Getting that Extra Space
Whether you’d like an extra bedroom, home office, music room, craft room, playroom, or some other form of living space, the garage can be an ideal candidate for getting that additional space. Garages are prime areas to turn into more living space. Make sure that such a space has these elements when you convert your garage to ensure the best upgrade.
Flooring
Typically, the existing floor in any garage is a concrete slab and quite a bit lower than the house floor. Converting the garage into living space usually means installing an entirely new floor structure. There are a lot of options for doing this.
One is to construct a wood framed floor that goes with the floor in the main house. Another option is to put in a wood framed or concrete floor that’s a step or two down from the main house.
Garage Doors
When you convert your garage to a livable space, there’s always the problem of what to do with the garage door opening. Because this opening and the garage doors have such a large impact on the entire look of the house, it makes sense to fill the opening with a large-scale element.
For example, try keeping a garage door in the opening while making sure the door is weather-tight. Standard carriage-style garage doors are also good options, as they can be a featured element inside while maintaining the original garage look from the outside. You can also try using large windows or doors to fill in the opening.
Plumbing
Maybe you’d like to convert your garage into a kitchenette or a guest bath? This means plumbing will need to be added. Thinking about ways to easily add plumbing like building up the floor to provide a space for plumbing pipes underneath will help create a seamless new space with the rest of the interior.
Ceiling
Increasing the height of the ceiling is a possibility if the garage is freestanding or doesn’t have a second floor above it. A vaulted ceiling will certainly add to the room’s overall spaciousness and character.
Temp Control
Lastly, don’t forget that the new living area will need to be heated and cooled. Depending on the size of the area and its location, you may not be able to use the existing “central” heating and cooling system. If this is the case, mini split systems can be a good option.
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