How to Build a Garage As a Living Area

Check with local authorities about building and zoning regulations. Some communities do not permit garages to be anything but "garages." Zoning and building officials may also have regulations in place governing the final appearance of a garage conversion project, with limits on the types of windows, doors, or exterior finish materials that can be used.

Confer with a building contractor about your project. The best choice in contractors is one who has done several garage conversion projects in the past in your community. Your contractor will be able to advise you about permits and regulations regarding heating, cooling, ventilation, and electrical service. A garage conversion is generally not a totally DIY project.

Create an accurate and to-scale floor plan of your current garage. Your original building blueprints are the best source for this floor plan. Note any height differences between the current garage and the rest of your home. Plan how to "transition" between your existing home and the new space with doorways, archways, and steps or by raising the garage floor to home's existing interior level.

Research practical and efficient ways to heat, cool, and ventilate the new space. Find out if your current central furnace or air conditioner can handle the additional load of another big room. Supplying heat, cooling and ventilation from the existing central system can often be accomplished with duct work extensions. Electrical baseboard heating is another option but this solution won't cover air conditioning and ventilation needs. Natural gas wall heaters or fireplaces are illegal in bedrooms in most communities.

Insulate everything. Even if your garage is currently drywalled, you will need to remove it to install insulation. Insulate the attic space over the former garage too. If your garage isn't covered with an attic, you'll want to insulate the ceiling in some way and then drywall it.

Plan to build a new support framework for the floor. Simply laying laminate flooring or carpeting over the existing concrete garage floor isn't a wise choice due to seepage issues, moisture, and comfort in cold climates. Erect a moisture barrier over the concrete, install new floor joists, and then insulate the new floor properly.

Upgrade your electrical panel to include a new circuit for the new room. Don't "piggy back" off of existing circuits in the home. Have a licensed electrician install all the new wiring.

Proceed with caution if you are thinking of featuring any bathrooms or sinks in the new room. Because the garage is usually built on a slab, all plumbing and drains, including waste pipes needed for bathrooms, will have to be specially engineered to work on slab construction and this can be expensive.