The garages of the 1960's townhouses have stayed the same size - as cars have got bigger. Few garages in the townhouses are still used for keeping cars in them and at the same time they are cold and draughty. With the internal garage walls being so thin, lots of heat will be lost from the hallway and the back room. The removal of the old asbestos ceiling can be a worry, but various different solutions to this issue have been employed. Conversion of the garage to living space - if done to modern building regulations - should keep the ground floor noticeably warmer.
These homeowners are happy to talk to you about their converted garages:
- Ann (ann2024@gmx.com) had her garage converted a couple of years ago to create a useful space and has noticed how much warmer it has made the ground floor. She gained valuable experience working with her builders and is happy to show you the results. She also had her loft professionally insulated, (Westover Road).
- James (steelhamster@hotmail.com) chose to open up the ground floor by removing both the internal walls. He took the opportunity to insulate the floor, walls and ceiling at the same time. While not inviting visitors, James has excellent photos of the work in progress to send you, along with answers to your questions, if you e-mail him.
- Gareth: gf8856@gmail.com converted his garage himself. The work complies with bulding regulations and includes a practical way of dealing with the asbestos ceiling. He will send you more information about the garage, and/or his experience of living with an electyric car by e-mail
You may also like to consider the experiences of those in the "Henbury Hill: Garage insulation and draughtproofing" 'house'.
