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