Garage as a residential building: equipment features, internal structure and insulation

Adviсe

One of the new trends in the field of budget housing is the conversion of a garage into a living space. This solution is especially popular in large cities and resort areas, where apartment rental services are very high. Making a house out of a garage is not an easy task. Even more difficult is the task of making the garage house spacious and comfortable. The question of how to convert a technical room into an apartment interests many garage property owners. The main reason for this decision is the reluctance to pay high rent for urban housing or the lack of their own living space.

Options for converting a garage into living space

There are several options for making a residential garage with your own hands like an apartment.

1. Extension to the garage. The option is permissible only if there is sufficient space on the land plot;
2. Attic extension over garage. Thanks to this option, you can save useful area of ​​the site. To ensure comfortable living conditions in the constructed attic, it is necessary to equip a high-quality ventilation system and carry out additional sealing of the joining seams.
3. Refurbishment of the garage interior. It is the fastest way to build a room for residential purposes.

The main condition for the implementation of each of the options remains a decent level of living conditions in any weather conditions.

Specifics of arrangement of living space

Even before starting work on refurbishing the space, it is necessary to obtain information about what criteria must be observed in residential premises. If properly arranged, a garage apartment can be used as:

• Sleeping place;
• Office space;
• Music salon;
• Workshop;
• Game room areas;
• Residential areas.

Advice! To ensure warmth in winter and adequate ventilation in summer, you need to seek advice from a specialized organization. An unprofessional solution to the problem of heat exchange indoors can cause discomfort during your stay.

When planning to convert a garage space into a living space, you should first consider the interior arrangement so that the interior becomes light and spacious enough. It is important to ensure the free flow of domestic water. To do this, the new concrete screed is raised above the ground level. There are two options for filling the floor:

1. A layer of heat insulation and wooden logs are laid on the base, which are covered with the finishing floor covering;
2. A new concrete layer is poured onto the old base and clinker or tiles are laid on it.

When finishing, the ceiling height is taken into account. If the design of load-bearing metal profiles on the roof allows, the ceiling height can be increased, provided there is no upper floor. You can increase the free space using a vaulted ceiling device.

What you should pay attention to?

When creating a residential area in the garage, it is recommended to provide hydro- and thermal insulation inside or outside the structure. The external method involves installation with siding, clapboard with insulation made of mineral wool or polystyrene foam. It is possible to cover the body with thermal panels with various finishing material options. Internal insulation is carried out using an insulator, which is covered with plastic panels or plasterboard.

The method of opening the gate is of no small importance. The functionality of the interior space and the heat loss coefficient of the room will depend on this factor. Some garage owners are replacing their gates with panoramic window units, which give the room a modern and aesthetic appearance. The installation of panoramic or ordinary windows is a prerequisite for successfully passing the construction examination. Even small changes inside will help change the garage beyond recognition and make it look like a city apartment.

Bathroom equipment

Arranging a sanitary facility is an important step in creating comfortable living conditions. For the bathroom and kitchen you will need fully functioning autonomous or centralized communications. In some cases, communications equipment is the most difficult stage of construction work. In order for utility networks to function properly, they must be installed by a qualified specialist.

Distance indicators according to the rules

To avoid problems with neighbors when carrying out individual developments on your site, you need to adhere to simple rules:

1. The distance from the windows of a residential building next door is at least six meters. In the event of a fire, this is enough to prevent the fire from spreading to the house.
2. At least one meter from any nearby structures. The car should not disturb anyone.
3. If there is a house on the site, the distance from it to the garage must be at least three meters. The bulk of such decisions are made due to fire safety. The firefighter's vehicle must travel to the source of the fire without hindrance.
4. Fencing the site is not the last thing, because there may be a neighbor’s building behind it. The current and recommended distance is one meter.

Sometimes, when obtaining permission to build, architects take these distances into account and may not give the go-ahead. Therefore, before starting to build a garage, all parameters are calculated.

Heating system and features of wall insulation

Installing a built-in gas fireplace in the room will make the interior more modern. Heating in the garage can operate from:

• Electricity;
• Solid fuel;
• Steam environment;
• Natural gas (requires the involvement of gas service specialists).

To retain heat indoors, it is recommended to line the interior with thermal insulation material. The choice of materials is based on the characteristics of the wall material. For brick walls, any heat insulator suitable for use in a residential area is suitable.

Advice! When choosing insulation, special attention should be paid to its thickness. The thickness indicator depends on the walls - the thinner they are, the thicker the thermal insulation layer will be required.

To insulate a garage with your own hands, use:

• Styrofoam;
• Minvata;
• Glass wool;
• Reflective thermal insulators;
• Plaster;
• Thermal insulating dyes.

Advice! The most inexpensive way to insulate garage walls is to glue sheets of foam plastic to the walls, after first cleaning and degreasing the surface of the walls. The joints and resulting gaps are closed using polyurethane foam.

Is it possible to register in a residential garage?

With a competent legal approach, it is quite possible to register in a converted garage house if the property is officially recognized as having a residential purpose. Permission for registration actions will be obtained if sanitary standards are met inside the building and all household systems are coordinated. After obtaining the appropriate permits, you can apply to local authorities to obtain residential status.

To do this, you will need an application, confirmation of ownership of the object, permission for communications equipment, confirmation of compliance with sanitary rules, as well as a reconstruction project. A response to the application will be accepted within 10 working days. In case of refusal, you can appeal it in court. Converting a garage into a residential complex is a very new trend in the real estate industry, but its prevalence is rapidly growing, especially in metropolitan areas and resort towns.

Building a private house with a garage: useful tips

When it comes to living outside the city, on their own plot, people are increasingly beginning to pay attention to the available opportunities for building a garage space. Of course, a private house with a garage is very convenient. In the city, it is important to have a place for a car close to home. And outside the city this is doubly necessary: ​​the owners come to their own cottage, can immediately put the car in the garage, and, if necessary, inspect it and repair it right on the spot.

Of course, for the competent construction of a country house with a garage, it is desirable to have a well-thought-out project. Sometimes future owners turn to professional help, and in other cases they create plans and drawings on their own. But a project is needed: it provides for all the main characteristics of the premises, their key design and technical features. A good solution is to purchase a ready-made project from the masters to suit your taste, or order the creation of an individual project taking into account your wishes.

Today we will take a closer look at various projects of private houses with garages. We will learn how to create them correctly, what to pay attention to first, and how not to make a mistake when choosing a specific option.

Comfort

Finally, a few words about whether a garage is an equivalent replacement for an apartment. Is it possible to live comfortably in it? Quite! And from the photographs presented above you can see this. At first glance, you can’t even believe that these are garages. Many apartments are inferior to them in terms of comfort and furnishings. But, of course, in order to furnish a garage comfortably and beautifully, you will need a lot of financial investment and patience.

However, from an ordinary “car house” you can make anything you want: a children’s room, a professional kitchen, a dance studio, a work office and even an art workshop. The most important thing is a competent approach, as well as the presence of imagination and quality materials. And received permission from the relevant authorities. But even without it, you can live in a garage, although without registration.

Features and benefits of projects

First of all, we will focus on some of the features of projects of private houses with garages. Of course, there are many benefits to having an attached or built-in garage. You can access the garage directly from your home. There is also an excellent opportunity to provide a heating, water supply and lighting system, running it directly from the living space. It is convenient, economical and very effective. These are the advantages that experts pay attention to.

• The level of comfort increases noticeably. Let’s say that it will become easy and simple to bring large items from a car into the house. In addition, in unfavorable weather conditions, it is especially convenient to get into the garage directly from home, without going outside. True, in this case it is worthwhile to provide for remote radio control of the gate.
• Economical. Even during the construction process, savings are already noticeable. Let's say you can save a lot when building a foundation, and also make one adjacent wall. Of course, significant savings are also ensured when installing heating and water supply systems, since they will be shared with the house.

Of course, the house design must be well thought out and specified in detail. It is competent design that largely determines the level of comfort, functionality, and final savings.

Recommendations

Masters highlight the most significant points that must be taken into account when building a garage. Let's highlight the most important things.

• A tempting option is to make a garage space in the basement, on the ground floor. This allows you to significantly save space and area on the site. However, one point is important here: you need to accurately determine the budget for building a garage in advance. Remember that you will have to carry out significant foundation and excavation work. In addition, it is necessary to organize a slope of approximately 12 degrees at the entrance to the garage, and in winter this path will have to be constantly cleaned and prevent the formation of ice. It's not all that simple. Ultimately, such a garage on a plinth may require more investment than an attached one, so be extremely careful with the calculations.
• Experts also advise: do not try to immediately build a garage with your own hands. It is important to think through and calculate everything in detail, and strictly follow construction technologies. For example, it is necessary to ensure safety and environmental cleanliness, that is, to completely prevent the possibility of exhaust gases entering the living space.

Everything must be calculated accurately in advance. It is best to turn to professionals, because if the project is drawn up incorrectly, the costs can be significantly higher.

Separate

The disadvantage of a separate garage is that you will have to build the entire structure from scratch, install the required communications, and these are expenses.

1. No installation of forced ventilation or sound insulation is required.
2. Dirt will not get into the house.
3. Snow removal is insignificant.
4. If the gate faces the street, then it is easier to open it.
5. Above the garage you can build a second floor for a workshop.

And another option is a simple canopy. Its cost is insignificant, and its protective function is complete.

People's reviews are very different: everyone takes into account personal needs, the dimensions of their car and the number of cars in the family. If the garage is built-in and there are two cars in it, the ventilation load is large. For others, it is important to get straight from home into a warm car without going outside. There are many opinions, and everyone decides for themselves which garage to build in a private house.

Built-in garages

Garage premises can be built directly into the residential complex of a private house. Garages are also attached to cottages. When it comes to a built-in garage, there are ample opportunities for rational use of space and proper placement of rooms with various functions. In addition, there are multi-level buildings. For example, in a one-story house with a garage there are not as many ways to rationally utilize space as in a two-story building.

Single-level buildings

One-story houses have their significant advantages. There is no need to build expensive stairs or passages. The area will be used quite economically with proper zoning. The craftsmen also offer a good option: you can separate the garage from the living rooms with technical rooms, a bathroom and a kitchen.

Multi-level buildings

Projects of houses with multi-level garages are of particular relevance when the land plot is too small to satisfy the living space needs of all family members. Then a two-story house with a garage can be an excellent solution, since the usable area will almost double.

Houses with a high base

An excellent solution is to build a house with a high base, setting up a garage space on the ground floor. This will save space and rationally zone all available space. Some owners are happy to choose house designs where the garage is located in a high basement and there is a terrace above it. You can have a great rest there, even live in the summer.

Cottages made of timber

Projects of wooden houses with attached garages are in demand. If you invite a competent craftsman, he will be able to create a rational, practical, but at the same time impressive from an aesthetic point of view, design of a log house with a garage. But here it is important to take care of safety: the material is specially treated with fire retardants.

Using foam blocks

The popularity of foam blocks as the main building material is growing. This is no accident. It is from foam blocks that you can build a two-story house with a garage at minimal cost, while the load on the foundation will be moderate, since the material weighs little. Consequently, less time and money will be spent on foundation work.

House with garage and sauna

More and more people prefer to have their own bathhouse or sauna in their home. The design takes into account the placement of the sauna block and garage space. For example, on the ground floor there is a living room, a sauna and a garage, or a dining room with a bathhouse and a garage. And now the living rooms are moved to the second level.

Also, a competent specialist will tell you how to create a project for a small, narrow area. For example, you can make a good room above a narrow garage box by providing insulation.

When there are greater opportunities, it makes sense to build a house on two floors. Of course, in a two-story house with a garage, you can place everything perfectly, use the space wisely and zone the rooms in accordance with their purpose. Experts note that it is when dividing into levels that there is an excellent chance to create comfortable zones for each family member.

Be extremely careful when choosing a specific project. Also think in advance about how you will use the garage space. Of course, when you plan to constantly carry out auto repair work in the garage and use professional equipment, it is better to abandon the built-in or attached garage to comply with safety requirements. But a standard garage space can very well fit directly into a residential complex. The main thing is to try to combine reliability and economy, safety and functionality.

Initial design

To start designing a residential building with a garage, you need to carefully work out all the load-bearing elements:

• The main element in the construction of a residential brick house is the foundation. This is the initial stage. First, the soil, freezing depth in the construction area, as well as the presence/absence of groundwater or its possible appearance are analyzed. These indicators are extremely important for deciding the type of foundation. But if the garage is built separately from the residential building, then the foundation can be made not so strong, which will give real savings in money and labor costs;
• if there is weak soil, it must be strengthened. There are several ways to do this: use sand and crushed stone when laying out the cushion, deepening the foundation.

The main difference between a brick house with a garage is the presence of an increased load on the foundation, in contrast to foam concrete and wooden buildings. But the foundation is not the most important element in design. Particular attention should also be paid to the thickness of the external walls. It is usually at least 80 centimeters. Building a brick house with a garage in the basement is a very expensive undertaking. But we will try to find a way to make this construction more economical.

Foundation quality as an aspect of the choice of superstructure material

During the construction of the garage, hardly anyone thought that this building would become the main building for the construction of the second floor. Consequently, the strength of the foundation is in question: whether it can support a two-story garage or not.

First of all, you should evaluate the design features of the garage building: are there any cracks, are there any discrepancies in the joints of the walls, etc.

The foundation must be laid below the freezing level of the soil, but also taking into account the depth of groundwater. The strength and durability of the structure itself depends on the quality of this structural element.

Ideally, a brick garage is built on a strip-type foundation, buried 1-1.5 meters into the ground.

For reference! In the northern regions, the foundation depth is about 2-2.5 m. This is due to the fact that the level of ground freezing in these areas is much greater than in the central regions.

In this case, it is realistic to build a second floor above the brick garage. True, many qualified specialists recommend limiting yourself to foam blocks in these conditions.

If the strength of the existing structure is in question, then it is better to give preference to a lighter material:

It is also worth noting that buildings of this type require a gable roof. Thanks to this solution, the melting of snow and other precipitation is accelerated, which eliminates loads on the walls and foundation.

What else should you know?

You can start planning only after taking into account several important nuances. Here are the main ones:

• It will not be possible to gasify a garage. The boiler must be placed in a separate extension (with a volume of at least 15 cubic meters). In addition, you will have to obtain permission for this from Gorgaz.
• There must be at least 5 meters from the garage to the road. And between buildings - from 4 m or more.
• The living room should be at least 12 square meters. m. Bedroom – 8 sq. m. Kitchen – 6 sq. m. Bathroom and hallway - 1.8 sq. m. m. Toilet – 1 sq. m.
• If the garage is wooden, then there should be at least 15 m to the next building made of this material.

However, as you can see, there are no supernatural requirements. Nowadays gas is easily replaced by electricity, and the area is standard, as for a 1-room apartment. And it would be uncomfortable to live in housing with less space.

Attic over garage or box-shaped superstructure?

We generally believe that an attic extension is cheaper than a box superstructure. At the same time, builders, based on practice, claim the opposite, since modern consumables for insulating this kind of structure are quite expensive.

In some cases, a high-quality residential attic superstructure is more expensive than a 4-corner box with a built-up roof.

When choosing a two-story garage project, you should be guided by the following criteria:

1. Aesthetics. Compared to a box-shaped superstructure, the attic will have a more harmonious and attractive appearance.
2. Functional. The attic extension can be used both as additional storage space for tools and for living. True, in the latter case you will have to spend money on insulating the structure being built, which can incur considerable costs. Therefore, it is advisable to use a box structure as housing.

The choice of the type of superstructure depends on financial capabilities, the specifics of the structure being built and its purpose.

Types of roof of attic superstructures

Before we talk about how to build a two-story garage, let's consider what type of attic is built as a superstructure on the garage. The most popular options are structures with single-pitched and gable roofs.

Let's take a closer look at the characteristics of various types of roofing devices:

1. Single pitch roof. The most cost-effective and easy-to-use roofing option. The main thing is to make the angle of the structure convenient for the removal of snow and other precipitation. Otherwise, it may not withstand the load and break.
2. Gable roof with symmetrical pitches. One of the inexpensive types of roofs that can be used to equip attic extensions. As a result, this project will look like a house from a child’s drawing.
3. Gable roofs with rafters at different levels are also called asymmetrical in construction. From a design point of view, such projects look very interesting, unbroken. At the same time, during the construction of this roof, calculations are required, since this is not a completely typical type of development. Therefore, before using this idea, be sure to consult with qualified developers.
4. Broken type, half-hip. It is also one of the popular types of roofing, due to which you can slightly increase the volume of the room. The implementation of such an idea is a rather labor-intensive process, since it requires installation of the rafter system at angles and their correct fixation.
5. Roofs with external dormer windows. They differ from the classic gable type only in the installation of vertical dormer windows on the surface of the roof itself.

The main material in the construction of attic superstructures is timber. Due to this, the second floor, erected above the garage, will be both strong and light, without putting a large load on the foundation and walls of the garage itself.

Construction of an attic: a step-by-step guide

Before starting construction work, it is necessary to draw up a design for the superstructure. It can be found on the Internet or compiled using the services of specialized offices.

After the attic project with a gable roof or any other roof is ready, we move on to the next stage of construction - the procurement of all the necessary materials.

These include:

• roofing decking;
• lathing that will support the roof;
• timber, with the help of which the structure itself is erected and the mauerlat - supports for the rafter system of the building;
• diagonal bevels and supports;
• insulating material.

After preparing everything necessary, we move on to the construction of the structure itself:

1. First of all, we are engaged in the installation of the Mauerlat, installing it along the entire perimeter of the garage. In this case, most often, timber with a section of 100x100 mm is used.
2. Using self-tapping screws and metal corners, we assemble and fix the frame of the future roof. We install the beams between the posts in increments of 2 m.
3. We fix the structure with jumpers, placing them on top of the racks.
4. After this, the lower rafters are secured: we drill grooves in the bases of the beams, which ensure their attachment to the mauerlat. At the same stage, it is necessary to cut off the upper part of the beams at an inclined angle.
5. Next, we nail a sheathing made of boards or plywood onto the rafters. We fix the waterproofing on top of it using staples. We immediately lay a vapor barrier and another layer of waterproofing.

All that remains is to install the roofing and window frames along with double-glazed windows, if required by the project.

Brick or block superstructure

If you want to build a room above the garage for full-time living in it, then it is better to give preference to a lightweight structure made from the same beams, panels and insulation. But in this case, the main problem with such superstructures is rodents, which often inhabit niches and a layer of insulating material.

To avoid such unpleasant moments, it would be preferable to construct the second floor from materials that are more durable and dense in structure:

Afterwards, the walls are equipped with a rafter system according to a similar scheme as in the previous version of the superstructure.

If there are doubts about the load-bearing capacity of the walls, then there are several options for strengthening them:

• drive iron piles;
• weld corrugated sheets on top of the masonry;
• arrange formwork around the perimeter of the building;
• fill the floor with concrete screed;
• insulate walls;
• erect a second row of walls around the entire perimeter of the building.

With this approach, the second floor will turn out great, but with one significant drawback - it will cost a pretty penny.

Read on to learn how to ventilate and install light in a built second floor above a garage.

Ventilation and power supply device in the superstructure

After installing a two-story garage, it’s time to move on to equipping the attached room with a staircase and installing a floor surface. The inside of the room is plastered, and the walls are painted in any color you like.

Other interior finishing options are possible, but most of them entail an increase in load on the foundation and walls of the underlying room. And this, in turn, can lead to divergence of the walls and subsidence of the foundation, which will negatively affect the durability of the structure being built and its strength characteristics.

In principle, even if the superstructure is equipped for living in it, these communications should also be taken care of. But if the room will be used only for storing tools and work equipment, then there is no need for communications.

There are several options for ventilation in rooms of this kind:

1. Installation of valves on doors and windows of the room.
2. Exhaust device under the ceiling.

To ensure good traction, many experienced builders advise equipping superstructures with special insulated sandwich channels.

The duct of such an exhaust system is led to the roof and is equipped with a hood, as well as a protective mesh, thanks to which it will be possible to prevent precipitation, large particles of dirt, beetles and rodents from entering the room.

Heating of such extensions is best organized using fan heaters, called heat guns, and electric heaters. In order for heating equipment to operate without interruption and not cause a fire, it is extremely important to take care of the quality of the electrical system.

If we are talking about a newly created electrical system, then it is advisable to create a pair of circuits in the superstructure: the first will be used for sockets, the second for lighting. In addition, it is recommended to place 16A circuit breakers on the DIN rail. The electrical network cable system is hidden in special cable channels.

Also, if possible, it is better to give preference to energy-saving lamps and LED strips: they are economical and do not pose a big threat to fire safety.

Important points

In order for a person to conveniently use the parking lot of his car, it must be located within 500 meters. When choosing the size of a garage or any other building, it is worth remembering that mopeds, motorcycles, and bicycles may appear in a personal vehicle fleet; they also require room. For the construction of a one-story building, the calculation is 30 meters per unit of equipment.

There are standards for a garage in a private house that meet all safety requirements. One of them is fire, as this happens most often. The SNiP documents specify several classes, depending on the location of the structure:

1. The first category is buildings that are located on private plots. But they are not always classified as explosive.
2. The second category, which includes private buildings of cooperative ownership. They should be classified according to the level of explosion and fire hazard. Because such garages are equivalent to warehouses.
3. The third group is parking lots. It all depends on the number of cars inside. They can be very different in size and location. Equipment is installed inside to create fireproof conditions.
4. Garage boxes. Here it is worth paying attention to the substances used inside - gasoline, lubricants and disinfectants. In addition, a person responsible for safety precautions is appointed. Protective devices and fireproof structures are installed.

Is it possible to legalize an extension over a garage?

So, we have already figured out how to build a second floor in the garage. Now let's look at the legal aspect of this issue.

Currently, every change to an already erected building must be legalized. That is, in the case of expanding the area of ​​the premises and carrying out other actions related to changing the configuration and area of ​​the building, you must have legal permission to maintain a detailed work plan.

As legal practice shows, today it is extremely difficult to obtain permission to retrofit a garage with a second floor. Even if you have all the necessary documents confirming ownership of the structure and land, it is not always possible to legalize its conversion.

At the project approval stage, it becomes necessary to provide certain evidence that the structure being constructed does not in any way infringe on the rights of other persons. Also, to obtain permission, you will need to have a superstructure project approved by the architectural bureau.

In most cases, the addition of a second floor above the garage goes through all stages of legalization during the judicial review of the case after the superstructure has already been erected.

Summarizing all of the above, I would like to summarize:

1. Construction of a two-story garage, or rather an addition to an existing second-floor structure, is not such a labor-intensive process. However, it requires compliance with a number of rules and conventions, starting from calculating the foundation for its strength and ability to withstand additional load from the superstructure and ending with the legal legitimation of the second floor being built.
2. In addition, in the process of creating a two-story garage, it is worth thinking about the correct structure of the foundation support, the construction of strong and reliable walls, as well as the preparation of the attic for the selected tasks.
3. You should also decide on the materials and design of the roof. Before starting construction work, it is important to draw up a competent construction plan, noting doors, windows, communications.

We hope the information provided will help you achieve your goals in the best possible way. I wish you success!

conclusions

To avoid becoming a victim of scammers, you need to study the available information about the selected garage and the land underneath it. Sources of information:

• public cadastral map;
• extract from the Unified State Register of Real Estate;
• local administration website;
• constituent papers of GSK.

It is better to choose a building for which there are registration documents. It is very good if the land plot under it is registered as the personal property of the seller.

Purchasing a GSK membership allows you to use the box. With this option, it is possible to register it as property.

Purchasing without documents is a risky investment. It is better to offer the owner assistance in collecting and decorating them, and then officially buy the building.

The transaction is recognized as valid after signing the purchase and sale agreement. The right to property arises only when it is registered in the register.