CARLWinn JOINERY
 carl@carlwinnjoinery.co.uk
 07772 853299

Based in York, Carl Winn Joinery are one of the most experienced garage conversion companies serving York, Harrogate, Leeds, Tadcaster, Wetherby and surrounding areas

We pride ourselves on the success of the garages we have converted into fully integrated expansions of family homes without the need for increasing the footprint of the house.

Converting your garage could provide you with any number of solutions to your requirements;

• New bathroom
• Granny annexe
• Accessible bedroom or bathroom.
• Playroom
• Home cinema
• Home office
• Kitchen or dinning room extension

Carl Winn Joinery convert your garage into a fully integrated part of your house design, not just a garage with a bricked-up door


We ensure a smooth flow from the existing parts of the house into the new space reclaimed from the garage by building up, or lowering the floors so they are all one level.We install windows and new doors to ensure the access points are in the right place for good ergonomics and to tie the garage conversion onto the existing house seamlessly.

Carl Winn Joinery can project manage the entire build on your behalf if necessary. We work closely with our team of building trade partners to be able to offer you a complete garage conversion service in York and the surrounding areas, from the planning and design stage right through to decorating, and everything in between.

It is the responsibility of the home owner to to check with the relevant local authority planning department prior to starting building work to see if planning permission is necessary, however, 90% of garage conversions do not need planning consent as you are not changing the footprint of the property or changing the designated use of a property.

Garage conversions do need to conform to building regulations which include factors such as wall insulation, ventilation, damp proofing, drainage when needed, and the infilling of the existing garage door with a suitable, well supported construction. Detached garage conversions can also be subject to further regulations.

Please do get in touch with us to discuss your requirements. As a York garage conversion specialist,we are only too happy to help you navigate through process of expanding your living space and adding value to your home.

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FAQs (click plus sign to view answers)

There are many reasons why people choose to convert their garage, the most common are to create a home office or gym, create extra leisure space, or to provide additional accommodation for dependant family members. One of the main benefits of repurposing existing space is that you can create a home that meets your particular needs without the cost and inconvenience of moving to a new house.

The possibilities of what you can use the space for are practically endless. A vast number of homeowners do not use their garage for its original purpose, choosing to park their car on the road or drive- many garages are simply used as a dumping ground for garden toys and tools, maybe accommodating the washing machine and dryer, or as a home workshop; but the space garages offer can be transformed into a home cinema,additional playing space for a growing family, a home office, maybe a sauna or an additional bathroom, a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom for visitors and dependants(this is particularly useful where mobility issues are a concern), a hobby or craft room, or used to extend the kitchen and dining space currently available. In fact, if you can dream it, you can probably install it…

Before getting too carried away with a new project, there are a few considerations that need to be addressed to reduce stress, cost, and possible disappointment further down the line.Some of the most problematic issues are addressed below.

Now this is a complex one to answer, in the majority of cases, planning permission is not required as long as the work is only internal to the property and you are not enlarging the footprint of the garage or extending upwards; if this applies to your project, the best advice would be to call or email your local council planning department to check- this can be simply done and often after a quick chat they can give you the all clear to get started. It is worth nurturing a relationship with your local planning office as they can be a great source of information and advice if you hit any bumps in the road- it will also make sure you keep on the right side of current legislation.

Some properties have had their ‘permitted development rights’ removed which means that converting the garage, or any other part of the house, may be illegal. Any covenants or restricted development rights should have been made known to you during the conveyancing process when you bought your home, but again, check with your local planning office, or check your title deeds if you are unsure- this is most likely if youlive on a new housing development or within a conservation area.

If you live in a listed building, you will most likely need to obtain ‘listed building consent’ from your local authority.This process can be quite slow sometimes, and may be frustrating, but it is really important to remember that the legislation is there to protect buildings from poor quality or unsightly home improvements.

If you are converting your garage into ‘habitable’ space you will need approval of the standard of work and the materials usedunder Building Regulations. Building regulations cover the requirements for external and internal wall materials and finishes, electrics, drainage systems, windows and doors, replacing roofing materials on flat and pitched roofs, installing new or adding to an existing central heating system. As we can see, many elements of your garage conversion project will fall under building regs.

You can find out more about building regulationsfrom your local council offices and the UK government website has extensive information on all the latest planning regulations

It is important to remember that building regulations and planning permission are not the same- your home improvement project may fall under one or both of theserequirements- it is up to the homeowner to ensure all appropriate permissions have been sought and approved, and that you adhere to them. If you do not, you may be served with an enforcement notice requiring you to dismantle any changes and reinstate the conversion to its previous condition with the full cost liability on the homeowner.

Always contact your local planning office to get the ok from them before you engage a contractor to save everyone time, money, and perhaps most importantly, a whole load of undue stress and frustration.

The estimated cost for the average garage conversion is often worked out on an average £ per m2. Figures for 2020 were considered within the building industry to be around £750 per m2 including plastering, flooring, and decorating. This figure does not include professional fees, raising floor or ceiling heights, any ground works deemed necessary, installation or relocation of utility of services,or planning application costs.

The fixtures, fittings, and materials you choose will also have an impact on the final costings. While it may be tempting to set a minimalist budget, it is often worth investing a little more in materials that will last longer and improve the overall look and feel of the project. House renovations can be stressful,but the pressure ends once the transformation is complete; you owe it to yourself to be able to sit in your new living space and reflect on all the great decisions you made rather than dwell on regrets of cutting corners.

Yes, no, and maybe is the simple answer to this question.

Let me explain.. much of the value of a home is reliant on the ceiling price already established within your street and local area; this means that there comes a point at which whatever you do to improve your home you can only expect a certain return when you come to sell, having said that, extending the m2 of useable living space will overall increase the value of your property. A well thought out and well executed conversion using skilled tradespeople and good quality materials will hold its value, add appeal to your home, and give you the enjoyment and increased usability of your space.

This cost of conversion can also be offset against the huge savings financially from relocating, and the convenience of remaining in an area and home you love- and will reduce the upset of unwanted changes of school, or adding time to the work commute, or leaving friends and family in a community you are established in.

If a conversion project is not well thought out and completed using poor quality or cheap materials it will not add value to your home, the goal behind a garage conversion is to beautifully blend the new purpose of the space into your home, not look as if you have just popped a bed in the garage with some new carpet- while this solution may meet your immediate needs and may be perfect as a short term need, to add value the conversion needs to have benefitted from a strong element of investment.

The usual time frame to complete a garage conversion once local authority approval has been given, materials sourced, and tradespeople contracted ranges between 2 to 4 weeks, and around 6 weeks for it to be habitable,but obviously timings will depend on what is already in the space and how adventurous the upgrade is.

Many garages have a step down from the main house which you may choose to keep, or your project may work better to have the floor level raised to have one continuous level, this will add time to the project, but you may feel this investment is worth the time and money to really tie the two parts together.

Heating the garage will also be a consideration, you may choose to install underfloor heating or wall heaters,however, if the converted garage is to be used as an everyday extension of existing living space it may work out more practical and cost effective to extend the central heating.

Services such as electricity, water, and sewerage may need to be installed, and windows and doors may need upgrading or installing; these will all add to the build time but will add value and convenience to the end result.

One of our top tips is to remember that often the larger parts of a conversion that actually takes the least time. It is the smaller stuff that lengthens the timeline; for example, plastering the garage may only take a day; plasterboard can be dry within 3 days, yet backing plaster can take up to 6 days depending on thickness and humidity. ‘Off the shelf’ storage can be constructed and completed ready for use within a day, but a bespoke solution could take several days, especially if selecting real wood over fibreboard as the skills and techniques take longer if you select higher end, or natural products, and don’t forget screed flooring and decorating needs appropriate time to dry completely to reduce the risk of permanently damaging smooth surfaces while still wet. The bottom line is the more ambitious the conversion, the more time installation will take.

If you would like to find out more about how we can work with you to realise your garage conversion project, please call 07772 853299 to move one step closer to your dream home.

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