Increasing the living footprint of your home by converting your garage has many benefits; it can add value while cutting costs of a regular extension, won't affect your council tax and (in most cases) doesn't usually need planning permission. However, without proper planning and execution, the project could end up devaluing your property. Before you begin dreaming of a new room of possibility take a look at these garage conversion gaffes from storage restrictions to temperature control and save yourself stress and money.

Yes, a garage conversion costs considerably less than a new extension, however, it needs to be planned and executed to building regulations that make it liveable, which doesn't come cheap. Myjobquote.co.uk believes the average cost of a garage conversion in the UK is £13,500 ($18.7k). But it can be more if the room is intended to be a bathroom or kitchen with plumbing, for instance.  

A garage conversion will almost certainly need new electrical circuits and heating options especially if it is going to have a new internal kitchen or bathroom fitted. The extra load on your central heating and boiler system is often an after-thought. Be sure to give the existing boiler an MOT to ensure it will cope with the extra work. A new one could set you back thousands of pounds so should be included in a contingency budget. 

Remodelling a garage isn't a casual weekend job you can do yourself. Yes, the frame is there but it needs professional expertise to function safely and efficiently as a liveable internal room. Unless your DIY skill level is high, contracting a builder to carry out the job will be cost-effective and time productive in the long run. 

An architect could turn your new room into an innovative space that you would not have thought of. As professionals, they are experts in design possibility, safety and will have the most up-to-date knowledge of building regulations and paperwork. MJW Architects turned this former unusable garage into a beautiful studio conversion (which required Listed Building Consent) into a practical space sympathetic to the existing building. 

What with all the added insulation, running electric cables and rewiring for lights and switches will be extremely complicated and should not be attempted unless you are a trained electrician. A professional will know whether you will need a separate mains supply and/or circuit breakers for the lighting and electric supply you need. Be sure to pre-plan your electric layout in the planning stages to avoid costly changes later on. This detached garage conversion by CK Architectural allows the owner to practice yoga in a studio with ideal lighting and heating conditions.

Just because you already own the property and are not increasing the footprint doesn't mean you shouldn't consult authorities. If you are planning on converting a detached garage into a separate dwelling or business premises with home office, you will almost certainly need to apply for 'Change of Use' approval via your local planning council. 

Simply dry-lining walls, adding laminate flooring and furniture will not make your garage conversion safely habitable. Nor will it count as an extra bedroom when it comes to selling your property. It needs to have been converted with the strict building regulations to be used as a 'fit for purpose' sleeping area. This includes sufficient insulation, ventilation and the correct fire and safety regulations. 

An exposed brick wall may look trendy and rustic but in a garage intended for new purposes, it may not be practical to cut corners and leave it bare. Rough brickwork or (dare we say) breeze blocks will scuff up furniture and offer no insulation which can lead to a multitude of other problems. Insulated plasterboard will certainly make the garage interior-worthy. 

A typical garage has restricted windows and light so when planning your conversion it's important to consider window placement not only for light purposes but for ventilation that meets building regulations too. Light increases the sense of space so without adequate windows your garage renovation will be disappointingly dark small and unhealthy. This garage conversion has been transformed into a successful light-filled living space with large glazed doors. 

A habitable garage conversion requires adequate ventilation to ensure airflow is not compromised to meet strict building regulations. Lack of proper ventilation can cause mould, dampness and even carbon dioxide build-up. The action varies in form depending on room size and use and created with opening windows, window trickle ventilation and 'Hit and Miss' air vents. New kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms or toilets must include extractor ventilation also.

An original residential garage will almost certainly have been built with very little soundproofing around and above the space. As a test stand in the garage and ask a family member to make some noise in the adjacent room or rooms above. We bet you will hear them very well. There are various methods to diffuse noise at varying costs. Methods include timber joist soundproofing and foam-wall soundproofing. 

Original garage floors are usually concrete and susceptible to becoming cold and damp. Simply painting or laying new flooring will not do. A garage conversion must meet building regulations to meet thermal performance and be water-tight. Depending on the ground level, flooding may be an issue also so floors must be levelled, damp-proofed with membrane and insulated before the new flooring is laid. 

Swapping an expensive gym membership for a private and personal training space may seem like a great idea but not planning an appropriate exercise space could be costly for your financial and physical health. Ascertain who's going to use it and what for first, then install the appropriate elements to make it practical. Consider your gym flooring, ventilation, space, equipment costs and lighting. And, after all that effort will it get used enough? Need inspiration? Mr. Kate designed this home garage gym "with brightness and spa-like accents in mind" for maximum motivation.

You may be gaining a new room but what will happen to the items already stored in your garage? Start with an appropriately named 'garage sale' to declutter then consider storage options for other areas in your home for necessities such as the loft, garden shed or even a hired storage space. It may be possible to add practical storage systems in your new space like this stylish wood box shelving designed by Losada Garcia. A partial conversion that retains a storage area is also a solution. 

When designing the ideal garage conversion, it's important to consider the overall floor plan. Whether it will be one small room or part of a new open-plan space, some garages are thoroughfares to the garden or a side exit from the house, so access should be a top priority. Plan the layout before you decide where the door and windows will go – the last thing you need is a double bed overhanging the doorway into the main house.

Simply adding standard dry-lining will not be enough to insulate a garage conversion, especially if the area you live in sees varied and vast temperature changes, or you intend to install vast expanses of glass. Building regulations insist all walls, floors, ceilings and windows be adequately insulated with specialist panels or filling foam to accommodate all temperatures. 

Depending on the size of your integral or detached garage the conversion can be more than just one room. It may be possible to do a partial conversion leaving the front doors in place for storage at the front or stud walls could be erected to create an ensuite or extra kitchen utility. An architect or specialist building company will have experience and knowledge to help plan and create various solutions. 

As with a regular extension, it makes sense to do your homework when employing a skilled tradesperson to carry out the construction job. Never go with the first quote or builder you find. Ask plenty of questions including details of past work. Garage conversions are a common building project so take a walk around your neighbourhood, then knock and enquire about the contractors of projects you like. Nothing beats recommendations and word of mouth. You'll find there are lots of companies who specialise in conversions and can offer sound advice for your space.

The common route to a garage conversion is by bricking up the garage door whilst including a window. It sounds simple but if the window is too small, too big or does not match existing windows, it can be a sure-fire way of ruining the finished job almost from the start. Be sure to consider proportions, light entry options and consistency with the original building. 

A home with adequate off-road parking is usually high on house buyers' wish lists, so unless your property has enough driveway space to park vehicles on, a garage conversion might not be the right solution to gain more space. Instead, look for alternative additions that cost less than an extension, such as converting only half a double garage, looking at a loft conversion or going into the garden with a conservatory or detached outdoor garden room. 

Thinking about the future could save you thousands in the long run. At the design stage of your garage conversion assess whether the existing garage foundations are deep and the building is sturdy enough to take new loads. You might decide to build up by adding a second storey at some point and the current efforts will have been wasted. 

When planning permission is first granted to build a new build or development Permitted Development Rights may have been removed to make even the most minor changes. Check with the building developer what will be contracted; there may be a time limit in place or a policy to gain permission in writing from other dwellers on the new estate before you can proceed.  

A garage can be a great place to add a new bathroom as the floor space will almost certainly be bigger than your existing cloakroom. However, before you start contemplating a home spa – there are mistakes to avoid. Again, all regulations must be met especially ventilation – an extractor fan is a must. Other problems you must address are what existing plumbing can be tapped into and is there an appropriate foul drainage route? 

What's the point of going to all that trouble making your garage conversion lovely inside if it gets wet from leaks and cold as soon as it rains? As well as wall and floor insulation the garage ceiling needs defending internally to be watertight and double-checked for leaks or broken tiles externally. A reputable contractor will most probably factor in a new roof with the project.

Within with building regulations, certain fire-safety checks will need to be adhered to (depending on the project). A reputable builder or regulations examiner will advise on aspects such as fire door width, escape window sizing and smoke alarm requirements. 

If you don't inform your home insurance provider about a garage conversion build you run the risk of your current policy becoming invalid. Double-check beforehand if the cover can continue during and after and whether any home emergency cover will include works being carried out for peace of mind.  

Loved this? Check out 40 garage conversion ideas to add more space to your home