Adding a second room to your house by remodelling the garage is a great way to boost your home’s value, the number of usable square feet in your home, and the kerb appeal of your property. Converting your garage can save you tens of thousands of dollars compared to building an addition.
If you live in the Seattle area and are thinking about turning your garage into liveable space, here are some things to consider.
Determine a Budget
One of the least expensive ways to add living space to your house is to transform the garage. Adding square footage to your house is sometimes a pricey endeavour that may also run afoul of zoning laws. Comparatively, building on to a home can cost tens of thousands of dollars whereas converting a garage typically costs between $6 000 and $1 9 000.
The price will depend significantly on the size of your garage and the purposes you plan to serve inside. A simple living room or guest bedroom may be furnished for about $5,000. It’s not uncommon for the plumbing requirements of a makeover to drive up the price of a kitchen or bathroom, two of the room’s most prominent features.
Insulation
If you want to use your garage as a living area, you must insulate it. Insulation prevents outside noise and air from entering a building. Without insulation, your new house might be too cold to live in during the winter and too hot to live in during the summer.
Even if you have no intention of converting your garage into liveable space, you may still benefit from insulating it. It is possible to reduce your heating and cooling bills by insulating your garage. It will be easier on both your air conditioner and heater because the garage won’t become too hot or cold.
Is Permission Necessary?
Since you will be changing the original function of a room in your house, you will need to apply for and get the appropriate construction permissions. That said, the answer varies depending on where you call home. In certain municipalities and residential areas, people are obligated to have access to a garage or other covered parking spot.
Find out if you need a permit from the city’s zoning office. This area may be closed to you if you do not have the required permissions. Instead, the opposite will happen, and your home’s value will fall dramatically.
What Other Rooms Can Be Made Out of the Garage?
Garages may serve many purposes, but nowadays many people are putting in bedrooms for visitors. Your goals for the new area will dictate the design of the garage you construct. Here are a few examples of what a garage might be used for after being renovated:
- Baby’s room
- The Art Department at Work
- Communal space for the family
- Cinema Room in a Man Cave
Each of these areas is just as important as an extra bedroom when it comes time to sell your house. There are no limits to your creativity when designing a garage. The only things standing in your way are monetary and legal restraints in your community.
How to Construct a Garage Conversion into a Guest House
As a homeowner, your options for a guest house built out of your garage are nearly limitless. It’s the ideal solution for when the college-aged children bring their friends home from school or when the in-laws come to town and the noise level in the main house rises to unacceptable levels.
Even though the idea is brilliant in theory, those without training in interior design may struggle to put it into practise. Everything you need to know about building a garage apartment or small house next to your main dwelling is included in this article.
Verify that the detached garage complies with all building standards.
Building a detached garage from the ground up requires the assistance of professionals like architects and engineers, in addition to the approval of the local zoning board. It might be quite expensive to pull it down and start again if you don’t receive the city’s approval.
If your garage conversion is up to code, you’ll be able to rent it out or advertise it as a separate unit in the event that you decide to sell your home. After securing the required authorizations, construction designs may be developed.
Use a facade similar to that of the primary house
The outside of a garage conversion is usually the easiest part to design. The guesthouse shouldn’t seem like an afterthought or tacked on addition.
Using the same or comparable trim, façade components, windows, shutters, and roofs may help the detached garage fit in with the main house.
Appearance-wise, everything should go together seamlessly, as if by design.
When planning and constructing a detached garage guest home, don’t scrimp on the glass. Not installing enough windows at the outset might make your guest home feel dark and gloomy, which is the opposite of what you want.
Skylights are another option to consider if you’re afraid to instal more windows on the sides, which can assist to divide the cost of needing to side it (though they are an investment in and of itself).
FAQs About Garage Renovation
Can A Garage Be Used As A Bedroom?
You can convert a garage into a bedroom legally if you obtain a planning permit and conform to your state’s residential building standards. This applies to most states. It would help if you always had a permit to convert your garage, and you need to follow applicable guidelines.
How Much Does It Cost To Convert A Garage Into A Bedroom?
A garage can be turned into a simple bedroom or living space for as little as $5,000, but if you require plumbing for a bathroom or kitchen, the project can cost closer to $25,000.
Can You Have A Washing Machine In The Garage?
Garages often get very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Extremes of temperature aren’t ideal for washing machines. If it’s particularly hot, especially if running consecutive loads, things can overheat.
How Much Does It Cost To Add Plumbing To A Detached Garage?
Adding plumbing to a detached garage or shed roughly 20 feet away from home will cost $1,100 for the average homeowner. Homeowners pay between $900 and $1,300 to run the lines when adding plumbing to detached garages and sheds.
Can I Put A Bathroom In My Detached Garage?
You can put a bathroom in your detached garage but get the building permit first. Arranging for the utilities, especially water supply & drainage, will take effort, time and money. Bathroom fixtures & fittings, wall framing, tiling, etc., are other important costs in your budget.
Insulate Your Guest House Thoroughly
Insulation is a must for any detached garage addition, but especially for those that double as guesthouses. Regardless of how close or far away the garage is from the house, the frequent opening and closing of the door has a significant impact on the temperature inside.
To maintain a pleasant temperature inside your brand-new detached garage, quality insulation is a must.
Your detached garage guesthouse will always be a pleasant temperature with the help of your automated Smart Home thermostat. If the guest home has a smart thermostat, it can be kept at a constant, eco-friendly temperature even when no one is staying there. By increasing the level of insulation in your guesthouse, you can save your monthly energy costs and help the environment.
Design the House’s Utilities, including Water, Electricity, and Gas.
In connected garages, the electrical and plumbing lines may be laid above ground, but in a detached garage, trenches will need to be dug. The plumbing, utilities, and electrical setup for your detached garage guest house should take into account its final configuration.
Overhead, recessed, and track lighting should not be skimped on, and the placement of the bathroom should be deliberated over in advance. It’s impossible to have too many channels in today’s highly connected society.
Foreseeing the need for a sink, stove, refrigerator, and lighting in a future kitchen or wet bar installation is a good idea.
If you speed through the first steps of installing the wires and pipes or don’t give it your full attention, you’ll likely come to regret it later.
The Steps to Your Guesthouse
If you plan to put the living quarters of your detached garage guest house above the carport, the door to the garage, and any storage cabinets or shelves containing garage-related equipment, you will need to choose a staircase type.
You should take into account not just your own tastes, but also any relevant zoning or other building restrictions. As an added bonus, if the garage is adjacent to the main home, having an outdoor staircase in the second-story guest house can help visually separate the living space from the garage.
While a traditional staircase constructed within the garage might work, a spiral staircase would be a better use of the available area.
Decorate as needed
When furnishing a garage apartment, you should think about how the garage’s use will effect the durability of the carpeting, curtains, furniture, and other interior design elements.
If the garage section of the detached garage will be used for equipment, chemicals, automobiles, and projects that will cause debris, you should pick strong furniture even though the guest house is located above the area where they are stored and utilised.
As this isn’t the primary living quarters, it’s more prone to be sullied by dirt and other debris tracked in from outside. If your guest house is loft-style, it’s a good idea to place a heavy-tread, durable carpet on the stairwell to trap dirt and keep it out of the guest quarters.
Restoration & Rebuilding of Garages
The process of transforming a garage into a comfortable cottage is time-consuming and requires a lot of hard work. You will need to expand the present garage to accommodate all of the vehicles and yet leave some space for the living quarters. You still can’t get it done on your own, so it’s time to bring in the pros.
Transform Your Carport? Weigh These Seven Factors
Remodeling a garage into a habitable room is a frequent and economical way to add square footage to a home. Currently, every level, from the cellar to the loft, is complete. As simple as it may seem, there are occasions when trusting the wiring alone is sufficient. If the garage is attached to the main home, there is no need for this entrance.
Garage conversions may be done in a way that doesn’t detract from the look of the rest of the house, giving you more usable space without altering the overall character of the building. Attached garages may be converted into a variety of useful and comfortable living spaces, including large family rooms and well-appointed gourmet kitchens.
The first thing to do is assess the existing condition of the garage and any problems or opportunities it may present. Here are seven considerations to keep in mind while you deliberate.
Opener, Garage
The garage door is usually the first thing to go during a garage conversion. The space made available by the removed door must be completed in a way that complements the rest of the home and provides a useful function for the enlarged living spaces.
There are two options for installing large windows and doors such as patio doors and bay windows: building a new wall specifically for them, or opening up an existing wall. New front entrances are frequently constructed in place of garage doors.
Floor
The standard foundation for a garage is an uninsulated concrete slab that is sunk several inches below the finished floor level inside. A garage door and a drain can be sloped off the slab.
You may want to instal a kerb at the bottom of the garage door opening to stop water from seeping into the new room and causing damage to the wall frame. There’s also the question of whether or not the floor requires levelling.
Adjusting the Temperature
The house’s HVAC system may be simply expanded to heat and cool the garage because of their close proximity. If that’s not the case, you should look into other options (heat can be supplied by electric baseboards, gas space heaters or wood stoves, for example, while a room air conditioner can handle warm weather).
Before you worry about heating and cooling the building, you need insulate the walls, floors, and ceiling first. An additional option is available in the form of radiant floor heating systems, which may be easily installed over an existing concrete floor.
Wiring
If the converted room will need a large increase in electrical demand, adding at least one new 20-amp circuit should be considered. Although most garages only require one circuit of electricity for illumination, larger garages may require more.
It’s possible that the updated space may need many more circuits in order to power a fully-functional kitchen. If you plan to turn your detached garage into a habitable space, you may link electrical wiring from your house to the garage using an underground conduit.
Plumbing
This might prove to be the most challenging aspect of renovating your garage. If you’re planning on installing a water line to your garage, don’t forget to provide equal attention to the drainage system at the same time. One who is skilled in plumbing, like a plumber, may help you narrow down your options. It may be possible to convert the laundry/utility room between the garage and the home into a bathroom. Most of the cost associated with transforming a garage comes from installing water and sewage pipes.
Damage to Parking and Storage Facilities
Garage clutter may be alleviated in a number of ways, including the construction of a shed, the relocation of some belongings to a more suitable storage area, or the organisation of a garage sale. If you want to protect your cars from the elements, you should think about building a carport. You may swap out your attached garage with a detached one and convert the previous one into habitable space if you have the space on your home.
Combining in
The outside of the converted area shouldn’t make it appear like it was tacked on; rather, it should give the impression that it was always a part of the main building. Spend some time making sure the landscaping, window and door colours and designs, and siding all go well together. Making use of a garage for living space can be accomplished in a way that conceals the transformation completely.
Required Equipment
Create a warm and inviting space for guests without interfering with the garage’s core use. Move things inside if you can’t heat or cool the garage and terrible weather is on the horizon.
- Material for cleaning
- To Cover With Color or Material
- Cloths or screens for the windows
Rug\sFurniture\sAccessories
You should make sure the storage area is completely clean. Sweep and mop the floor even if it is made of cement. Remove any cobwebs that may have accumulated in the cracks. Put away or move to a less convenient spot (such a shed or garage) anything that won’t be utilised.
The next step is painting, assuming the walls are complete. As an alternative to more permanent or time-consuming measures, you may hang up panels of fabric or curtains all over the room. Using sturdy string or fishing wire and tiny hooks, suspend the items from the walls.
The strings may be removed once your business has departed. Fabric will look better than bare walls, offer cosiness and seclusion, and make the area feel more complete.
Close the blinds, shades, or folding screens to protect your privacy. Utilize a folding screen or drapes to hide the improvised bedroom from curious onlookers if you will still require access to the garage.
Relax on a plush, huge carpet or area rug.
Garages benefit greatly from lightweight, multipurpose furniture. Rest your weary heads on a borrowed air mattress or futon. Use the couch or borrow a bedside table from another room. Place a foldable chair and clothes rod there to make the space more accommodating.
Add some furnishings to the garage to make it a more comfortable overnight spot. To keep cool in the summer and warm in the winter, a fan or space heater might be useful additions to your home. The space around the bed should be brightly lit. Create a centrepiece out of fresh flowers or a group of fragrant candles. You might also plug in a room deodorizer to leave behind a fresh scent.
Conclusion
Converting a garage into a living space typically costs between $6 000 and $1 9 000. A simple living room or guest bedroom may be furnished for about $5,000. It is possible to reduce your heating and cooling bills by insulating your garage. How to Construct a Garage Conversion into a Guest House. There are no limits to your creativity when designing a garage conversion.
Everything you need to know about building a garage apartment or small house next to your main dwelling is included in this article. The ideal solution for when college-aged children bring their friends home or when the in-laws come to town. Not installing enough windows at the outset might make your guest home feel dark and gloomy, which is the opposite of what you want. Placing of the bathroom should be deliberated over in advance. Decorating should take into account how the garage’s use will affect the durability of the interior elements.
Transform Your Carport? Weigh These Seven Factors. Remodeling a garage into a habitable room is an economical way to add square footage to a home. Garages can be converted into a variety of useful and comfortable living spaces, including large family rooms and gourmet kitchens. If you’re planning to convert a garage into a habitable space, consider the following options for heating and cooling it.
Most garages only require one circuit of electricity for illumination, but larger garages may require more. Consider connecting electrical wiring from your house to the garage using an underground conduit. Making use of a garage for living can be accomplished in a way that conceals the transformation completely. The outside of the converted area shouldn’t make it look like it was tacked on to the main building – rather, it should give the impression that it was always part of the garage.
Content Summary
- Adding a second room to your house by remodelling the garage is a great way to boost your home’s value, the number of usable square feet in your home, and the kerb appeal of your property.
- Converting your garage can save you tens of thousands of dollars compared to building an addition.
- Determine a BudgetOne of the least expensive ways to add living space to your house is to transform the garage.
- InsulationIf you want to use your garage as a living area, you must insulate it.
- Even if you have no intention of converting your garage into liveable space, you may still benefit from insulating it.
- It is possible to reduce your heating and cooling bills by insulating your garage.
- Is Permission Necessary?Since you will be changing the original function of a room in your house, you will need to apply for and get the appropriate construction permissions.
- Find out if you need a permit from the city’s zoning office.
- Your goals for the new area will dictate the design of the garage you construct.
- There are no limits to your creativity when designing a garage.
- How to Construct a Garage Conversion into a Guest HouseAs a homeowner, your options for a guest house built out of your garage are nearly limitless.
- Everything you need to know about building a garage apartment or small house next to your main dwelling is included in this article.
- Verify that the detached garage complies with all building standards.
- If your garage conversion is up to code, you’ll be able to rent it out or advertise it as a separate unit in the event that you decide to sell your home.
- Use a facade similar to that of the primary houseThe outside of a garage conversion is usually the easiest part to design.
- Using the same or comparable trim, façade components, windows, shutters, and roofs may help the detached garage fit in with the main house.
- When planning and constructing a detached garage guest home, don’t scrimp on the glass.
- Not installing enough windows at the outset might make your guest home feel dark and gloomy, which is the opposite of what you want.
- The plumbing, utilities, and electrical setup for your detached garage guest house should take into account its final configuration.
- Foreseeing the need for a sink, stove, refrigerator, and lighting in a future kitchen or wet bar installation is a good idea.
- The Steps to Your GuesthouseIf you plan to put the living quarters of your detached garage guest house above the carport, the door to the garage, and any storage cabinets or shelves containing garage-related equipment, you will need to choose a staircase type.
- As an added bonus, if the garage is adjacent to the main home, having an outdoor staircase in the second-story guest house can help visually separate the living space from the garage.
- Decorate as neededWhen furnishing a garage apartment, you should think about how the garage’s use will effect the durability of the carpeting, curtains, furniture, and other interior design elements.
- If the garage section of the detached garage will be used for equipment, chemicals, automobiles, and projects that will cause debris, you should pick strong furniture even though the guest house is located above the area where they are stored and utilised.
- If your guest house is loft-style, it’s a good idea to place a heavy-tread, durable carpet on the stairwell to trap dirt and keep it out of the guest quarters.
- Restoration & Rebuilding of GaragesThe process of transforming a garage into a comfortable cottage is time-consuming and requires a lot of hard work.
- You will need to expand the present garage to accommodate all of the vehicles and yet leave some space for the living quarters.
- You still can’t get it done on your own, so it’s time to bring in the pros.
- Weigh These Seven FactorsRemodeling a garage into a habitable room is a frequent and economical way to add square footage to a home.
- If the garage is attached to the main home, there is no need for this entrance.
- Attached garages may be converted into a variety of useful and comfortable living spaces, including large family rooms and well-appointed gourmet kitchens.
- The first thing to do is assess the existing condition of the garage and any problems or opportunities it may present.
- Opener, GarageThe garage door is usually the first thing to go during a garage conversion.
- The space made available by the removed door must be completed in a way that complements the rest of the home and provides a useful function for the enlarged living spaces.
- New front entrances are frequently constructed in place of garage doors.
- FloorThe standard foundation for a garage is an uninsulated concrete slab that is sunk several inches below the finished floor level inside.
- You may want to instal a kerb at the bottom of the garage door opening to stop water from seeping into the new room and causing damage to the wall frame.
- There’s also the question of whether or not the floor requires levelling.
- Adjusting the TemperatureThe house’s HVAC system may be simply expanded to heat and cool the garage because of their close proximity.
- An additional option is available in the form of radiant floor heating systems, which may be easily installed over an existing concrete floor.
- WiringIf the converted room will need a large increase in electrical demand, adding at least one new 20-amp circuit should be considered.
- If you plan to turn your detached garage into a habitable space, you may link electrical wiring from your house to the garage using an underground conduit.
- PlumbingThis might prove to be the most challenging aspect of renovating your garage.
- If you’re planning on installing a water line to your garage, don’t forget to provide equal attention to the drainage system at the same time.
- One who is skilled in plumbing, like a plumber, may help you narrow down your options.
- It may be possible to convert the laundry/utility room between the garage and the home into a bathroom.
- Most of the cost associated with transforming a garage comes from installing water and sewage pipes.
- If you want to protect your cars from the elements, you should think about building a carport.
- You may swap out your attached garage with a detached one and convert the previous one into habitable space if you have the space on your home.
- The outside of the converted area shouldn’t make it appear like it was tacked on; rather, it should give the impression that it was always a part of the main building.
- Spend some time making sure the landscaping, window and door colours and designs, and siding all go well together.
- Making use of a garage for living space can be accomplished in a way that conceals the transformation completely.
- Required EquipmentCreate a warm and inviting space for guests without interfering with the garage’s core use.
- Move things inside if you can’t heat or cool the garage and terrible weather is on the horizon.
- Remove any cobwebs that may have accumulated in the cracks.
- Put away or move to a less convenient spot (such a shed or garage) anything that won’t be utilised.
- The next step is painting, assuming the walls are complete.
- As an alternative to more permanent or time-consuming measures, you may hang up panels of fabric or curtains all over the room.
- Fabric will look better than bare walls, offer cosiness and seclusion, and make the area feel more complete.
- Close the blinds, shades, or folding screens to protect your privacy.
- Utilize a folding screen or drapes to hide the improvised bedroom from curious onlookers if you will still require access to the garage.
- Relax on a plush, huge carpet or area rug.
- Garages benefit greatly from lightweight, multipurpose furniture.
- Use the couch or borrow a bedside table from another room.
- Place a foldable chair and clothes rod there to make the space more accommodating.
- Add some furnishings to the garage to make it a more comfortable overnight spot.