We have a large loft over our attached garage. We would like to
convert this garege loft space into an ensuite and dressing room. Does
anyone know which particular parts of building regulations would apply
? Not the staircase and fire regulations I would hope, but what about
floor loading etc. In any case does an ensuite or dressing rooms count
as habitable space ?

wrote in message
oups.com...
We have a large loft over our attached garage. We would like to
convert this garege loft space into an ensuite and dressing room. Does
anyone know which particular parts of building regulations would apply
? Not the staircase and fire regulations I would hope, but what about
floor loading etc. In any case does an ensuite or dressing rooms count
as habitable space ?

Just do it, who is going to know unless you advertise the fact?

wrote:

We have a large loft over our attached garage. We would like to

You may find that being over a garage will impose 30 min fire break
rules on the construction.

convert this garege loft space into an ensuite and dressing room. Does
anyone know which particular parts of building regulations would apply
? Not the staircase and fire regulations I would hope, but what about

Floor loading, sound insulation, and thermal insualtion requirements
will need to be met. Since it is not a second floor loft conversion you
are probably not entitled to some of the dispensations available for
insulation levels either.

floor loading etc. In any case does an ensuite or dressing rooms count
as habitable space ?

Ensuite is not a habitable room, not sure how they class a dressing
room. I would guess at it not being one.

--
Cheers,

John.

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jay51 wrote:

who is going to know unless you advertise the fact?

The person you try to sell it to?

--
Cheers,

John.

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jay51 wrote:


Just do it, who is going to know unless you advertise the fact?

The fire brigade & paramedics when they drag out the charred bodies?
Building & fire regs exist for very good reasons.


--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Thanks for the info so far. I have no intention of not doing it right,
I just what to know what part of right I have to do. Being more
specific, the current span of garage roof is 6.6m, on 4x2 timber (sorry
to mix units but thta is what size they are.). The joists are at 36cm
(14in) centres. I doubt that these are large enough to be a floor so
options are, bigger joists, (if so what size ), or an RSJ at mid span
(There are brick pillars on the garage wall at mid points thos that is
a clear option). If an RSJ is the best option by reducing span to
around 3.5m will the 4x2 serve or do I still need new joists. I have
tried superbeam, but I only have an iMac so the programme does not
work. Could anyone help by giving me an idea of the RSJ and joist
sizes. I will be using an engineer eventuallly but wanted to get a
feel for the size of the job first. (Knowledge is power etc) Thanks
very much - Lloyd

wrote:

Thanks for the info so far. I have no intention of not doing it right,
I just what to know what part of right I have to do. Being more
specific, the current span of garage roof is 6.6m, on 4x2 timber (sorry
to mix units but thta is what size they are.). The joists are at 36cm
(14in) centres. I doubt that these are large enough to be a floor so

That span is way to long really. (I take it there is some additional
support for the 4x2"s since at that length I am supprised they can hold
themselves up!)

options are, bigger joists, (if so what size ), or an RSJ at mid span
(There are brick pillars on the garage wall at mid points thos that is
a clear option).

Yes, cutting the span down is the way to go.

How wide is the garrage?

It may be that you could use a sizeable wood beam or a flitch beam (i.e.
slightly easier to work and handle) across it rather than needing a RSJ.

If an RSJ is the best option by reducing span to
around 3.5m will the 4x2 serve or do I still need new joists.

You still need new joists, but can get away with relatively small ones -
6x2" on 400mm c/c or better would be fine at that length and only a
floor to carry.

How are you for head room? One thing that springs to mind is that it
would probably be easier to put the cross beam in over the existing 4x2"
joists to save supporting, cutting, and re hanging them. Obviously that
could take the finished floor level up too high to meet those of the
existing first floor. You may be able to solve this if you could place a
a partition wall along the cross beam, then you can hang the new floor
joists below it on long hangers.

--
Cheers,

John.

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| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
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wrote:

Oooer John , the roof has been up for over 35 years so clearly the
joists are enough for current use. I have checked and there are 2

They will be "enough" but I would not risk putting much load on them!

lateral 6x2 runninng across the width of the roof space (5.2m). There

Right - that will help a little.

If I put a long beam across the garage (5.2m), at 90 degrees to current
4x2 joists, what size beam/rsj is required. (I would prefer wood is it
can be strong enough). Then can I put additional 6x 2 above and meet
the deflection requirements. (I would leave the 4x2 in place to save
work).

5.2 is going to be too long for wood or flitch beam - given that it will
be carrying some 26 joist ends if my sums are right... (at about 1.3 kN
per joist end)


Alternatively what would be the effect of 1 x rsj below the 4x2, then
additional 6x2 lateral beams on top of the existing 4x2 (90 degrees to
current joists) ? Not sure of the engineering effect, but very easy to
do.

You could do a RSJ below (perpendicular to, and at the mid span) the
4x2" and then new 8x2" or something poarallel to the 4x2"s but
interspaed between them.

--
Cheers,

John.

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| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
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| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On 14 Apr 2006 13:08:47 -0700, a particular chimpanzee named
randomly hit the keyboard and produced:

We have a large loft over our attached garage. We would like to
convert this garege loft space into an ensuite and dressing room. Does
anyone know which particular parts of building regulations would apply
? Not the staircase and fire regulations I would hope, but what about
floor loading etc. In any case does an ensuite or dressing rooms count
as habitable space ?

Yes.

The requirements that would apply to a loft conversion also apply to
your proposals. What you need to do to comply, however, is slightly
different on the basis that you're only converting a roof space into a
first floor room or rooms, and that the rooms are not sleeping
accommodation, and that the space is over a garage not another room.
--
Hugo Nebula
"If no-one on the internet wants a piece of this,
just how far from the pack have you strayed?"