Think about it: would you like to have an extra 600 square feet of living space?
When it comes to garage renovations, the most popular ones are “man caves,” home offices, media centers, game rooms and gyms. However, have you ever considered turning your two-car garage into a kids’ room, spare room, or even a master suite? This is probably the most affordable and easy way to create that extra living space you crave.
By converting your garage, you will be able to save about half of the renovation costs by using the existing structures such as the walls, roof, and foundation.
Renovation Budget
If you’re converting your garage into a bedroom, you’ll want your budget to be somewhere between $20,000 to $40,000. If you’re planning to install a bathroom as well, you’ll want to add another $15,000 to that.
Even though converting your garage to a bedroom is going to cost you less than a full addition, you can’t cut corners when you’re planning your budget, choosing which contractors to hire, or planning your timetable.
Renovation Timeline
A garage remodel is likely to have different requirements than other additions or remodels, but your contractor will be able to explain all of this to you. The conversion should take four to six weeks from beginning to end.
Preparing for the Conversion
Of course, your conversion plans will use the existing structures, but you’re still going to want to prepare the floor, filling in any cracks, cleaning spills, and taking care to seal the floor against moisture.
After you have done all of this prep work, you’ll have a blank canvas that you can put any type of flooring on that you want from hardwood to carpet to tile- depending upon your budget and preference.
Plumbing Your Conversion
One of the most complicated aspects of a conversion is the bathroom, no matter what size it is. However, addressing this first will be the best way to handle your remodel.
Use Existing Walls
If you use the existing walls of your garage, you won’t have to frame the room, which means that you’ll save money and time. However, you do want to take the time to make sure the walls have been insulated and drywall has been put up.
Of course, if your garage is made of cinder block, you’ll need stud framing and insulation. This is when you would frame out any closets and/or bathrooms.
Adding Electricity to Your Conversion
It is vital that you hire a professional to install your electricity, even if you’re doing all of the other work on your own. An electrician has the knowledge and experience to install outlets and switches, hang lighting fixtures, and can even add a circuit to your breaker box if necessary.
Heating/Cooling Your Conversion
Of course, when you’re converting your garage into extra living space, you want to try to save money. One of the ways you can save some money is by extending your current ductwork from your home. This will keep you from having to install a new unit. Some other options include window units, a ductless system, or even baseboard/floor heating.
You’ll also want to make sure that you change the garage door, add a few windows and take the time to decorate the space to make it feel like part of the original home.
Replacing Your Garage Door
Finally, one of the most important aspects in a garage to living space conversion is to replace the garage door. Since you’ll be using this area for more than storage, you’ll want to make sure the garage is secure and insulated. Caspersen Garage Doors offers a variety of residential garage doors that work perfectly for this. Call today and get a free quote from one of our garage door professionals.
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