Getting rid of the garage door………..

[FatgadgiParticipant @fatgadgi]

Hi Pete – slight variation on the themes above, but my two penny worth …..

I kept my up and over doors and skinned them on the inside and added insulation between them. I then added additional rubber sealing all around the gaps. They still open normally.

I then added additional insulated panels on the inside. These were made in two parts per door so that I could manoeuvre them and they were well sealed, but made to be removed for occasional machines to be installed when required, although this is not quick. This does have the added advantage that nobody is going to break in via those doors without working for it and making a lot of noise !!

The whole garage is insulated and is kept toasty warm and condensation free all year round. No regrets.

– Will

[peak4Participant @peak4]

And another variation on the theme of keeping the a door, but in this case replacing it with a sectional, rather than an up and over.

A sectional door works in a similar fashion to a roller shutter, but without needing the headroom for the roller. Thus ut can be opened without any need for you to move the car.

I've just moved house and had a second garage built, the original one having a pair of conventional up and over doors. I.e. I can't park close to them, whilst being able to open the doors.

The new garage has a vertical opening sectional door 40mm thick and insulated. It suppresses noise to save disturbing the neighbours, as well as allowing close parking.
You might find that with one of those, the door does actually get used in the summer. It's also very good for blowing out dust with a garden leaf blower, though my neighbours are more distant than yours.

Mine came from GarageDoorsOnLine who were friendly, helpful and well priced.

https://www.garagedoorsonline.co.uk/shop/Sectional+Door

Bill

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Andrew Johnston on 25/05/2019 13:00:38:

You need to be careful, removing the garage door may be seen as a change of use by the local council. As far as I'm aware there's nothing to stop you fitting out a workshop in a garage. But removing the door and replacing it with a wall/window may be seen as an attempt to convert the garage to a habitable room, in which planning permission is required.

Andrew

No it doesn't, as long as you don't plan to make it a separate residence.

http://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/25/garage_conversion

I commend the planning portal to anyone with planning queries.

Neil

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

My workshop is virtually sealed and light-tight. At least 100mm insulation all round, except thinner on the access door. The lighting costs are less than the otherwise heating needs, by far.

I use a desiccant dehumidifier (only one, currently) as a heat source and for humidity control during the cooler months. Can be cooler in summer months, too. I have a fridge ‘cooling panel’, waiting in the wings, should I need to install it for summer cooling duties.

I had to move in my Centec 2B after dismantling it (too heavy, otherwise!). Nothing wider than 250mm for a 2/2A or 225mm for a 2B, I think. Stand is a different matter, dependent on type!

I have a sectional door. A roller shutter, if space permits, would allow greater roof storage. My lighting is totally of LED type.

A solar powered installation should be considered for the household – can still be viable even with ‘feed in tariffs’ no longer available. No ‘regulation need’ for a ‘certified’ PV installer or new kit, now that the FITS have gone. Only real difficulty is fixing panels to the roof – and at least getting the electrical installation signed off by a qualified electrician.

Cooling and lighting, in a PV-installed dwelling, could cost virtually nothing on the leccy bill during the spring to autumn period.

[Malcolm Jones 1Participant @malcolmjones1]

Neil it right you do not need planning permission to convert a garage in to habitable space but you will need Building Regulation approval.

Malcolm

[MortyParticipant @morty]

My Wife may turn it into a permanent residence………………………….!

Pete

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

On the question of access, my workshop (a subdivision of the garage) has a standard door – 800 mm? – and both a Myford S7 on stand and a VMB went in through the door (VMB then got poppeed on a home made wooden stand).

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by not done it yet on 26/05/2019 07:21:16:

A solar powered installation should be considered for the household – can still be viable even with ‘feed in tariffs’ no longer available. No ‘regulation need’ for a ‘certified’ PV installer or new kit, now that the FITS have gone. Only real difficulty is fixing panels to the roof – and at least getting the electrical installation signed off by a qualified electrician.

Still available, just no longer as generous as they were (by a country mile).

Neil

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Was under the impression that feed in tariffs no longer available for new PV installs after the end of March 2019, I had my installation completed in Dec 2018 and was urged to make sure it was before end of March 2019 because fits for new installs ceased to be available then. I may be wrong, always am according to wife, worth checking before committing to a project.

Dave W

[Author]

Posts