Garage Planning
Not everyone wants technical data for their building, but for those that do, you should be able to find further information here.
Garage Dimensions
Deciding which garage is the right size to meet your needs can be daunting and isn’t always governed by how much space you have. This handy guide shows all the external, internal and clear dimensions for each building within our range to help with your decision making process.
Internal Floor Area
In order to ascertain whether you need Building Regulation Approval, amongst other things, you will need to see if your building is over the internal floor area allowed under the regulations.
The other items you may need to take into account will be found on the government website, Planning Portal. Please note the planning portal only covers England and Wales. If you live in Scotland you will need to contact your Local Authority.
Below you can download a list of the internal areas depending on the size of your building.
Computer Aided Drawings (CAD)
Our CAD drawing service is available to anyone who needs to submit drawings for Local Authority Approval.
Below are is an example of the type of drawing we will provide. We will provide a similar drawing but for your specific project, simply tick the box on your order form. Drawings requested after a building is ordered are usually supplied free of charge. Drawings requested prior to an order being placed may be chargeable.
Base Design
Sectional concrete garages and buildings are very heavy. As a result, all of our buildings require a concrete base. Unfortunately we cannot build on block paving, flagstone paving or tarmac. If you are unsure about the location of your garage/building, your local Lidget Compton agent will be able to help. In many cases they will also be able to provide you with a free site survey so you can find out exactly what you need and perhaps more importantly, what will fit!
It is important to bear this in mind when costing your garage, if you do not have a suitable base you will have to factor in this cost as well.
Concrete garage bases should be perfectly flat, square and level. The picture below shows the preparation for a good solid base.
Ideally your concrete garage base should be 6″ (150mm) wider and 6″ (150mm) longer than the external dimensions of your building. It should also be chamfered slightly around the edges, this is to allow any rain or water to run away from the garage and off the base. This will help to prevent any water ingress underneath the garage panels.
The design of the base should be suitable to the local soil conditions. While your agent can give you advice on most aspects of your concrete garage purchase they not be able to advise you on this. However, normally they can provide the service of refurbishing your existing base or putting in a new base.
For more information about garage bases, read our Blog on How to Build a Garage Concrete Base.
Garage Planning Permission
The rules regarding Planning Permission are reasonably simple, but the interpretation of them does vary from authority to authority.
Visit the government’s Planning Portal, where you will be able to see what is required.
Cost of a Garage
The cost of a garage can vary enormously depending on a number of factors. Firstly, the material the garage is made of will likely be the biggest factor. The most expensive type of garage is traditional brick built and could cost in excess of £20,000. Timber built garages are less expensive than brick built but can still be expensive and are not as robust as brick or concrete. Concrete garages are by far the most cost effective way of building a new garage, for example our standard pent garages start at less than £3,000 (delivery charges will apply in some areas).
The cost of a garage will also be affected obviously by the size but also by the type and style of building chosen. The building specification will also affect the cost of a garage, for example anthracite fascia boards are a more expensive option than standard treated timber. So it is important to look carefully at what you need the garage for to work out the costs.
Garage Function
One of the most important considerations when planning a garage is what function it is required to perform. Do you plan to keep a car in it, use it for storage or convert it to a man-cave or she shed? The garage use can determine what type of garage best suits your need. Consider if you need the building to be attached to your house or detached. A garage attached to the house is generally a good solution where space is limited. If the garage is to be located close to the road side then a pent mansard with attractive tile effect front elevation might be the answer. These are just a couple of examples of how the function of the building can determine which type or style of garage will best suit your needs. More information on our entire range can be found in the Our Buildings section.