Are you tired of your garage being a cluttered mess? Do you wish to use it for more than just parking your car? If so, read on for tips on how to make your garage more livable. If you’re looking for things to outfit your entire garage, GarageSmart® got you covered.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to turn your garage into a functional space you can enjoy using.
Practical Advice for Transforming Your Garage Into a Comfortable Living Area
The potential uses for renovating a garage into a living space are endless. It’s versatile enough to serve as a teen hangout, a guest suite, or a private office. Converting your garage will not only give you and your family extra living space but will also increase the value of your home.
One study found that converting a garage yielded an ROI of 80%. Therefore, that is the best option for most homeowners. However, before diving in and learning to convert a garage into a room, remember a few essential points.
Consider cleaning, utilities, and making the garage feel like a home as you plan your garage conversion.
Prioritise Zoning Research
The legalities of transforming a garage into a habitable space are crucial. Unfortunately, due to the increase in home sharing, several municipalities have made it harder to obtain licences to convert garages into living spaces.
Research the local ordinances concerning the conversion of garages into living quarters, even if you have no intention of sharing and renting out the converted area. Providing sufficient off-street parking to make up for the loss of garage parking spaces is sometimes necessary.
Think About the Layout
Whether you’re looking to expand your family’s living quarters, create a relaxing guest retreat, or add a straightforward utility room, you’ll need to carefully consider the new room’s layout. Although you may be constrained in altering the interior’s layout due to preexisting plumbing or electrical installations, you have complete control over the room’s visual presentation.
If you want to make the most of your garage conversion, consider hiring a local interior designer. But if it isn’t possible due to financial constraints, don’t fret. The room will look completely different after a fresh coat of paint and some creative (and cheap!) home embellishments.
Put up Some Insulation
Install insulation if you plan to turn your garage into a habitable space. Unfortunately, insulation is not typically present in garage walls or ceilings. Walls and ceilings must be insulated with fibreglass batting, polyurethane sprayed foam, or cellulose, which requires the removal of any existing drywall.
Apply drywall over the insulated surface. It is possible, but not trivial, to instal drywall on your own. However, find a professional to do the work for you so that it can be done efficiently and with few obvious blunders.
Lessen Your Expenses Expectations
Converting a garage into a legal living room will be a costly undertaking. Consider it an alternative, more cost-effective approach to constructing an expansion. A professionally constructed garage conversion might cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000.
Hoist the Garage Floor
It is common for garage floors to be sunk as far as inches below the main floor of the house. Raising the garage floor using an elevated or sleepers system will make the space safer and help it blend in with the rest of the house.
Disguise the Useful Parts
The garage serves as the nerve centre of your home, housing the water heater, furnace, and laundry machine. Conceal them in closets and interior walls to avoid the hassle and expense of relocating them.
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Expand the Opening
After the conversion, a door between the home and the garage should be made wider to facilitate traffic flow. If the house’s footprint permits, you can create the impression of a larger space by installing a stronger beam over the door’s header and expanding its width by half.
Cover Existing Parking Lots
Do you adore your car? Then you’ll feel sick to your stomach every time you pass this in the open driveway, soaking in the snow, rain, sun, and pine sap. Establish a carport to shield your automobiles from the elements. Make sure there is a charging station for EVs in the parking lot.
Revamp the Appearance of the Outside
It’s easy to lose sight of the garage’s outside when you’re preoccupied with the space’s newfound functionality. Dealing with an architect can ensure that the garage conversion is visually integrated with the rest of the house. This may necessitate major adjustments to the house’s fascia so it is uniform with the wall over the garage door.
Prepare Garage Door Insulation
The garage conversion can be disguised in another way by doing the reverse, for example, by keeping the door open. One perk is occasionally letting fresh air in by raising the garage door. If you decide to go this way, you need to get an insulated garage door to replace the old one.
Make a Break in the Driveway
A driveway that ends in a blank wall is a sure sign that the space was formerly a garage. Modify the driveway so it ends just before the garage if you remove the garage door. The growing bed of shrubs and plants can be created by breaking up the last few feet of concrete or removing masonry. Both driveways, as well as the garage, are visually separated by this thin wall.
Make Room for Extra Stuff
If you’ve ever watched folks move into the garage, they inevitably bring many of their belongings. Unfortunately, the garage will provide less storage space than before. A concrete slab and a watertight shed can be suitable solutions for this type of unsafe storage. Alternatively, you may rent a storage unit and move your bulky stuff there.
Flooring
It may be sufficient to merely paint your garage floor if its current condition is adequate. Power-wash it first, and then use a mortar repair compound to patch any fractures you see. Rubber gym floor tiles are an option if the floor can’t be repaired. They’re easy to clean up after spills (alcohol or motor oil) and disguise a multitude of sins.
Put It to Good Use
If you plan on turning your garage into a workshop, invest in a sturdy workbench that can accommodate your initiatives. But if you want to use it for lounging, you should also furnish it with chairs, a side table, and a television.
Need storage solutions for sprucing up that blank wall in your garage? Adding a GarageSmart® SmartWall is a quick and easy method to upgrade your garage’s storage capabilities.
In conclusion, converting a garage into a functional living space can significantly enhance your home’s value and utility. However, careful planning and professional assistance are essential to ensure the transformation meets safety and design standards. From ensuring proper drywall installation to elevating the floor and widening doorways for easier access, each step plays a vital role in achieving a comfortable and cohesive new room. Whether it’s turning the space into a workshop, lounge, or additional living unit, collaborating with an architect ensures seamless integration with the rest of your home. By investing in the right materials and design, a garage conversion can be a rewarding and valuable project.
