Not every garage conversion starts with knocking down walls and rebuilding from scratch. Sometimes, you’ve got to work with what’s allowed—and in this case, local restrictions shaped the whole job.
Our client needed a private, insulated office space at home, but the flat’s leasehold rules didn’t allow full removal or bricking in of the garage door. That meant one thing: we had to build smart—from the inside out.
Challenge: Keeping the Garage Door
The biggest limitation? No permission to remove or block up the garage door. That set the tone for the entire conversion. But as always, there’s a way if you know your materials and method.
We started by sealing and insulating the garage door internally using YBS General Purpose ThermaWrap—a lightweight multi-foil that reflects radiant heat back into the room. This formed the inner skin behind the door without breaking any rules.
Inner Shell: Block Wall & Timber Framing
Next came a new interior wall: 100mm aerated concrete blocks were laid just inside the line of the garage opening. This gave us both mass and structure—great for soundproofing too. Behind this we framed out with 4×2 treated timber, creating a full cavity which we then packed with insulation before cladding in plasterboard.
The boards were then fully tape-and-jointed, sanded, and painted to give a seamless finish. If you didn’t know where the garage door had been, you’d never guess.
Floor Build-Up: Warmth From the Ground Up
No home office is complete without proper flooring. We laid 100mm Celotex PIR insulation boards—rigid and high-performing—directly onto the slab. Over that, we fitted loft boards to distribute weight, underlay for comfort, and a durable laminate floor for a crisp, clean look. It’s now a room that stays warm underfoot even on frosty mornings.
Ceilings & Final Touches
Since there’s a habitable room above, the garage ceiling structure was already in place. We carried out repairs and repainted to bring it up to scratch without disturbing the existing structure.
Twin pendant lights now cast a soft, clean light across the whole room. We added extra plug points at usable heights and boxed in an awkward corner detail with a neat cupboard for added storage.
End Result for this Garage Conversions: Practical, Warm, and Leasehold-Friendly
The final result is a sharp-looking, fully insulated garage conversion that ticks every box—without breaking lease terms or local regs. It’s warm, private, and professional—ready for Zoom calls, deep work, or even the occasional Netflix break.
Whether you’re working with a blank canvas or navigating tricky permissions, we’ll help you convert your garage into a space that works hard and feels right.
