Building a garage advice on which materials

[mctaggart]

Hi

I am building a 8 m x 5.5 m garage double skinned and I am looking for some advice on the types of blocks to use. The garage is going to be split into a workshop area with a partition and then a double garage.

The workshop area i intend to dig out a basement and I had heard that if you were going to use blocks below ground (which will be the basement walls) I need to use a particular type of block.

Do i have to use a thermalite block for the internal wall or would it just be ok to use the same type of block for inside and out.

Hope you can help

Thanks
Craig

 

[RedHerring2]

As it's over 30m² you'll need BC approval.
Ether by starting it on a Building Notice, in which case you need to know what you're doing 'cos the work will be inspected after each applicable stage.
Or by submitting plans for BC approval, which means that BC approve the methods to be used, prior to commencement and inspect at each stage.

I wouldn't use thermalite blocks for the internal walls of a garage/workshop 'cos they don't have the same strength as hollow concrete blocks and insulation is not so important, but others might disagree.

You'll need dense concrete blocks below ground level but you could use a trench block, which surprisingly are similar to thermalite blocks.