We get asked to produce drawings for custom garages all the time. Just send us a sketch of the shape of the garage with the overall sizes and if possible we will produce the drawings for you. Sometimes we get designs for a garage that is not possible to build, don't worry we will advise you as to what is possible or what improvements can made to the design.
Does the garage have to be rectangular?
We have designed garages that are L shaped, T shaped and garages with annex's. The only limitation to the shape of the garage is the roof construction that requires that the front and rear walls are parallel and that the side walls are also parallel with each other.
Do I need Planning Permission?
The interpretation of planning regulations vary across the country, so please check with your local planning office for detailed guidance. The siting of the garage will determine what rules will apply to the garage. If the garage is not within 5 metres from the dwelling then it will be considered a separate building. If it is within 5 metres it will be considered an extension to the dwelling.
Not within 5 metres of the dwelling:
- The garage must be used for domestic purposes only
- No part of the garage should be nearer to any road than the part of the original house nearest to the road
- The height of the garage must not be more than 4 metres high if it has a ridged roof, or 3 metres in any other case.
- The ground area covered by the garage and any other buildings within the boundary of the property (excluding the original house) must not be more than half the total area.
- It is for domestic use only.
- The design and materials to be used to build the proposed extension must be in keeping with the main house.
- No part of the extension should be nearer to any road than the part of the original house nearest to the road.
- No part of the extension should be higher than the highest part of the existing roof of the house.
- The extension should not be more than 4 metres high if it comes within 3 metres of the boundary of the property. Height is to be measured from ground level, measuring the level of the surface of the ground immediately adjacent to the building or, if it is not uniform, the level at its highest adjacent part.
- The ground area covered by the extension and any other buildings within the boundary of the property (excluding the original house) must not be more than half the total area (not counting the ground area of the original house).
- The cubic capacity (length x width x height external measurements) of the garage will not exceed 70 cubic metres for a semi-detached or detached property, 50 cubic metres for a terraced property or a house within a conservation area. Any extensions to the original dwelling house must be calculated as part of the 70 cubic metres allowed. If the original dwelling house has been extended subtract that amount. The planning division may have a record of any previous extensions.
- There is not a planning condition attached to the original planning permission for the property stating that only specific garage types can be built in specified locations.
- The property is not within an area within which an Article 4 Direction is in force, such as a conservation area. If you are not certain please check with the Planning Division.
Do I need Building Control Approval?
All single storey detached garages with a floor area not more the 30 square metres are exempted for the Building Regulations. Garages with a floor area greater than 30 square metres or garages more than 1 storey require Building Control approval. However, all our garages are designed to Building Control standards.
What garage roof pitch should I use?
The roof of the garage should be pitched at the same angle as the roof of the dwelling. The norm is 30 degrees, but does vary across the country and with the period of the dwelling. Most older dwellings will have a 35 degree pitch roof and some modern dwelling have a 20 degree pitch roof. The roof finish will dictate the minimum pitch of the roof, most modern concrete tiles can be laid on roofs as low as 15 degrees, slates and manmade slates can be laid on roofs at 30 degrees, pantiles (small concrete or clay tiles) require 35 degrees. When designing the garage check with the roofing material manufacturer's guidelines for the specific roof pitch for that material. Your planning department may have special conditions within your area for roof pitches.
Can I sub divide the garage into rooms?
The larger the garage the easier it is to provide additional rooms, the concern is the purpose of the room. Stores or storage areas do not cause any concern. Where office/study, dayroom or games room type rooms are envisaged consideration is to be given to heating, natural light, ventilation, access, fire protection, etc. These types of room are termed habilable rooms and more strigent building regulations applying to them. The planning department will also pay closer examination of the application. Garages are unheated and therefore do not require insulating, habilable rooms do, this measns that SAP calculations are required.
Can I incorporate green energy in to the garage?
The garage is ideal building for incorporating Green energy systems. There are a number of systems that can be added to the garage.
Solar photovoltaics
Wind turbines
Small hydro
Solar thermal hot water
Ground/water/air source heat pumps
Bio-energy
Renewable CHP
MicroCHP (Combined heat and power)
Fuel cells
