How to Convert Garages Into Rooms
You need extra space, but you don't want to find a new house. Consider converting your garage into an extra room, which is much less expensive than constructing a brand new addition to your home and may be more feasible if you lack the space on your lot. While it is easy to adapt a garage into extra storage space or a game area, turning it into an interior room requires a bit more work. Once you have cleaned out your garage and decided what type of room you want, you can convert it into a proper room. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Building permit
- Services of a contractor, plumber, electrician and HVAC expert
- Wood or metal framing
- Insulation
- Gypsum board
- Windows
- Exterior home cladding
- Floor finish (hardwood, tile, or your choice)
- Furniture, interior finishes and decor
- Light fixtures
Instructions
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Call your local department of building to find out if you need a building permit. If you have hired a contractor for the job, which is advisable unless you are a skilled carpenter or do-it-yourselfer, he should handle all permitting issues. For homes in historic districts and certain zoned neighborhoods, your plan may be subject to a review process before work can begin.
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Locate plumbing and electrical lines as well as air conditioning ducts. Typically garages are already wired for electricity, so your electrician may simply add a few extra outlets around the room. Often kitchens or bathrooms border garages, so access to pipes may be easy, or you may not even need plumbing, depending on the type of room your garage will become. It may be expensive to reconfigure your duct system to cool and heat your garage. If so, you can always install a window unit or use a space heater.
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Remove the garage door and all of its mechanical components. You must decide whether to fill in the remaining hole with a solid wall, creating the challenge of matching the exterior materials of your home, which may have weathered. Another option is to install a glass system within the frame, providing plenty of light for a new living space. If you need more privacy, consider breaking the opening into two windows and infilling between with a panel.
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Insulate the walls. Since garages are essentially exterior spaces, there is no need to protect them as much from the elements. If your garage walls are already finished with gypsum board, use a blower to install insulation into the wall cavity. Otherwise install batt insulation between the studs before adding the finish layer of gypsum board.
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Construct interior walls if desired. You may choose to partition the space by adding a closet, for example. However, most garages are small enough that you'd want to keep the space open.
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Install finishes for the floor and ceiling. Garage floors are typically only a concrete slab, which does not lend a warm or inviting feel to an interior room. You may choose to acid stain the concrete, or install hardwood, tile or carpet over your existing concrete floor. Add gypsum board to finish out your garage ceiling.
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Decorate your new room. Choose appropriate light fixtures, drapes or blinds and furniture for the space, depending on its use.
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Tips & Warnings
Some uses of converted garages include: office space, guest room, living room, bedroom, playroom or game room.
If you have a two- or three-car garage, you may choose to only convert part of the space into a room so you still have a place to park your car.
Replace the door between the former garage and your home with an interior quality door so no one will know the space was ever a garage.
References
- Photo Credit brown and white house image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com
