Yes, we carry out garage conversions in West Derby, covering L12 and parts of L13 and L14. Many inter-war and post-war semis and detached houses here have a garage next to the kitchen or hall, so homeowners often use it to make a bigger kitchen, a snug or a downstairs bedroom. The work is planned around heating, drainage and the Building Regulations from the first visit.
Making the kitchen bigger without building out
Where a garage sits behind or beside the kitchen, opening the two together can give a family kitchen without an extension into the garden. This is a bigger job than a simple bedroom conversion. The opening between the two spaces needs a structural lintel or beam, sinks and appliances need waste pipes with a route to the drains, and cooking areas need extract ventilation. Our garage kitchen extension page explains how these pieces fit together.
Will the new room be warm enough?
Heating is the question we hear most from West Derby homeowners, because many of these houses have older systems that were sized for the original rooms. There are a few routes:
- Extending the existing heating with a new radiator, if the boiler has capacity.
- Electric underfloor heating, which suits kitchens and snugs where wall space is limited.
- Electric panel heaters for smaller rooms or occasional use.
Whichever you choose, the room is insulated to the standards building control applies, so it holds the heat. Our page on plumbing and heating for conversions explains who does what.
A snug or living room instead?
Not everyone needs a bigger kitchen. A garage at the front of a semi can make a quiet second sitting room, separate from the main lounge. That needs good light, a sensible link to the hall and an infill wall that looks right from the road. See our garage to living room page for layout ideas, and our garage door infill page for what goes into the new front wall.
Please do not remove walls, piers or fire doors yourself. These can be structural or part of the fire separation, and any change is designed and approved first.
What to expect from us in West Derby
When you call, we ask what you want the space to do, roughly how old the house is and whether you know of any planning conditions. We then come and look at the garage walls, floor, roof and door opening, and check where pipes and drains run. Drawings are prepared by an architect or architectural technician where needed, and you receive a written quote. The full approach is described on our Liverpool garage conversion page.
Nearby areas
West Derby sits next to Croxteth Park, and we also work across the boundary in Huyton in Knowsley. If you want to see every type of room we create, start with our full garage conversion service.
Want more living space in West Derby?
Call 07777 659786 and tell us whether the garage sits next to your kitchen or hall. We will call back to talk through what is possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can I knock through from my kitchen into the garage?
Often, but it is structural work. Opening a wall between the house and garage usually needs a lintel or beam designed for the load, and building control checks it. The wall may also be providing fire separation. We never give DIY guidance on this; the opening is designed and approved first.
Will my boiler cope with extra radiators?
It depends on the boiler’s output and how the system is set up. Many can take another radiator or two, but some are already near their limit. If not, electric heating or electric underfloor heating are options. Gas work must be done by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Which postcode areas do you cover in West Derby?
We cover West Derby across L12 and the parts that fall in L13 and L14. It is all within Liverpool, so Liverpool City Council handles planning, and building control is either the council or a Registered Building Control Approver.
Does a kitchen in the garage need extra approvals?
A kitchen extension into the garage normally needs Building Regulations approval like any conversion, with extra attention to drainage under Part H, extract ventilation and electrics under Part P. Planning is not usually needed for internal work, but check for conditions with the council.