My garage is linked to my next door neighbours, they have the end of a row and therefore have a considerably larger garden. I would like to demolish my half to enlarge the garden. it has an asbestos cement roof and is split in the middle by a solid concrete wall.
2006-06-07 10:38:08 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Try the forums at http://www.suburbangarden.com/ they are geared more toward this type of questions
2006-06-07 10:40:31 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
First thing to consider is that you will have to get into a party wall agreement with your neighbour. This will require a surveyor to establish the general condition of the garage before you actually do anything, so that when the work is complete you will not have done anything to damage your neighbours part. This will cost you, and not your neighbour.
Second step is to get permission to demolish your half of the garage. If you are within a conservation area (UK) or there is a covenant on the deeds of your house, this may demand planning permission. However, the demolition may be done under permitted development. Check with your local planning office on this.
You may need a structural engineer to assess the structural viability of what you are proposing to do. One garage may form the support for the other. Chances are that the joists carry through, either supported on the central wall, or within it. And the founadtions probably were poured as whole, rather than for each half. The central wall may be supported on a raft that was poured covering the whole garage and the central wall is not totally structural and actually only really divides the two spaces.
Finally, the asbestos. It depends on the type and composition of the tiles, but in reality these should be removed by a specialist contractor. Do not try to remove these yourself.
I would suggest that you employ a professional to carry out the work for you. There is a great deal of red tape involved in what you propose, and it takes a great deal of knowledge to be able to avoid the pitfalls that this sort of work presents.
One other thing. Does your neighbour know what you are thinking of doing? He/she may have a legitimate view on this, and you should know what is involved before you start.
By the way, cutting the roof is a very bad idea, given the nature of the materials and the fact that the structure of the building may not be what you think it is.
With regard to your insurance, if you commence work without permissions in place your insurance will be deemed null and void, and you will have to bear the cost yourself. And, should you damage your neighbours half, then you again will be reposnsible for the cost. Your household insurance will not cover the work.
One route that you might consider is to demolish, with the consent of your neighbour, the whole garage and re-build a new one for him. The cost of that may be less than the cost of the repair work that you will inevitably have to do to bring the remaining half back to spec.
Get a professional.
2006-06-07 14:17:51 · answer #2 · answered by designingandrew 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To demolish it wouldn't be the hard part. To take it down without damaging the other half of the garage is the trick. I'd say, if your neighbor is ok with taking it down (he has a say in it) hire someone. To remove what you want is not only very difficult, hauling it off, but there is also the liability. If you mess up his garage, you have to fix it. If the contractor messes up, he is liable. Plus removing the foundation. Are they joined together. This sounds like a lot heavy equipment, backhoes, dump trucks etc. I'm person that likes to do the work around my house, but I'd hire someone for this project.
2006-06-07 11:28:47 · answer #3 · answered by robling_dwrdesign 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not easy at all...starting with the part about linked garages! Unless your neighbor would ALSO want to eliminate his garage...this should be left to a PRO!
2006-06-07 10:42:58 · answer #4 · answered by Rev Debi Brady 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get the roof and walls cut between the two garages then yours should come down with a sledge hammer without damaging his.
2006-06-07 11:49:40 · answer #5 · answered by kjquigo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
easy but dont touch the inner wall as that will end up as there outerwall.contact the council re the aspestos roofas there is serten roots to get rid of it.dont worry if you mess it up claim on your insurance.
2006-06-07 12:19:11 · answer #6 · answered by gail mac 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there's a 'Party wall' you're looking at all sorts of possible problems.
Get a professional in to talk to both you and your neighbour, as it concerns both of you.
2006-06-07 10:46:21 · answer #7 · answered by Trish D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask a woman to reverse her car into it - she'll knock it down in one go!!
2006-06-07 10:47:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋