Transforming Your Garage: Electrical Installations for a Functional Space Part 1 of 2

Transforming your garage into a functional space goes beyond merely clearing out clutter; it often involves thoughtful consideration of your requirements for the new space. Transforming your garage involves various aspects, such as building work, plumbing, and decorating however A Bathe Electrics specialises in what they do best: meeting your electrical needs. Whether you are converting your garage into a workshop, gym, home office, or entertainment zone, appropriate electrical installations can significantly enhance its functionality. This two-part blog delves into essential considerations and tips for upgrading your garage's electrical installation to help make your new space more functional.

Assess Your Budget

Before you start planning out what's needed, you need to assess your budget and how much you can afford. This blog guides you through the thought process of the electrical aspects of the work, but remember, other works may need to be carried out depending on your requirements. A good tip is to split your budget up into the relevant types of work, but overall, it's good to break it down into three categories.

• The Essentials: The minimum requirements you need to achieve your goal of your new desired space.
• The Extras: Things you would like if there is enough money left in the pot or things that could be added to the project later with little disturbance.
• The Contingency: It is so important to have money aside for work that may crop up you weren't aware of or if things don't go to plan.

Assess Your Requirements

The initial step in your garage transformation is to evaluate your electrical requirements based on your intended use of the space. For instance, a home gym might need sockets for equipment like treadmills and sound systems, while a workshop would require sufficient power for tools and task lighting. Some key factors you might like to think about are:

• Position of sockets
• Type of sockets
• Type of lighting
• Position of Lighting fixtures
• Light switching setup
• Power requirements
• Method of installation

Assess Your Electrical Installation

Depending upon your existing electrical installation and your requirements for the new space will depend on the extent of electrical work required to achieve your goal.  If you don't have power, this is clear: more work will be required than if you already have power. At this stage it’s a good idea to contact your local electrician to come around and look at the job to advise. You can always call A Bathe Electrics for advice if you live in Birmingham, Kings Norton or surrounding areas.

• No Power

If you have no power to the new space, you will need a new power feed from your main consumer unit. If that isn't possible, a submain will need to be installed from your home's incoming supply. The extent of this work will depend upon the distance from the supply and whether any existing consumer unit will be used to supply the power; If so it needs to be up to date with the current regulations.

• Existing Power

If you already have power in the location the work is scheduled to go ahead in then this could make life easier. However, this will also depend upon the new electrical requirements and the current condition of the electrical installation.

• More Power

  If you already have a power feed to the space but are planning on using high-power machines or appliances in it, a new or additional feed may be required.

Assess the Regulations

As a homeowner you won’t necessarily know when it comes to the building and wiring regulations. The full extent of this information is too much to explain and condense down in this blog but briefly here are some things you need to be aware of:

• Surge Protection
• RCD protection and the correct type (A-Type RCD is now required for new work)
• Existing Non-compliant work
• Capacity of the main house fuse

That's part one of the blog for more of a look at the details and ideas to put the finishing touches to your newly transformed space check out our blog next month: Transforming Your Garage: Electrical Installations for a Functional Space Part 2 of 2.