Convert
your garage into living space
The garage is often the most
underused or misused area of a home. But if you need more space
for a home office, family room, extra bedroom or dedicated hobby
room, converting a garage into living space can be an excellent
alternative to adding onto your home or moving to a bigger home.
Keep these points in mind as you decide if a garage conversion
is right for you:
Conversions make cents
The cost of converting your garage from storage and parking
space into living quarters can be less than the cost of a
standard addition.
- Depending on the condition of your garage and local
building requirements, you can potentially avoid expensive
excavation work, which would be required if you were adding
onto your home.
- The money you save by having the shell already in place
can mean you’ll have more left over to spend on interior
finishes and extras.
- Garage conversions aren’t as disruptive or messy as
additions, which usually affect a portion of the existing
living quarters of the house.
- Many garages already have existing plumbing and
electricity that may only need upgrading, which isn’t as
expensive as installing from scratch.
- A garage conversion can make your existing home the house
of your dreams and help you avoid the expense and stressful
upheaval of buying and moving to a new house.
Planning by the book
Before you progress too far in planning a conversion, make sure
your ideas comply with local zoning regulations and state
building codes. Contact your local municipal or county building
department for advice on applying for a building permit. Every
municipality and state is different, but here are just a few
factors that you may have to address:
- You may have to provide alternative on-site parking when
eliminating a parking space. Many municipalities don’t
want additional street parking, which increases congestion
on roads. Also make sure that a garage conversion won’t
drastically drop the resale value of your home; in some
areas garages are a must for homebuyers.
- Your new living space cannot interfere with the privacy of
neighbors in adjoining properties.
- The exterior design elements of the new space may need to
be in keeping with your house and neighborhood.
- If the new space is a dedicated home-based business, there
may be tax implications since residential and business
property tax rates are different.
- All building code criteria must be met, such as structural
integrity, ventilation, stairs, plumbing and proper number
and design of exits.
Attached or Detached
Whether your garage is attached or detached will influence your
design plans. Both styles have advantages and disadvantages.
With an attached garage, you can open a direct passage from your
home to the new space, eliminating the need for exiting one
structure to get to another (a bonus, especially in northern
climates). An attached garage also increases the possible uses
of the space; for instance, a detached garage wouldn’t be
suitable as a playroom, family room or master bedroom.
Alternately, a detached garage is ideal when greater separation
is desired, as it might be for a home office, recording studio,
guest suite or living quarters for college-age children.
Partial or Full
The size of garage (single- or multiple-car parking), your needs
for living and storage space, and zoning regulations will
influence whether you convert all or part of your garage. If you
are converting the full garage, consider providing covered
parking for your vehicle(s), such as a carport. With a double
garage, you might want to convert only half of it, retaining a
portion for parking or storage. Knowing your municipality’s
requirements for parking and its regulations on additional
structures (for example, is it permitted to add carports or
storage sheds to properties?), as well as careful planning for
your storage needs will determine whether a partial or full
conversion is appropriate.
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