How to Remodel the Garage Into a Great Room

Converting a garage increases living space.

Converting your garage into a great room requires you to think outside the box when planning the conversion. Perhaps you recently painted the walls in your garage or your garage walls have not been completed. You may find that you have to hire a contractor for certain projects when converting your garage into a great room. Take into consideration whether your garage is attached or unattached when you design the great room.

Instructions

1. Call your city or state and find out whether you need a building permit to convert your garage into a great room before you do any remodeling.

2. Check the electrical work in your garage. You may need to update or add more outlets in the garage to withstand your electrical needs or you may need to install electrical heat and air. Contact a local electrician for a quote. When you have found an electrician you trust, hire him to perform your electrical work. This ensures that you have met all safety and fire codes.

3. Decide whether your great room requires plumbing. Typically, garages do not have plumbing; take this into consideration when designing your great room. If you decide that your great room requires plumbing, contact local plumbers to obtain a quotes. When you find a plumber that you trust, hire him to perform the plumbing work in your garage to avoid any plumbing issues that may arise.

4. Remove everything from your garage. This includes all items stored in your garage and everything on the walls. Remove nails from walls. Sweep debris from the floor in the garage with your broom to provide a clean area to work in.

5. Install flooring that can withstand wear and tear in a garage, such as painted concrete with area rugs, laminate flooring or vinyl tiles.

6. Install windows. If you can install the windows yourself, do so to save money. If you cannot install the windows yourself, considering hiring a contractor for their installation.

7. Update the entry door to your garage. Purchasing a new entry door provides you the opportunity of installing one that contains a lock and key. This provides security and prevents unwanted guests from entering your great room.

8. Decide if the walls in your garage need replacing or a quick coat of paint. If the walls need replacing consider using drywall to replace them. Drywall works well in a garage and provides a base for painting or wallpapering.

Tips & Warnings

• When planning your garage makeover, remember that garages have a tendency to be damp.

References

• Remodel or Move: Remodeling a Garage to a Room
• HGTV: Garage to Family Room
• Luxury House Trends: Cost of Converting a Garage to a Living Space
• Home Building Remodeling: Tips for Converting a Garage into a Bonus Room
• "Popular Mechanics Garage Makeovers: Adding Space without Adding On"; Rick Peters; 2006 (Book)