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 |  | Do It Yourself: $200-$2,000 |  | Medium: $7,500-$10,000 |  | High: $20,000+ |
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A garage already has a roof, four walls and a foundation, which makes it relatively inexpensive (as compared to a new addition) to turn it into a home office, gym, playroom, bedroom with bath or family room.
Typical costs: | - Materials (and some labor) can run $200-$2,000 for a mostly do-it-yourself, partial conversion by either weatherproofing the garage door or covering it from the inside with removable paneling. This can include adding carpeting, wallboard, a ceiling, better lighting, plumbing for a small half-bath or laundry hook-ups, a short vent to extend the home's heating and air conditioning into the garage, and installing more electrical outlets. However, the "room" will still feel a garage that's being used for other activities.
- Prices start around $7,500-$10,000 and go up to $20,000 or more (depending on the project's complexity and quality) for a complete conversion to make the garage look like an integral part of the house both inside and out -- including removing the garage door and adding windows, doors, walls, ceilings, a bathroom, closet or storage space, heating and air conditioning, electrical outlets and other amenities.
Related articles: Building a Garage, Home Addition, Attic Remodeling
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What should be included: | - First, consult the local planning department for current codes and requirements, such as insulation, wiring, ventilation, etc. Some locations require replacing the former garage space, and a building permit may be required. Many building codes now require upgrades such as residential fire sprinklers for major remodeling projects.
- A complete conversion is a complex project, and requires designing not just the use of the space, but the flooring, walls, ceiling, wiring, ventilation and more. While the garage does provide an existing framework, it's usually in extremely rough form and was built to different standards than the rest of the house. Major upgrades take about 2-3 weeks and, since most of the work is done inside, most of the work can continue even if the outside weather is bad.
- Whether it's a partial or complete conversion, plan ahead. Where will the items currently kept in the garage be stored? HomeAdditionPlus.com[1] suggests making a step-by-step conversion plan, and Better Homes & Gardens[2] shows how a garage attic was converted to a guest suite.
Additional costs: | - An illegal garage conversion done without consulting the local planning department can backfire, leading to citations for creating a public or visual nuisance, or for violating parking laws or health or building codes. Local officials can insist the situation be fixed, which might mean either expensive upgrades or undoing the conversion.
Shopping for garage conversion: | - Better Homes & Gardens lists eight things to keep in mind while hiring a contractor[3] .
- Get several estimates, making clear what is (and isn't) included in each quote; request and check references; ask about the contractor's length and type of experience; and be sure they're properly bonded, insured and licensed in your state.
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Posted by: USAF Retiree's wife in Kaufman, TX. | Posted: December 7th, 2020 01:12AM |
| Contractor: DIY and various others | Square Feet: 550 |
We removed garage door, put in a 107'X60" window and exterior door. We also framed/sheet rocked where the garage door had been and built a closet. Hired a local electrical/HVAC company to rewire for more plugs, lighting and a ceiling fan. The house has two HVAC units; but we still needed a heat pump unit for the garage. My son, the husband and I constructed the wall, installed the door and large window. We also tore out a five foot opening between the kitchen and new den. Using "This Old House" video; we created a header for the load bearing wall between the kitchen and new den. Even though the garage had been tape, bedded, plastered and painted; it needed quite a bit of repair work. I can paint, but the repairs needed were not in my wheelhouse. We hired a painter for the repairs and to paint. And after much consideration, we also had flooring installed instead of us doing it. |
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External Resources: | - www.homeadditionplus.com/Garage-Info/Garage-Conversion-Project.htm
- www.bhg.com/home-improvement/remodeling/budget-advice/garage-renovation-pointers/
- www.bhg.com/home-improvement/advice/contractors/things-to-know-about-hiring-a-cont...
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