Phase 1: Garage Kitchen Budget Estimate
This document provides a rough cost estimate for converting half of a standard garage into an EHO-compliant prep kitchen. This budget assumes a 3m x 3m (9m²) working space. It includes various options depending on your budget and how much DIY you are comfortable with.
Note: Prices are estimates (in GBP £) and can vary wildly depending on how much DIY you are willing to do versus hiring tradespeople.
1. Structural & Room Prep
Assuming you need to partition a 3m x 3m section of the garage, insulate, and make it weatherproof.
| Item | DIY Estimate | Tradesperson Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stud Wall Partition & Insulation | £300 | £800 - £1,200 | Timber, Celotex/Kingspan, plasterboard (for a 3m partition wall + lining existing walls). |
| Subtotal | £300 | £800 - £1,200 |
2. EHO-Compliant Surfaces (Walls & Ceilings)
Environmental Health requires all surfaces to be smooth, impervious, and easy to clean. Here are two main approaches for a 3x3m space (approx 36m² of wall/ceiling surface).
Option A: Plaster & Hygienic Paint (Professional Finish Only)While materials are cheaper, achieving a smooth, EHO-compliant finish with plaster is not a DIY job. You must hire a pro to skim the walls.
| Item | DIY Estimate | Tradesperson Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastering / Skimming | N/A | £400 - £700 | Skimming plasterboard smooth (Pro only). |
| Hygienic/Epoxy Wall Paint | £100 | £200 - £300 | Washable, anti-bacterial paint (can be painted yourself). |
| Option A Subtotal | £100 (Paint only) | £600 - £1,000 |
Option B: PVC Hygiene Cladding (More Expensive / Easier DIY)More expensive materials, but much easier to DIY a perfect finish by gluing directly to raw plasterboard.
| Item | DIY Estimate | Tradesperson Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall & Ceiling Cladding | £500 - £750 | £1,000 - £1,500 | ~14-16 standard 2.5mm PVC sheets + trims + adhesive. |
| Option B Subtotal | £500 - £750 | £1,000 - £1,500 |
Flooring (Required for both options)
| Item | DIY Estimate | Tradesperson Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl or Epoxy Flooring (9m²) | £200 | £400 - £700 | Non-slip commercial vinyl (like Altro) or painted epoxy floor paint. |
3. Plumbing & Water Supply
Bypassing the cost of trenching the driveway by using a self-contained mobile-style system vs running mains water.
Option A: The Water Tank Route (Budget / Self-Contained)Avoids driveway trenching. Easy DIY.
| Item | Estimated Cost (DIY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2x 25L-50L Water Tanks (Fresh & Waste) | £60 - £100 | Jerry can style or larger baffled tanks. |
| 12v/240v On-Demand Water Pump | £60 - £150 | e.g., Seaflo or Flojet system. |
| Under-sink Electric Water Heater | £100 - £150 | e.g., Ariston 10L (plugs into a standard socket). |
| Hoses, connectors, waste traps | £50 - £80 | Standard plumbing fittings. |
| Option A Subtotal | £270 - £480 | Cannot easily be done by trade as it's a mobile setup. |
Option B: Mains Plumbing & Waste (Premium / Tradesperson recommended)Connecting to the house mains (approx 20m away). Requires trenching driveway/garden.
| Item | DIY Estimate | Tradesperson Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenching (20m) & Making Good | £200 (Hire mini-digger/wacker) | £1,000 - £2,000 | Digging 20m channel, laying pipes, refilling/repairing surface. |
| Mains Water & Waste Pipework | £150 | £500 - £800 | MDPE water pipe and 110mm soil pipe. |
| Macerator Pump (If uphill to sewer) | £300 | £400 - £600 | e.g., Saniflo if waste needs to be pumped up to existing drains. |
| Internal Plumbing & Hot Water Heater | £200 | £400 - £600 | Connecting sinks, installing local water heater. |
| Option B Subtotal | £850 | £2,300 - £4,000 |
4. Kitchen Equipment & Fit-Out
Look for second-hand commercial stainless steel (Nisbets clearance or eBay) to save money.
| Item | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Oven (Electric) | £400 - £800 | Standard 13-amp plug-in convection oven (e.g., Lincat/Blue Seal). Keeps electrical costs down. |
| Countertop Induction Hob | £50 - £150 | Much easier for EHO sign-off than gas. Portable 13-amp units are cheap and effective. |
| Extractor Hood (Above Hob) | £100 - £250 | High-power domestic hood. EHO will allow this since prep is restricted to light cooking/sauces (no heavy grease/frying). Must be vented externally. |
| Stainless Steel Double Sink | £150 - £300 | Essential for washing equipment separately from food prep. |
| Handwash Basin (Knee-operated) | £80 - £150 | EHOs love knee-operated or sensor taps for hygiene. |
| Stainless Steel Prep Tables (x2) | £150 - £300 | Must be stainless steel, not wood. |
| General Room Extractor Fan | £50 - £150 | Core drilled through the wall to reduce ambient humidity. |
| Subtotal | £980 - £2,100 |
5. Electricals (Lighting & New Circuits)
For a 3x3m kitchen running multiple heating elements (oven, water heater) and heavy appliances, a dedicated supply is crucial. You will need a qualified electrician to sign this off, even if you run the cables.
| Item | DIY Estimate | Tradesperson Estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP65 Lighting & Ample Sockets | £100 - £150 | £200 - £350 | 2x LED waterproof battens (plenty for 9m²), 4-6 double sockets, conduit/cabling. |
| Dedicated Circuit / Sub-board | £150 (Materials) | £400 - £800 | To manage multiple high-draw appliances safely (Oven, Water Heater, Fridges). |
| Electrical Spec Check / Upgrade | £50 - £150 | £300 - £600 | Garage has power, but an electrician must confirm if the existing feed can handle the load or if an upgraded cable from the house is needed. |
| Electrician Final Connections & Sign-off | N/A | £300 - £600 | Mandatory professional requirement. |
| Subtotal | £300 - £450 | £1,200 - £2,350 | Assumes you buy materials/run cables (DIY) vs them doing all labour. |
What to DIY vs What to Hire a Pro For
To get the best balance of cost-savings and professional finish, here is the recommended approach:
🟢 Easily DIY'd (High Cost Savings)
- Stud Walls & Insulation: Very forgiving work. Mistakes are hidden behind cladding.
- PVC Hygiene Cladding (Option B): Gluing sheets to the wall is straightforward and much easier than learning to plaster.
- Equipment Installation: Assembling stainless tables, positioning the oven, mounting the sinks.
- Water Tank System (Option A): Just basic hoses and 12v/plug-in electrics. Very low risk.
- Cable & Conduit Routing: You can physically run the electrical cables and mount the surface conduit yourself to save the electrician's time, leaving the final connections to them.
🟡 DIY With Caution (Moderate Skill Required)
- Trenching for Mains Water (Option B): Hiring a mini-digger is cheap, but hitting existing services (gas/electric) or improperly laying the 110mm waste pipe with the wrong fall/gradient can be disastrous.
- Epoxy Floor Painting: Needs meticulous concrete cleaning and prep, otherwise it peels quickly.
- Core Drilling for Extractor: Renting a core drill is easy, but drilling through double-brick requires care.
🔴 Hire a Professional (Safety / Compliance / Skill)
- Electrical Final Connections & Sign-off: Mandatory. Do not wire the sub-board or connect to the mains yourself. It must be certified.
- Plastering (Option A): Plastering is an art form. If it's lumpy, the EHO won't like it because it's hard to clean. Hire a pro if you want painted plaster walls.
- Mains Plumbing Connections (Option B): Ensuring watertight, compliant connections to the main sewer lines.
Estimated Totals (Examples)
- The "Bootstrapper" (Max DIY, Tank Water, PVC Cladding): ~£2,700 - £4,330
- The "Hybrid" (DIY Prep, Pro Plaster & Sparky, Mains Water Trenching by you): ~£3,980 - £6,450
- The "Turnkey Pro" (Trades do everything, Mains Water, PVC Cladding): ~£7,450 - £11,950+
Next Steps
- Check Electrical Spec: Have an electrician (or knowledgeable person) check the breaker size feeding the garage. A standard 13-amp oven + water heater + fridges running simultaneously could trip a basic domestic spur.
- Floor Plan Sketch: Map out a rough 3x3m floor plan to ensure sinks, oven, and tables fit efficiently without crossing clean/dirty prep areas.