation. That window might actually be enough, but it's hard to gauge.

 

[JayMax]

Nice project and nice work - I was scrolling down thinking ventilation!? I see I'm beaten to it, but agree with the others about needing some air in that place.

 

[roccles]

Ventilation wise I will see how it goes once I am out there but I think you all maybe right. Have been doing some research and looks like there is plenty of options, I could even mount one into the ceiling if needed as I have plenty of room up there.

 

[roccles]

Skirting installed at the end of the week and managed to get the door fitted today which turned out to be a massive pain in the butt but got there eventually.

Still some tidying up to do around the door and window but will be able to start working in there tomorrow. So hit my school holiday deadline (just)

Once I am in there I will be able to decide on shelving, decoration etc.

 

[a1ex2001]

Unfortunately I am unable to put a window anywhere in the office but do plan to work mostly with either the pedestrian door or main garage door open to let some air and light in.

Velux solar tube from the roof, no planning issues and tons of natural light bought right down into the office! I couldn’t work there without daylight!

 

[roccles]

Got a few days work in the new office this week!

Next job is to make it a bit more homely as its pretty sterile

Also blagged a free chair from a lady in another office at "proper work" which makes a good stop gap

 

[The1nonly1]

Are there any planning permits required to do something like this? I want to convert part of may garage into an office/gaming area but unsure what I'd actually need to do.

 

[Puzzled]

Looks good but yeah get some colour in there, stop you going crazy staring at plain walls

Ventilation wise how about a portable air con with heat pump extracting straight outside through the wall. That will cycle the air and give you cheaper heating.

 

[Demon]

Just popped over from the garden room shed!

Looks good! Have you still left it with the OSB exterior finish?
If so, a cheap cladding method is basic 7.5mm T&G Cladding.. then paint it.. looks a degree better than OSB (or even painted OSB) and it's very cheap (~£30 for 10 x 2.4m with 90mm face covering) so around £1.50 or so a m2).

Or a bit more expensive, but 8ft x 4ft MDF groved panelling (pre-primed) is around £60.

This kind of look: