Garage Conversion Guide: How to Convert Your Garage

Homeowners often face situations in which they might require more space at home.  With a garage, however, they often find themselves in luck. Garages are amongst the most underutilized spaces in homes, and with a carefully planned garage conversion, you can turn yours into an additional dwelling unit (ADU).

However, like the rest of your house, your garage must also be accounted for during a power outage. With a solar-powered generator like a Jackery Solar Generator, you can ensure that your garage has a reliable power backup option to run most of your appliances without hassle.

Key Takeaways

• Converting a garage is a popular way of increasing your home’s square footage.
• If done correctly, it can increase your home’s value in the long run.
• You’ll have to ensure the conversion aligns with all your local regulations.
• The cost of converting your garage will depend on what you want to do. Another key factor is the quality and cost of your chosen materials.
• A Jackery Solar Generator is a reliable power backup for your garage and home.

Should I Convert My Garage?

You’ll have to consider the benefits and drawbacks of a garage conversion when deciding if you should go ahead. These are listed below for your reference:

Pros of Converting Your Garage

• Converting your garage gives you additional space without building an additional structure from the ground up.
• Creating extra living space in your garage will leave your garden or lawn unaffected.
• In many cases, converting a garage can increase your home’s value, as several people will appreciate the additional living space.
• If your garage is detached from your home, the noise from the construction is less likely to disturb you within your home.
• Some garage conversions don’t require planning permissions and are also appreciated by planners.

Cons of Converting Your Garage

• If you primarily use your garage as a storage space, converting it into a living space will result in you losing storage space.
• Converting a garage may be a bad idea if you know you’ll need it at some point for more storage or to park a vehicle.
• Garage floors are often sloped and will require some fixing.
• Some garages will also require structural reinforcement before being converted into proper living spaces.

How Much Value Does a Garage Conversion Add?

The approach to garage conversions has changed with time. With a shortage in the housing market and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to people spending a lot more time at home, converting a garage into a living space, a study, or an office has become rather common.

If done right, a garage conversion will also increase your home’s floor area, which could also increase its value. However, deciding to convert your garage will depend on various factors, such as the need for extra space, whether you have a driveway to park your car in or even your area’s price ceiling.

Check if Your Garage is Suitable for Conversion

Before you convert your garage, you must check if it’s suitable for these changes based on its structure. Here are a few things:

• Check if you can replace your existing rolling door with patio doors.
• Check whether your current HVAC system will support another room. If it does, you can keep your costs low. However, if it doesn’t, you’ll have to spend money on an independent system for your garage.
• Adding a plumbing line is often the most expensive part of a garage conversion. As a result, you’ll have to decide if your garage will have a kitchenette or a bathroom attached to it.
• Will you have adequate parking or storage space after the conversion?

Costs of Garage Conversion

Converting a garage into a comfortable living space involves various elements. The whole process could cost between $6,000 and $27,500. The cost will depend on factors like your garage’s size, what you intend to convert it into, the quality of the materials you choose, and whether you’re extending any plumbing lines to it.

The table below breaks down these costs to help you decide how much you’ll need to spend on the whole project.

These costs are a ballpark. The specific costs of your garage conversion will depend on a range of factors, including the cost of materials and labor in your area.

Additionally, the cost of converting a garage will vary from one state to another. The table below gives you a rough idea of how much this would cost in several different states.

Factors to Consider for Garage Conversion

If you plan on converting your garage, there are a few important things you’ll have to consider. These are described below.

Parking Space

The first thing to consider is whether or not your garage conversion will affect your parking space. If regulations allow you to park your car in your driveway or on the street, you can convert your garage into a living space.

Appearance of the Garage After Conversion

You’ll also have to anticipate your garage's appearance after it’s converted. For example, if you don’t have enough storage space in your house and you use your garage to store knick knacks, you’ll have to think of an alternative storage location for your possessions. Similarly, you’ll also have to consider what your home will look like from the outside and whether you’re okay with your garage looking like a living space.

Space Available

The space available in your garage will also determine what you can use it for once it's converted. If you have a small single-car garage, you can convert it into a study or a home office. If it’s bigger, you can add a kitchenette or a bathroom.

Investment Worthy

A garage conversion will cost a lot of money, so you’ll have to decide if it’s worth the resources spent on it. You should also account for the cost of finding alternative storage solutions.

Consent or Building Permits

You’ll have to check whether a garage conversion will not violate any building codes or local ordinances. These ordinances and regulations govern the ceiling height, the number of outlets, the number of entrances and exits, and so on.

Additionally, these regulations may also require you to have a certain amount of covered parking, which in turn affects your decision to convert your garage.

How to Prepare for Garage Conversion?

To prepare for converting your garage, you'll need to do three key things, which are described below in detail.

Planning Permissions

The first step is to inquire if your conversion requires planning permissions. Converting an existing structure into a living space is referred to as Permitted Development, and sometimes, if there are no structural changes involved, it doesn't require any permissions. However, it’s always safest to confirm with your local planning authority to ensure you get all the necessary permissions before you start the conversion.

Building Regulations

Building regulations are specific rules that concern the following aspects:

• Structural Integrity of the Building: The building must be structurally sound and safe.
• Insulation: Good insulation helps maintain a building’s thermal efficiency and primarily lowers your heating and cooling costs.
• Ventilation: Ventilation is important to create a fresh and healthy environment with adequate breeze flowing through the interiors.
• Fire Safety: The building or garage must have fire safety measures, such as fire extinguishers and smoke alarms, in accordance with local regulations.
• Electrics and Plumbing: Any electrical and plumbing work you do must meet national quality standards.

What Kind of Room Can You Convert Your Garage To?

When you plan a garage conversion, you have several options that you can convert it to. However, these will depend on your needs. Here are a few options:

• Office/Study: If you have any remote employees at home, a garage can be a good place to design a home office.
• Children’s Playroom: If you have children, the garage can make for an ideal and safe playroom for your kids.
• Bedroom: You can convert your garage into a bedroom if you need to accommodate another family member or need space to host guests.
• Home Gym: If you’re a fitness enthusiast, a gym can perfectly use a converted garage.
• Living Room: Lastly, you can also convert your garage into a calm and relaxing living room where you can unwind with your family.

You can look for garage conversion ideas online to see what you’d like your space to look like.

How to Convert a Garage

Once you’ve prepared for your garage conversion, you'll have to start the process. There are several steps in this, which are described below.

Design and Layout

The first step is to create a design for your garage. You can hire an interior designer or do so yourself. If you’re doing this project yourself, the first step is to measure the space to know how much room you have to work with.

Then, with the measurements written down and a decision on what you plan on converting your garage into, start designing its layout. Consider the following elements:

• Spaces where windows will be installed to let in natural light and allow for ventilation.
• Depending on whether the garage is attached to the rest of your house, design the door and where it'll be installed.
• If the garage is part of the same structure, the floor should be at the same level as the house.
• Design the space for people of all abilities, and keep in mind the key purpose of the space.

Foundations and Structure

The foundation of your garage must be strong enough to bear the weight of a new wall in place of the existing garage door. Check if the foundation is thick enough. If it isn’t, you’ll have to find a one-meter footing and fill it with concrete or add concrete linen to the ground below the side walls.

Insulation 

The right thermal insulation and safety are key aspects of your garage conversion. Check the roof and add the right insulation based on the climatic conditions of your area. Your garage should have the same level of insulation as the rest of the house to ensure it’s just as comfortable.

Choose a good Damp Floor Membrane (DFM) for the garage floor, as garage floors typically lack insulation. If the garage floor is lower than the rest of the house, you can choose a suspended timber floor with about 150 mm of space to add insulation.

If the garage has a pitched roof, you’ll have to use two layers of Glass Fiber Quilt with 50 mm of space between them. A flat roof, on the other hand, will do well with one layer of durable PUR insulation board.

Electricity 

If you’re turning your garage into a dedicated living space, you’ll need to account for electricity and heating. One solution is to install a (Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) of 20 amperes. On the other hand, if you’re extending lines from the rest of the house, you should ask your electrician to check their capacity before you do so.

A house with older wires and boards might require an upgraded system, which would cost more. You’ll also have to connect the garage to the HVAC system to ensure it can be heated and cooled. Jackery Solar Generators are a versatile and reliable solution you can consider to ensure you have electricity at all times.

Plumbing

If you want to find the water and waste lines from your house, you’ll have to employ a plumber. The greater the distance between the garage and the rest of your home, the longer the lines will be. As a result, they will also cost more.

Ventilation from Doors and Windows

Ventilation is important in any living space, including a garage. The best way to ensure this is by using doors and windows. You can replace your existing garage door with a better one, create a brick wall, and make room for windows on either side.

If your garage faces the street, you’ll need permission from the building authorities to replace the door. To keep the house cool, you can install windows and trickle vents, and the latter can go in the frames of the door and the windows to ensure optimal background ventilation.

If your garage has a bathroom or a kitchen (both of which produce moisture), you’ll also need to install an Extractor Unit to divert the moist air outside and keep the woodwork from getting damaged inside.

Decorations and Final Touches

The last step is to decorate and personalize your new garage and give it a few final touches. You can do this based on your taste and what kind of mood you want to create in the new space.