How to Turn a Garage Into a Room

Garages provide a large amount of square footage that is not often used to its full potential. You may find that you need an additional room more than you need a place to store your car. It is possible to just remove the car and other items from the garage and add furniture. You may want to try this at first, but you can make the garage a more permanent and finished room that adds valuable space to your home.

Things You'll Need

• Sealant
• Drywall
• 2x4 Wood beams
• Insulation
• Paint
• Carpet or other flooring
• Hammer
• Nails
• Ceiling tiles

Instructions

Turn a Garage into a Room

1. Clean out the garage. Relocate items to another storage space such as a barn or tool shed. Take down any shelves or cabinets and sweep the floor.

2. Disable the garage door. Remove the garage door opener and any accessories such as a keypad, and seal the spaces between the garage door and the wall.

3. Modify the walls. Frame out the interior perimeter of the garage with the wood then add insulation and drywall. Place drywall over the existing garage door for a more permanent and finished look.

4. Enclose utilities and appliances. Create a small room that encloses the appliances inside the garage that cannot be moved, such as the water heater, furnace and air conditioner. Allow access and enough room for repairs and replacements.

5. Modify the ceiling. Install a finished ceiling with ceiling tiles if necessary and install overhead lighting if desired. Do not cover up any attic access.

6. Finish the room. Paint the walls and install carpeting or other flooring. Replace the door into the house to match the other interior doors.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you won't want to use the room as a traditional garage again. It is possible to restore the garage, but it takes a lot of work.

References

• Convert your garage into a room