Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Jan 20, 2016 1:11 am Hi all, This is my first post on the forum so please correct me if i'm posting this in the wrong thread. I have a double color bond garage in my back yard that i'm planning on converting into a granny flat. The previous owner of the property has already insulated the roof and part of the walls using old cool room paneling so part of the hard work is done for me. My main issue is trying to decide what to line the walls with. In an ideal situation I would use plasterboard but on the walls of the shed I only have 3 anchor points ( Top cross beam, middle cross beam & lower cross beam - all steel ), there is no vertical beams, so i'm thinking that this probably wouldn't be suitable for mounting plasterboard. What are my other options? I'm looking for something paintable and something cheap. Any help or advice is greatly appreciated! Steve Re: Converting color-bond shed to granny flat 2Jan 20, 2016 6:11 am If the vertical rails can take the weight, you could run vertical battens up the existing horizontal rails and attach the internal lining to that. Mount them at the spacings required for the type of plaster board you are using (450 or 600mm usually). You could also use thin bracing ply. There is an alternative more popular forum I would suggest, but this site won't let me post the name and rejects it as forbidden text. Don't like competition I guess. You should really have reflective, breathable sarking in the walls too, especially on the west side, if it is exposed. Installed to manufacturer's specs regarding air gap etc. Using the garage as a granny flat is very different from using it as a garage. Cooking and showering etc will create condensation, so you need to consider this in order to avoid mould. Re: Converting color-bond shed to granny flat 3Jan 20, 2016 6:44 am If you do this without council approval then you do so at your peril. The structure should be to BCA standards ( now NCC ) - internal height, light and ventilation requirements, smoke alarms etc. You could go to all this trouble and expense only to have a neighbour complain and be forced to rip it down. The other thing to consider is that if it is an illegal structure and your tenant has an accident, they could sue you and your insurance wouldn't cover you meaning you'd have to cough up the money. Just a few things to consider. Stewie Re: Converting color-bond shed to granny flat 4Jan 20, 2016 2:34 pm Joynz If the vertical rails can take the weight, you could run vertical battens up the existing horizontal rails and attach the internal lining to that. Mount them at the spacings required for the type of plaster board you are using (450 or 600mm usually). Stewie If you do this without council approval then you do so at your peril. The structure should be to BCA standards ( now NCC ) - internal height, light and ventilation requirements, smoke alarms etc. You could go to all this trouble and expense only to have a neighbour complain and be forced to rip it down. Just to clarify this - if the shed is approved right now, you cant be forced to rip it down. And how you fit out the frame is nobodies business, until you start putting in a toilet, shower, and kitchen facilties. It is these 3 things that usually charactertise a habitable dwelling. As Stewie says, if unregistered, they can force you to remove things that are related to those areas, or make them comply. But the shed still stands. Re: Converting color-bond shed to granny flat 5Jan 20, 2016 6:00 pm Build thread viewtopic.php?f=31&t=81011 Re: Converting color-bond shed to granny flat 6Jan 23, 2016 2:04 am Thank's everyone! Joynz - I hadn't thought of that, great idea I think that's what I will do. I was about to start lining it with plywood but now you've suggested this I think I'll go back to the original idea of plasterboard. Also, perhaps " Granny Flat " wasn't the best term. I'm not actually going to have bathroom or kitchen facilities as the back door of the house is only about 2 meters from shed , it's actually just going to be an open room witch will be used as a bedroom/loungeroom/office setup so shouldn't have an issue with condensation but I will definitely keep in mind the sarking etc if I do decide to add amenities later on. Stewie - Do I need council approval for what I've described above to Joynz? Re: Converting color-bond shed to granny flat 7Jan 23, 2016 8:28 am According to most councils, anything needing work on larger than a letterbox needs council approval! Changing the sheds use from a storage facility to something akin to a studio would certainly come under that however, I think a lot them would turn a blind eye especially seeing as all the work you are doing is within the footprint of the existing structure. All it would take though is a complaint from a neighbour and they would have to act accordingly. Stewie Re: Converting color-bond shed to granny flat 9Jan 23, 2016 10:16 am Change of use is what it would come under. I know a couple of guys who have large sheds/workshops where they do their woodwork and metal projects. They've installed a shower and toilet plus fridge and microwave just so they don't have to trudge back to the house and get dirt and dust etc in the house. Any council wouldn't have a problem with that as it is still basically a shed with some added amenities. What stevo1611 is proposing is taking a shed and turning it into something completely different like a studio/office probably with a couch, bed, TV, fridge etc. Stewie I would suggest you simply go and talk to council about your proposal, most councils are getting onboard with ancillary dwellings. There is no benefit in keeping it… 1 4114 I think I know the answer but just checking to see if anyone has had experience with it. I want to build a small 20 square metre retreat in my backyard, it will have a… 0 13890 Any advice on how to ensure the kit home granny flat that im thinking of buying will get council approval. The kit home companys wont release plans without a deposit and… 0 7222 |