| A garage is an integral part of your property, it | | | | and other aspects of your property. The usual criteria |
| adorns the side of your property and its presence | | | | to meet to avoid planning permission are... |
| perhaps sets your property apart from your | | | | • The proposed building is not in front of the |
| immediate neighbours. If it’s an eyesore it may | | | | building line. |
| diminish the value of your property whilst an | | | | • The proposed building is under 30 sq. metres |
| independent survey by a leading Building Society has | | | | and under 70 cubic metres in volume (or 50 cubic |
| shown that your investment and more can be | | | | metres for terrace houses or houses within a |
| recouped with the addition of a new garage. | | | | conservation area). |
| | | | | • Your property is not in a Conservation area or |
| You may only purchase a concrete building once or | | | | a listed building. |
| maybe twice in your lifetime and so our advice is to | | | | • The building is less that 4m in height |
| ignore the marketing ‘spin’ and make your | | | | • The property has few alternations (attached or |
| informed choice using the following set of guidelines. | | | | within 5m distance) |
| | | | | Also recommended is the booklet: "Planning A Guide |
| Testimonials: Many of us may already have friends | | | | for Householders" by the Department of the |
| and relatives who have recently purchased such a | | | | Environment. It may be available in your local library. |
| building. Where did they buy it from? What is the | | | | Often your Local Authority offers a free-of-charge |
| brand of the garage? Did the whole transaction run | | | | Householders Enquiry Form where they will consider |
| smoothly? After all, a company's reputation is only as | | | | your proposals and formally respond. |
| good as its last customer interaction. | | | | |
| | | | | Removal of asbestos garages or corrugated |
| Construction: Not all garage companies offer the | | | | asbestos roofing sheets: There is a common |
| same level of installation and guarantee. Ensure that | | | | misconception that only a licensed removal agency or |
| the concrete panels are mastic sealed, that an | | | | local authority can remove your tired asbestos |
| internal cement fillet is provided. One also imagines | | | | garage. |
| that if something as a simple a leak was reported the | | | | |
| manufacturer would without quibble rectify the fault? | | | | If you are contemplating replacement of your |
| Don’t hold your breathe, a guarantee rosette | | | | present prefabricated garage then it is very likely |
| maybe brandished but some guarantee statements | | | | that this building contains asbestos cement or |
| contain clauses designed to tie the consumer in a | | | | Chrysotile (‘white asbestos’). Asbestos |
| noose. | | | | cement normally contains from about 5% of white |
| | | | | asbestos by weight. |
| Brand: Many of the components found within | | | | |
| concrete buildings are household brand names with | | | | Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which was |
| service and support to match. Enquire as to the | | | | used within the concrete garage sector up until the |
| brand of the main door for example, if you don’t | | | | late 1980s. Modern concrete garages no longer |
| recognise the name then walk away. Remaining on | | | | contain asbestos within their roof structure preferring |
| the subject of garage doors, do ensure that your | | | | to use reinforced cement fibre. Neither material can |
| door is supplied with a rigid steel frame. | | | | be identified by any markings and only chemical |
| | | | | analysis will prove that asbestos is present. |
| Concrete Panels: Take a tape measure, not all | | | | |
| concrete panels are alike. Accept nothing less than | | | | The mere presence of asbestos does not necessarily |
| 2¾ inches thick reinforced and vibrated concrete | | | | create a health risk and the removal of asbestos |
| panels. Enquire as to the weight of each panel, | | | | cement sheets is not governed by any regulatory |
| heaviest is best we suggest (2cwt per panel) | | | | body although it is strongly recommended that you |
| furthermore ensure that your panels are securely | | | | your appointed contractors adheres to safe working |
| bolted in at least at three-points. | | | | methods. |
| | | | | - Thoroughly douse the material before starting |
| Services: In a good many instances you may require | | | | work. You are advised to introduce a suitable |
| removal of your existing garage. Ensure that the | | | | wetting agent such as washing-up liquid, into the |
| contractors employed are fully trained asbestos | | | | water before saturation. |
| workers and demolition operatives, and are fully | | | | - Operatives are recommended to wear RPE/PPE |
| licensed to remove all types of waste. They wear all | | | | (Respiratory/Personal Protective Equipment) to |
| of the required RPE/PPE (Respiratory/Personal | | | | protect from inhalation of dust particles. |
| Protective Equipment). | | | | - Avoid breaking asbestos panels unnecessarily but if |
| | | | | this is necessary continue to wet down the area that |
| Payment: All manufacturers will request payment prior | | | | you are working. |
| to delivery. Be wary of those looking for payment at | | | | The Garden Buildings Centre (Chesterfield) offers a |
| instigation of order. Avoid paying in cash, cheque or | | | | nationwide garage demolition service and a price |
| debit card. If you have one available use a credit card | | | | maybe obtained on-line at |
| in order to provide card protection for your purchase. | | | | |
| | | | | You may also read about our modern fibre-cement |
| Planning Permission: It is a common misconception | | | | roofing panels at |
| that Planning Permission is not necessary for concrete | | | | |
| buildings sectional and portable i.e. concrete garages, | | | | Background: The author has almost 20yrs retail |
| sheds and greenhouses. This simply isn’t true. | | | | experience in the concrete garage trade. As well as |
| Read on… | | | | advising on the most suitable building per application |
| Usually, in the majority of situations, no. Planning | | | | advice is also tendered on groundwork preparation |
| permission is not normally required due to the nature | | | | and all aspects of planning and building control. The |
| of our product - i.e. "portable sectional building" - | | | | writer resides in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK and |
| providing that the structure is within certain size and | | | | operates from one of the regions largest concrete |
| height limits which in turn are governed by the type | | | | garage showrooms. |