| Remodeling a garage to a room is often a | | | | two-car garage, you might decide to |
| cost-effective way to add living space | | | | finish only half of it into living |
| to your home. | | | | space. In this case, you might want to |
| 1. Because the foundation, roof and | | | | pay extra attention to soundproofing. |
| exterior walls are already built, you | | | | Converted garages can serve a variety of |
| will not incur these costs. | | | | functions. Garages can be converted into |
| 2. You will be able to remodel the area | | | | everything from a kitchen to a living |
| with little disruption to the rest of | | | | room or a family room, den, home |
| your home. | | | | theater, home office or an extra |
| 3. You may already have the electrical | | | | bedroom. You might discover enough |
| wiring in place (most garages have | | | | "attic" space to finish two rooms (one |
| lights and at least one electrical | | | | above the other) or to open the ceiling |
| outlet)as well as plumbing. | | | | and design your new room with a vaulted |
| 4. Depending upon local building codes, | | | | ceiling. |
| you may not need a building permit for | | | | The next decisions will determine the |
| your project. | | | | appearance of the finished room. |
| Why would you need a building permit? | | | | 1. What kind of flooring will you use? |
| This can vary from one location to | | | | You will find that a slab is conducive |
| another, but the primary issues are: | | | | to almost any kind of flooring you |
| * Structural soundness | | | | choose to install. Be sure to seal the |
| * Exits | | | | slab before you begin installation of |
| * Heating and cooling | | | | any flooring materials. And, if |
| * Windows | | | | youinstall carpet, you might want to |
| * Ventilation | | | | invest in double padding to make the |
| * Insulation | | | | room more comfortable. You can also |
| * Plumbing | | | | build a traditional joist floor over the |
| * Electrical | | | | garage slab to match the floor level in |
| In some areas, failure to build to local | | | | the rest of your home. |
| code can require that you restore the | | | | 2. What kind of ceiling do you want? |
| space to its original condition before | | | | Depending upon the planned use of the |
| you sell the house. | | | | space, you might choose a vaulted, |
| The best place to start remodeling a | | | | exposed beam ceiling, a pitched ceiling, |
| garage to a room is to determine what | | | | a tray ceiling, a drywall ceiling, or a |
| you have to work with in terms of floor, | | | | drop ceiling. |
| walls, access, etc. You will likely have | | | | 3. Finally, you will need to decide on |
| a cement slab floor and an adequate | | | | the walls. You can choose paneling or |
| roof. If there are no windows, you will | | | | sheetrock, or you might want to consider |
| need to decide whether to install them, | | | | constructing the walls of insulated |
| how many to install, and where you will | | | | board. If the room will be used as a |
| place them. If your garage has finished | | | | playroom or a home office, this might be |
| walls you will need to determine whether | | | | just the solution you need. |
| the walls are insulated. If they are not | | | | Finally, you will need to decide whether |
| insulated, you will need to make | | | | to do the work yourself or hire a |
| decisions about how you will insulate. | | | | contractor. You might decide to hire a |
| You will need to plan for heating and | | | | contractor for some of the work, like |
| cooling and adequate lighting and | | | | electrical, plumbing, etc. and do the |
| electrical outlets. Do you need plumbing | | | | rest yourself. Either way, you'll find |
| in the room? If so, you will need to | | | | that the cost of converting your garage |
| determine whether there is or is not | | | | to living space is far less than adding |
| plumbing in the area and what changes | | | | a room to your home. |
| are required. | | | | A garage conversion is a great |
| Your next decision will be whether to | | | | remodeling project. It's the perfect way |
| use the entire garage for your new room | | | | to get the space you need at the lowest |
| or only part of it. If you have a | | | | possible cost. Enjoy! |