DIY Garage Conversion

Planning

• The most important step in any home improvement project is the planning stage. In this step, you will have to determine exactly what the room will be used for and what elements must be included in the project. For instance, if the garage conversion is for a home office you will need sufficient electrical outlets and phone jacks for your office equipment.

  Sketch out on paper where you plan to place furnishings, equipment and other items that you envision for the room. The sketch will help you to determine the correct contractors to contact to install electrical outlets or plumbing equipment.

Permits

• You will need permits to convert your garage into a living area. A building inspector can tell you what type of requirements are necessary for changing a garage into a living space or workspace. Learn the codes in your local area so that your plans for the garage conversion include all of the requirements.

  The plan should include costs for walls, floors, doors, electrical work and plumbing, if necessary.

Contractors

• You may have to hire contractors for part of your garage conversion project. Plan to hire electricians and plumbers for work such as installing electrical outlets, lighting, bathrooms and sinks or kitchens in your garage project. It is important to hire a professional for these areas of the conversion if you do not have the experience to do it yourself.

Floors

• Many options are available for garage floors. Consider carpet for a garage turned into a playroom for the kids. This provides a soft floor for the kids to play on so that they don't bump their knees on hard concrete floors.

  Hardwood flooring is available for installation over a concrete floor. This is a lovely choice for a home office or family room. Painting the concrete is an inexpensive solution to the garage floors, but there is a great deal of work involved in preparing the floor for paint.

Doors and Walls

• The doors to your garage are large enough to accommodate a vehicle. When converting the garage, closing in the door is an option. This will eliminate the garage look in your new room. Or you can leave them just as they are, but make sure that they are waterproof and can keep wind and rain out of your new room.

  The walls in a garage will not have the proper insulation for a living space. Install insulation to keep the room warm in the winter months. Most likely, your building codes will mandate that you do this to a room that is used as a living space.