What You Need to Know to Convert a Garage into Living Space

Transforming a garage into extra living space is one of the less expensive ways to add a large amount of room and square footage to your home. Since the outer structure is already built, conversion is a matter of creating walls, flooring and other elements that define an indoor space.

Requirements to Convert a Garage to Living Space

Research Zoning Laws

The legal aspects of converting a garage to living space can make or break the project. You’ll need to look into your communities local requirements for transforming vehicle space into habitable space. In some cases, you may need to provide adequate off-street parking to replace lost parking areas.

Have a Flexible Budget

A garage conversion fully outfitted as permitted, habitable space will not be as expensive as you may expect, but it’s not exactly cheap, either. Instead, think of it as a less expensive method of building a home addition. Estimates range from $20,000 to $50,000 for a well-built, contractor-driven garage conversion.

Expect to Raise the Flooring

Many people forget or don’t even realize that part of a garage transformation is to raise the concrete to match the existing slab of the current interior house per FEMA code. Garage floors can be as much as 18 inches below the level of house flooring. For safety, by law and to integrate the converted garage with the house, your preferred general contractor will need to raise the garage floor to the height of the home’s floor with a raised or sleeper system.

Add Basic Drywall

Walls and ceiling must be insulated if not done so already. Garage walls are sometimes built with no insulation and no drywall. Even if you’re not converting the garage to living space, you’ll still want to insulate it and add a basic layer of drywall. The drywall only needs to be hung; it doesn’t need finishing, sanding or painting.

Doors & Windows

During a garage conversion, you must install an Egress window or door if one is not remaining once the original garage is enclosed as living space. An advantage of working with an experienced contractor or architect is that this professional will help you blend in the garage conversion with the rest of the home’s exterior. In some cases, this can mean substantially altering the home’s exterior to match the wall that covers the garage door opening.

Electrical & Plumbing

Electrical and plumbing must be installed and up to state codes if it is not already. Not only is this a requirement to be considered extra living space to add to your home’s value, but it also makes the extra room much more comfortable!

Tips to Make Your Garage More Comfortable

If a full-scale garage conversion doesn’t fit your budget or your architectural plans, you can still make your garage more comfortable. Create an open-air activity space, wine bar, or just a general gathering spot for hangouts with family and neighbors.

While these smaller projects fall short of creating fully habitable living space, the advantage is that they are easier and less expensive to build.

Install Epoxy Coating or Floor Mats

Garage floors can be ugly, cracked and spotted with oil, grease, paint and all the dirt and grime that comes along with a garage. Improve the look and feel of your garage in just a few hours by applying a clean epoxy coating to the garage floor.

Section Off “Zones”

With two- or three-car garages, you can section out one of the vehicle stalls with a wall, movable room divider or even designer curtains. Convert the new space into an at-home gym, yoga studio or home office.

Build an Open-Air Bar

Add a bar or casual seating area off to one side of the garage, while keeping vehicle and home storage in place. These informal areas may include bars, beer kegs, wine coolers, table games or anything else your family and friends can enjoy.

Add Wi-Fi

Any proper garage hangout needs a screen for sports, movie nights or gaming with friends. Add a Wi-Fi booster to improve the signal quality to the garage. Or pull an additional Ethernet cable through to the garage, so that you can directly wire your devices to the home internet.

Are you considering converting your garage into extra living space? Or maybe you are simply looking to upgrade your garage to a more functional area of your home. Before you decide or start an unsuccessful Do-It-Yourself project, contact La Pera’s General Contracting! La Pera’s General Contracting in Panama City and Tampa Florida has a team of professional and licensed contractors experienced in every area of construction, from remodeling to new construction! We are equipped to help you make the right decision for your home and for your budget. We strive to give our clients options, as well as sound advice based on solutions that work. If you have questions about your construction project, call La Pera’s General Contracting today! We will provide you with a detailed inspection and estimate by a professional contractor.