How to Convert a Garage to a Residence

Garages are usually large enough in size to be able to convert into a residence.

If you do not use your attached garage for anything, it can be a great place to extend your home, converting it into a residence. It is ideal since it's already accessible from your house and it has already been built. To convert it, you will require a building permit and you will be required to know exactly what you need.

Things You'll Need

• Graph paper
• Tape measure
• Floor joist
• 2 by 4-inch treated studs
• Drywall
• Drywall mud
• Drywall tape
• Insulation

Instructions

1. Map out your blueprint on graph paper, which will allow you to condense all of your ideas. Determine how large your garage is with your tape measure. Scale your design to size by making a single square worth one foot. This will enable you to determine whether or not all of your ideas will comfortably fit inside the room. It would also present your case better to take this blueprint to your local building department, who will inform you whether or not you are legally allowed to perform the changes and how to get a permit.

2. Empty out the garage. Because the garage is often used to store items that are potentially dangerous when mishandled, take precautions when transferring them into the house. Similarly, ensure the garage is still safe to convert into another room. Remove objects such as pulleys, hooks and overhead fixtures.

3. Remove the garage door and use the tape measure to determine the height and width of the opening. Cut the width of the hole into two 2 by 4-inch boards. Ideally, you will have enough boards so that you can stack them upright 16 inches apart from one another and each one is as tall as the opening, less four inches. Nail these boards at a 90 degree angle to the two you cut for the width. Raise the frame so that it fits into the hole, effectively securing it in its position. Take some plywood or siding and finish the wall outside so it matches the rest of the house.

4. Fill this and any other wall with insulation. Finish the inside with paneling or drywall.

5. Thoroughly scrub the floor using a concrete cleaner. Follow the instructions on the package. Seal the floor and cover with carpet, tile or wood.

6. Prepare for painting or wallpaper. Use drywall patch to fill any mars in your drywall. Spackle the tape and put drywall mud on any spots that are damaged. Let the mud completely dry. Apply paint or wallpaper.

References

• Easy Garage Remodeling: Converting Your Garage
• Our Property: Planning a Garage Conversion
• Garage Floor Sealer: Garage Floor Cleaners