How to Build a Living Space in a Commercial Building

Examine and sketch the locations of all the existing amenities of the building. Note whether or not there are bathrooms, showers, a hot water heater, floor drains or a wet wall, natural gas or 220 electric service. A wet wall has a sewer drain running through it to the main sewer line. Decide which amenities you can live without and which you must have.

Sketch any necessary electrical upgrades, noting where GFCI outlets need to be installed, adding wall and floor outlets and upgrading junction boxes as needed. Have your design reviewed by a licensed electrician to ensure that you have not omitted anything and that any potential safety issues are addressed before installation. Michael LaLena of Structured Home Wiring recommends, "run too much wire instead of too little. An unused wire costs little, but trying to run a new wire after the walls are up can take hours." This is a concept he calls future wiring.

Sketch the sleeping, eating, office and recreation areas, if any, noting room dimensions, intended furniture and lighting placement, cabinetry needed, and any other factors that arise during planning. Estimate the materials needed to finish the areas to be converted. Consult your local building inspector for minimum standards regarding the placement, strength and durability of the materials to be used.

Make a sketch of the needed plumbing upgrades. Rona.ca recommends that you "draw a list of all the fixtures that need to be connected to the water supply, and determine their precise location. Rough plumbing includes all water inlet and drainage pipes connected to plumbing fixtures and household appliances...." Have a licensed plumber review your plans to ensure that you have complied with local codes and to troubleshoot potential problems in advance. For example, incorrect drain angles can lead to sewage backups.

Purchase the needed materials. Frame your living space one wall at a time. Framing is the skeleton of your home. The spacing and placement of vertical studs and horizontal beams and trusses ensures adequate support for ceilings, floors and roofs. According to Hometime.com, "Standard walls are 8 to 12 [feet] high. Older homes and warmer climates will have 2x4 wall studs. Newer homes in colder climates will use 2x6s, to create more space for insulation."

Install your electric lines, junction boxes and any service upgrades needed. Plumb your living space and test all lines for leaks before finishing your walls.

Install drywall. Paint walls or apply wall coverings.

Install counters and appliances. Arrange furnishings as desired.