Noob with a few questions.

[Lickers]

Hi all

First of all, I've spent most of the day checking out past threads and I'm blown away by some of the work you guys have carried out. Deeply impressive. So, kudos for providing me with lots of inspiration!

Down to brass tacks. I'm in the UK so we don't really have the space that you guys are normally afforded. Nevertheless, I'm about to buy my first house which has a very large rear garden (I guess you guys call it a yard) which is ripe to have a garage built - which is my main reason for checking the house out in the first place.

The bottom line is that I'm looking to house a minimum of two cars with space to work on them and other projects. I'd like to have one isolated 'area' for my pride and joy to be kept and the rest of the main area for my daily driver/track car. I really like the idea of having a third 'bay' as a work area with a bench etc. I don't have room for a lift/ramp so a pit would be a handy addition.

I'd like to hear what pro's and cons you guys have faced when building/converting your garages and what tips and tricks you have discovered. I hope I don't sound too vague at the moment but I'm starting from scratch (never had a garage before) and I don't want to end up building a 20' square box that just houses junk.

Thanks in advance and keep up the good work!

 

[Frank Elson]

The first thing to do is to ask your local Planning Department if you can build something to the size you want.
I'm looking to move house soonish and I will ask the planners about every house I like the look of. If I can't get permission I will walk away.

For instance, did you know that you now need planning permission for a drive ?

 

[Lickers]

Hi Frank

Planning permission is fine. The laws on this have changed relatively recently which has made things much easier in regards to building a garage.

Both properties I'm looking at have a set-up where the rear gardens converge of the neighbouring homes so everyone has a similar set-up with sheds, garages etc.
One house has an existing timber framed garage that has seen better days, so that would be a direct replacement, anyway.

Either way, my plans will be submitted as a matter of courtesy. I have a contact who is an architect so he can deal with all the necessary paperwork for me, anyway.