If you desire to enlarge your home without building an extra space, you can convert your garage to a living area. Assuming it’s a two-car garage, you can get around 600 square feet. The main advantage of this is you’ll spend less than building a new area. The disadvantage is your car might suffer.
What are the basics of converting a garage into a living space?
According to garage remodeling experts at SOD Home Group, you’ll need:
- Windows: You need to add enough window space to allow sufficient air and natural light. In some cases, it might mean a percentage of the entire garage area.
- Heat: Ensure that heating is approximately 70 degrees F. Some retrofit heating options are installing an electric baseboard, extending the old central heating ductwork, and installing fan-driven wall heaters or electric baseboards.
- Ceiling: Ensure that your space maintains a minimum ceiling height of 7.5 feet. It might be hard if you’ve to raise your floor height.
- Light: It would be best to install at least one well-controlled light switch. If the garage followed the electrical code, it should have at least one switch.
- Outlets: Install new or change the wall outlets so that you can have enough spacing standards. Generally, no cord should be over 6 feet to get to the outlet.
Ways to make your garage conversion a success
1. Insulate your walls
Most ceilings and garage walls aren’t insulated. If your garage has drywall, you need to remove it and install insulation. You can use Rockwool, modern fiberglass roll insulation, or sprayed foam insulation.
2. Raise your floor height
Most garages tend to have a lower height than the house. Although it’s not necessary, it would be nice to match the floor height. You can do this by adding sleepers.
3. Install floor covering
Even if you use sleepers to raise your floor, a floor covering will be necessary. You can use engineered wood, laminate flooring, vinyl plank, and tile flooring.
4. Install finish on existing or new drywall
Most garages mostly have non-finish-quality walls. If your garage walls are insulated, there is no need to change. You can raise it to higher standards, though.
5. Insulate or replace the garage door
If you decide to keep the garage door and not replace it with a wall, ensure you’ve insulated it.
6. Hide the areas that are not pleasing to the eyes
You can do this by adding non-load-bearing walls around sections you don’t wish people to see. They include a furnace, water heater, and storage or laundry area.
Factors to consider before you decide to convert a garage to a living space
1. Will it add value to your home?
If the garage conversion is done well while obeying building codes and permits, it’ll certainly add value to your home. The value mostly depends on how smooth the conversion is and the kind of space you build.
2. How much are you planning to spend?
Even if you’re not budgeting for a new building, a garage conversion can still be costly. Note that the simpler the conversion, the more friendly the budget will be. Some things like adding a guest suite or a new kitchen will increase the cost. Additionally, the budget will be smaller if you’re planning to do the conversion yourself. It’ll save your labor cost.
3. Tool, car, and equipment storage
Before you begin garage conversion, you need to figure out where you’ll be storing your tools, car, and other equipment. For your car, you can construct a carport if your neighborhood is safe for carports. Your neighbors can also help you with a parking space. For the equipment and tools, you can build a small shed or use the basement.
4. Laws and permits
Check with your authorities to ensure that it’s legal to convert your garage into a living space. Also, check if you need a permit.
5. Do you have better alternatives?
Ask yourself if there are better alternatives. For example, building an addition to your house might be better than converting your garage. You can also expand the garage. It gives you extra space while maintaining the garage.
Over to you. How are you going to renovate? If you still don’t know where to start, don’t hesitate to let garage remodeling experts help you.
