The Bigblog!

Ok, so here's the issues and probably the reasons I haven't even tried to do anything:

1) the garage is a stand alone single skin build with a pitched roof. Inside, the roof looks to have been done by someone who didn't know what they are doing. I'll provide pics. I suspect that it would need rebuilding, and to confirm that fear, a garage conversion company I contacted about 6 years ago pointed it out instantly.

2) The garage is located at the bottom of the garden. We live on a corner property, so there is very little security where the neighbors fence borders the bottom of our garden.

See pics:





I'm quite uneasy about putting my system in there and the Vinyl, as I don't live in the most *haven like* of areas, and whilst we haven't had an issue, making the garage suddenly look "posh" would draw unwanted attention

3) Heating......I know the suggestion of a convection heater or other sort has been mentioned, but we aren't far enough from the margin of financial disaster that running one of those would push us toward with today's energy price crisis. I'd need a more natural method and as of yet...I haven't got one.

4) Space and the amount of work required.....whilst the garage is significantly bigger than my listening room (21x11.5ft VS 9x11.5ft) it's all length, rather than width. Now, I know that gives me the opportunity to bring speakers Into the room a little and allow bass to develop, but it isnt giving me any major gains of width for soundstage etc. So, thinking that I may have to dig up the floor to Insulate it, re-lay it, bitumen pain the walls, rewire it, brick up the garage door, add 10cm on insulation to the exterior, water proof liner the outside, then feather edge it (so it looks like a big shed) then plasterboard the inside, plaster it, floor it, decorate it, acoustically treat it......to have only gained two foot in width but loads of length? It seems excessive, which leads me to the next point....



5) Cost Vs Gain. If money were no object, the aforementioned obstacles are null and void, but am I going to get the sort of room I want for the money, time and effort it's going to take?

Don't forget, I build all the Bigbottle and Avalon stuff In there, so I need somewhere else to do that too. Most likely a shed, and most likely another £3k for one big enough.

As you can see.....it's not as straightforward as it sounds.

Thanks Gary,

What am I looking for? A garage.....?

I'm browsing

That's good news. I'll have a look mate.

I already have the concrete base, which is finally a good bit of news.

Stick some sloar panels on the roof for free listening.

As small, super insulated building could be heated by a small, wall mounted air source heat pump. Mate has one on his 'garden shed'. Really reasonable to run if building is super insulated, which a new build should be.

I reckon the knock in down and start again could be the way. Or keep it as workshop and put a new hifi shed/room in?

One of my clients (garden design) built a large outdoor office more bespoke (using different trades) and it was cheaper than an 'off the shelf' design. Took longer and more hassle though.

Curve ball... What is the current downstairs layout of your house and what does the current hifi room become?

This kind of layout:

This is the "front garage"



This has been my preferred option, but is (as usual) the most expensive.

I'd like to knock it down and rebuild it the shape and size I want. UK law says I can build on the side of the house without planning permission, but only a building half the width of the house can be built.

So that's no good.

Planning permission can be sought but there is another ruling that dictates how close to the road that building can get....

The single storey build would be very close to that line, but I think it would be allowed, especially if I take the garage back to flush with the front of the house.

The think holding this back is the cost.....it's mega. And I haven't got mega money.

I think you're right Steve. It's always been in our mind to move somewhere "nice" but again, that's money we don't have too.

Our more realistic option is to free up some money when we remortgage in a couple of years and then do some remodelling.

Appreciate that Pete.

I reckon were two years off freeing up some money, so will revisit then.

Any plan I think of requires significant investment.

That's why I asked about layout. I reckon it's your best solution. Yes, it's expensive, but it future proofs the house and you can have exactly what you want. You will still have the workshop too. The money you spend is an investment too. Yes, it'll cost a lot, but do it right and you'll more than make it back in increased property value.

Money spent 'making the garage better' will maybe not be recouped in house value.

Borrow when you can and make an uber house, with your perfect music room. Yes it'll hurt financially, but that money won't be lost - just invested.

You're very fortunate to have that great plot.

Exciting times ahead!

Of course once you've finished it you'll have to rename the premises "Bigbottle Towers" or "Avalon Chase"

That’s very surprising.
Everything round here has gone ballistic.
But then everything that comes on the market gets rapidly sold.. even those ones we thought would never achieve the asking prices.
I guess just a function of supply and demand.