HI ozbargain,
What to do to convert a double garage to a living space (2Bedrooms and 1 bathroom) in South-East Melbourne?
I called the council . They said i need building permit and draw up plan ?
No idea how I can go through this as no experience .
Can anyone give me an idea ? What I need to do ?
Thank you
Draw a plan, get a permit approved, build.
If you still have no idea, you'll need recommendations for a builder local to you.
The council said I can not draw myself , I need someone who registered .
You can draw a plan yourself, and then take it to a draftsman to draw it up formally. Then you can interview builders about doing the work, which will involve adding power, fire prevention, insulation and other things. They will also give you an idea about the zoning requirements and what other structural amendments need to be made to the existing building. It won't be cheap.
Will you be living in this or renting it out?
How many square meters is the garage?
Is the garage higher or lower than street level?
When you say living - do you also want a bathroom and kitchen or just turn it into a room?
Thanks TheBilly ,
I will rent it out, I want bathroom , and just a place for microwave and quick meal preparing. Garage is higher than street level.
Ok the typical process is to:
a) Council
b) Private certifier
A private certifier is usually more easy going on the regulations
Whoever you went to, then gives an approval to proceed, depending on who it is that approval can be in the form of a construction certificate (certifier) or da approval (council)
Just a few points to note:
For example; a garage slab is not suitable as living area slab so this will need to be upgraded, living/habitable spaces require a percentage of natural light so windows will need to be cut out, will a council or certifier allow such a small space to be converted to begin with, adding a bathroom will mean cutting holes in your existing slab and potentially trenching around the building.
Engage a cluey architect, pre-set your budget and tell him what you want and how much money you have to spend.
just something simple… to get you thinking…
the garage I assume will not have existing plumbing… and will be a concrete slab on ground.
depending on where your existing sewer line is, it can be very expensive to dig trenches and chasing concrete floor to lay pipes to connect to existing…
your best option is to engage a builder who will know what you need to do straight away give you a ball park figure on construction costs.
you will then decide whether it is worth to do it..
if after speaking to a buildier and you still want to do it… you would of learnt a lot of stuff in the process. and you will know what to ask other builders.
like you said,, you don't have experience it is better if go to a builder that has a turn key solution for you… building, drawing plans, engaging other trades and council submission.
thank you so much . any good builder in south east suburbs that you know?
Get a draftsman to do up some basic plans to be able to get a planning permit first.
If approved by council you then need to get a building permit which draftsman should be able to help you with for a small charge.
Once building permit approved get a builder or complete paperwork to do owner builder and get tradesman in as necessary
How old is the house?
the garage is just build around 2008
No idea how I can go through this as no experience .
Try to go to some open houses. Look for the ones that don't list outbuildings. One can learn a lot.
Tear down the wall between the kitchen and the living room