Aussie Double Carport to Double Garage Conversion

Enad308 · Mar 1, 2015

Hi all, thought I would share the start of my project. Located in Melbourne Australia. Bought our first house last December. Agreement between me and the missus is that if the house is good enough then the garage is the first thing on the list to get built. So I ended up with a 5mx5m carport that came with the house.

So long story short I am extending by about a metre and enclosing the carport. Block isn't huge so really the max I could do.

The permit process with the council has been ridiculous. Due to the offset to the street I had to pay a draftsman to draw full plans for block and proposed offset (approx $700) then had to pay $244 to council to consider extending by 1 metre. Then waiting 2 weeks for them to approve the 'Consent' then resubmitting another form for actual permit, another $544. Then I have to pay for their surveyor to come and inspect, probably another $600.

So with all the costs been trying to do most myself. See pics Below.

Flange · Mar 1, 2015

Enad308 said:
See pics Below.

?????

1/2 Cup · Mar 1, 2015

Congratulations on your new home now the work and fun begins. :thumbup:

I am hearing you in regard to the permit process with council, but once you are over that you can get on with it.

All the best with your build, looking forward to following your progress.

Regards

Enad308 · Mar 23, 2015

Started with gravel driveway, and no storm water piping, needs to be connected in my local council. As I am opposite a planning department i couldnt not get permits.

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Enad308 · Mar 23, 2015

so storm water was first. It was running on to top of shed and another flowed onto lawn. Digging it up and finding terracotta pipes was a pain and to fit was a *****.

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Enad308 · Mar 23, 2015

I started doing all this while going through appropriate channels to get correct sign off. I didn't realize the pain i was setting myself up for. The council have been nothing but painful. They have wanted:
Soil test from biochemical engineer. Structural sign off from another engineer. Wind ratings etc .etc. It's a given that they want to make sure its done right, however i have enlisted an architectural draftsmen to draw the plans and revise if any questions. Including all the fees the council has charged and cost of drawings its up to about 3k. I did it all and then last week they said, we want planning approval now on top of consent to extend 1 metre and building permit and it will take another months and $200, its already taken 3. I was told not to make a complaint as they will only delay for 12 months and they have no one to answer to so I have no choice but to jump through more hoops. This get me pretty upset and i understand completely why people don't get permits. This will be a lot stronger when im finished and drawings prove that.

Enad308 · Mar 23, 2015

Again while I was waiting I started preparing for driveway and slab to be poured

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Enad308 · Mar 23, 2015

Reo down and the trusty dog waiting patiently on a pile of gravel for construction to be finished

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Enad308 · Mar 23, 2015

I will be using a lot of ideas from this site to maximise my storage space so stay tuned for when council give me tick of approval.

Projects i will be doing in the garage is the Holden 308 one tonner you can see in the pictures, not much to do, a little transmission work and a little interior work and its done, its been a full rebuild by itself, full interior, wiring engine rebuild with go fast bits, full paint, full suspension and front end rebuild. List is huge, but well worth it for a cruiser and something to take bikes to track with heaps of power.

For those who watch Moto GP or WSBK you will know of Phillip Island race track, my cousin has just purchased a holiday house there so i will be building a track bike, potentially a R6 with the good gear, i will customise the tray on the tonner to carry 2 bikes with ramps.

Looking to build an older style bike as well, havent decided on what i want to do yet as ive only ever played with cars so i will see how i go.

sandmanracing · Mar 23, 2015

G'day Enad - looks like you are fighting with some cretinous "people" in your local council.

Try contacting Natalie Hutchins and make a complaint to her - she is the Minister for Local Government in Victoria and is good value for a politician. Even though you may not be out west (Calder Park) I would bring the problem to her and your local member.

As for the tonner, is that an HX grille on it? Bit hard to see the detail from the photos.

The conversion will make the work on the tonner less of a hassle with autumn well under way and winter a little over 2 months away.

1/2 Cup · Mar 23, 2015

Thanks for the update Enad, good to see you are up and running with the build. :thumbup:

Regards

Enad308 · Mar 24, 2015

sandmanracing said:
G'day Enad - looks like you are fighting with some cretinous "people" in your local council.

Try contacting Natalie Hutchins and make a complaint to her - she is the Minister for Local Government in Victoria and is good value for a politician. Even though you may not be out west (Calder Park) I would bring the problem to her and your local member.

As for the tonner, is that an HX grille on it? Bit hard to see the detail from the photos.

The conversion will make the work on the tonner less of a hassle with autumn well under way and winter a little over 2 months away.

Cheers for that, once I get sign off I might take it to her
Tonner not to sure, know it's a premier front, it was a bit of a mixture of things when I got it, stripped everything and started from scratch

Aussie Mike · Mar 25, 2015

Looks like you've got plenty of space there. Should be a good garage when you get through all the hoops.

I feel your pain re permits. The shed at my old place had an easment at the back of it and I wanted to build over it. What a drama.

It's better where I am now. Living in a semi-rural area certainly makes things easier with permits.

Good luck with it and keep us posted.

Cheers

Mike

ScottsRX · Mar 25, 2015

Looks good man, lots of fun doing it yourself.

dr_obson · Mar 29, 2015

I see you have the 308 and I'm guessing your name is Dane? Keen to see progression on this build. It's a lot easier to relate to Aussie builds than the crazy big American builds.

Enad308 · Mar 31, 2015

dr_obson said:
I see you have the 308 and I'm guessing your name is Dane? Keen to see progression on this build. It's a lot easier to relate to Aussie builds than the crazy big American builds.

Spot on!

Enad308 · Mar 31, 2015

Concrete down, went for a bit of colour at front

Enad308 · Mar 31, 2015

I have ran conduit underneath slab to power a sliding gate at front instead of swinging, still waiting on council approval for actual construction of garage

1/2 Cup · Mar 31, 2015

Looking great, another milestone. :thumbup:

What brand of gutter did you use?

Regards

dr_obson · Mar 31, 2015

Is that slab extended out to 6x6? Looks to be the same as the old carport which you said is 5x5

Enad308 · Apr 1, 2015

1/2 Cup said:
Looking great, another milestone.

What brand of gutter did you use?

Regards

Just the standard Bunnings grate

Enad308 · Apr 1, 2015

dr_obson said:
Is that slab extended out to 6x6? Looks to be the same as the old carport which you said is 5x5

Kept at 5 wide but got consent to extend by council by 1m, you will notice different colour fRont posts, I put in 125mmx125mm posts 800mm deep ready for garage door that I will put in

Enad308 · Apr 12, 2015

While I am still waiting for approval, 3 un-returned phone calls by the way, I've made some progress on the sliding gate

Original was twin swing gates so had to join together, lay some more concrete and extend enough to turn into sliding gate.

I put the motor base and bolts in while concrete was still wet.

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jb3 · Apr 12, 2015

dr_obson said:
I see you have the 308 and I'm guessing your name is Dane? Keen to see progression on this build. It's a lot easier to relate to Aussie builds than the crazy big American builds.

I enjoy the foreign to me builds, always fascinating to see whats internationally common and whats different
Trust me, plenty of americans cant relate to the enormous builds either, as much as they are enjoyable to watch

jb3 · Apr 12, 2015

Enad308 said:
While I am still waiting for approval, 3 un-returned phone calls by the way, I've made some progress on the sliding gate

Looking good so far!
Ornerous approval processes end up being completely counterproductive. If you make it way too difficult to fix or build something, all you do is guarantee people will avoid getting permits. I feel your pain!

I ran into similar boneheadedness at a rental building i manage. All i wanted to do was pave a parking space where people have been parking for 50 years on the dirt next to the gas meters. I made the mistake of calling the department of inspections and standards and put myself on the radar. One word answer was "nope" followed by a threat that they would be "checking up on me"

I did finally get some protecting for the gas meters in and some gravel for parking, but even now officially there is no parking and the gravel is for trash cans on the books

Enad308 · Apr 12, 2015

Please ignore my average welding skills

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1/2 Cup · Apr 13, 2015

Great work, I luv the idea of a sliding gate I could do with one here, they are a real space saver. :thumbup:

rixtrix1 · Apr 13, 2015

Looking good. It's sad when the permitting costs is a major portion of the cost to build, not to mention the wait!

Enad308 · Apr 13, 2015

1/2 Cup said:
Great work, I luv the idea of a sliding gate I could do with one here, they are a real space saver.

couldn't recommend it enough, but do it yourself as they cost a fortune. I found a ware house in the middle of no where and got a kit and modified existing gate. Did my research on the kit and sent the misses out to get it. Quotes i was getting were between 4-6k, so far I'm up to about $850 and a day and half of my time, would have been less time if i was good at welding!
And of course doing it yourself you get the satisfaction and skun knuckles

Enad308 · Jun 28, 2015

very long story with me visiting the local council everyday until action was taken I have gotten approval. So update is below, framing started, by myself mind you:

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Enad308 · Jun 28, 2015

this week will be finishing 1m extension, door jamb and front. Ive also got power cord and speaker wire to wire surround sound system.

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Enad308 · Jun 28, 2015

also ordered a new toy for the garage

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Sunbimmer · Jun 28, 2015

Enad308 said:
also ordered a new toy for the garage

I'm not into bikes at all, but this one looks great :thumbup:

Congrats.

1/2 Cup · Jun 28, 2015

Thank you for the update, great to see some progress.

Nice bike as well.

Regards :thumbup:

Enad308 · Jul 26, 2015

A bit more progress, Melbourne has been throwing some harsh weather and I have been working in the rain to move forward. But frame, roof and footings were inspected and passed by the council. So starting to close it in now. Windows and door in. Garage door arrives sometime in the next 7 days.

dr_obson · Jul 26, 2015

Looking good mate plenty of space there

1/2 Cup · Jul 27, 2015

Well done. :thumbup:

Enad308 · Aug 2, 2015

Been going pretty hard at it to get everything done. Doing everything by myself, done 3 sides of cladding. I am so glad I got a nail gun.

Got the garage door in as well.

Sparky coming around this week to rough in all electrics, so this week I will finish back wall with cladding after he goes through. Then paint and start on inside.

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Enad308 · Aug 2, 2015

also got 4m of cupboards from an old kitchen, they are getting sanded and painted. Will change handles as well

Carves · Aug 2, 2015

Looks like its all coming together well .. :thumbup:

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