Help - Looking for Builder to Convert Hobby room into Sleepout

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Krishant007

1403 posts

Uber Geek

#208359 8-Feb-2017 11:31

Hi everyone

I am looking for a builder or someone that can help me convert a hobby room into a sleepout (with the required consents). I dont need to erect a new dwelling, just need to fit out the existing one and convert to a sleepout. The hobby room is detached - almost like a garage detached from the main house.

Does anyone know of a builder or can recommend someone that can do this work?

I would have checked no more cowboys - but havent had the best experience.

Cheers.

1 | 2

7769 posts

Uber Geek

#1717132 8-Feb-2017 11:36

Giving a summary of the scope of work to be done might help people to make appropriate suggestions.

Mike

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Krishant007

1403 posts

Uber Geek

#1717140 8-Feb-2017 11:57

MikeAqua:

Giving a summary of the scope of work to be done might help people to make appropriate suggestions.

This is where I also need help from the builder to recommend whats needed to be done. From me looking at it:

New carpets
Insulation + putting up the interior walls and ceiling boards
creating a partition for a room.
some electrical work for power points and lights
maybe looking at putting up a bathroom as well - this would require getting water from the main house
ranch slider

eracode

Smpl Mnmlst
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#1717193 8-Feb-2017 13:31

It seems you might need more than one trade there.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Krishant007

1403 posts

Uber Geek

#1717202 8-Feb-2017 13:52

Absolutely will need a number of trades, but I was hoping the builder would have contacts of those that he has worked with in the past. Makes things easier i guess.

MikeAqua

7769 posts

Uber Geek

#1717238 8-Feb-2017 15:26

Krishant007:

MikeAqua:

Giving a summary of the scope of work to be done might help people to make appropriate suggestions.

This is where I also need help from the builder to recommend whats needed to be done. From me looking at it:

New carpets
Insulation + putting up the interior walls and ceiling boards
creating a partition for a room.
some electrical work for power points and lights
maybe looking at putting up a bathroom as well - this would require getting water from the main house
ranch slider

The last two, especially the bathroom are likely to require permits/consents/fees etc.

That actual building work (insulation, lining and a non structural partition wall) can be done without any approvals.

Electrical needs to be done by a registered electrician and probably needs a certificate of compliance

Carpet needs a carpet layer but no approval required

Mike

hairy1

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#1717247 8-Feb-2017 15:50

Where are you located?

My views (except when I am looking out their windows) are not those of my employer.

richms

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#1717256 8-Feb-2017 16:20

When I looked at doing my shed, there were issues with calling it a sleepout vs a hobby room.

Richard rich.ms

Wilko

60 posts

Master Geek

#1717290 8-Feb-2017 17:03

Calling it a Sleepout means it must comply to the requirements for a habitable room, eg floor to ceiling height of 2.4 m min, floor level to ground level 225mm (depending on cladding types and whether concrete ground finish), ventilation requirements, insulation to current standards etc. If you call it a Hobby Room the council MAY be satisfied that it is a non-habitable room with less strict requirements. A builder should be able to advise you, but a licensed designer will probably have to submit drawings for council consent.

blackjack17

1702 posts

Uber Geek

#1717320 8-Feb-2017 18:11

Krishant007:

Hi everyone

I am looking for a builder or someone that can help me convert a hobby room into a sleepout (with the required consents). I dont need to erect a new dwelling, just need to fit out the existing one and convert to a sleepout. The hobby room is detached - almost like a garage detached from the main house.

Does anyone know of a builder or can recommend someone that can do this work?

I would have checked no more cowboys - but havent had the best experience.

Cheers.

What part of the country are you in? (guessing Auckland otherwise you would have said)

Also if you call it a man cave/rumpus room/games room you will only need consents for the water/power. If you call it a sleepout you will need consents and potential development contributions.

Electric kiwi signup credit Sharesies credit

Krishant007

1403 posts

Uber Geek

#1717408 8-Feb-2017 21:51

Sorry, yes I am based in Auckland. I would prefer to get the right consents if required. But I would see if its needed first - hoping the builder can advise on that.

nickb800

2715 posts

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#1717470 9-Feb-2017 07:52

Wilko:

Calling it a Sleepout means it must comply to the requirements for a habitable room, eg floor to ceiling height of 2.4 m min, floor level to ground level 225mm (depending on cladding types and whether concrete ground finish), ventilation requirements, insulation to current standards etc. If you call it a Hobby Room the council MAY be satisfied that it is a non-habitable room with less strict requirements. A builder should be able to advise you, but a licensed designer will probably have to submit drawings for council consent.

Also, if the floor is concrete slab, and it was built as a garage/shed, it probably didn't have damp proof course laid underneath when originally built. You will need to waterproof the top of the slab somehow to make it a habitable space

mclean

581 posts

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#1717683 9-Feb-2017 14:11

If it has a bathroom you will need a building consent for the work. It might also be Restricted Building Work, in which case your builder will need to be a Licensed Building Practitioner, but you should check that with your council. Without the bathroom you may be able to do it without a building consent, provided it's less than 10m2 and the distance from the boundary is more than its height.