Whether you’ve just closed on your dream home or you’ve been in the same place for years, home improvement ideas are bound to pop up from time to time. Finding the right balance between storage, utility, and living space is one of the biggest challenges – particularly in older and smaller homes – as you grow into your home.
Some homes are designed with excess space in one area (i.e., storage space) and not enough actual, livable space. Garages and basements are one key example of this. Whether you’re car-free or merely feel like the space would be better as a fully-functional addition to the home, it’s easier to transform these dull, drab rooms than you’d think.
Let’s look into some simple solutions for quickly transforming that old adjoined or stand-alone garage into a welcoming living space!
Dealing with the Floors
One of the most noticeable aspects of any garage is the floor – it’s generally lower than the rest of the house, and most feature bland concrete slabs. If you want to transform the garage into a proper living space, you’re going to need to tackle the flooring issue first by calling someone like The Smarter Garage, who provides flooring to their customers that is durable and custom-made.
You can start by raising the floor itself if it is a recessed one – that way, it doesn’t stick out from the rest of the home in terms of its floor level. You’ll want to install one type of flooring or another.
If you’ve put something like granite garage floors in prior, you might be hesitant to make any changes here. It isn’t necessary, but transforming a home room into something fundamentally different takes time, money, and sacrifice.
Walls and Insulation
Another huge part of converting any garage into a livable space is insulating and putting up natural walls. With at least one side of the room, you’ll have to decide what to do with the garage doors. Leaving them in place is a cheaper option, but replacing them entirely will give your room a more natural feel. If you are considering giving your garage doors a new look, you could contact Kings Garage Doors for all your garage door repair needs in Lansdale, PA.
At a minimum, Insulation will also need to be considered on the other three walls. In many cases, garages are not as insulated as the rest of the home. This means you’ll need to decide how best to protect the new room from the elements.
Wiring and Plumbing
Depending on how oversized your current garage is and how well-equipped it is, your next task may turn to install the wiring and plumbing features found in any home. Most garages already have electricity, but additional electrical work (outlets, fixtures, etc.) may be needed. If you need any electrical services, work with a trusted electrician who will be able to fix your issues right away. If you are in the vicinity, you can visit their website for professional services.
If the space is large enough that you’re thinking about adding a bathroom, then you’ll need to plan. A good plumber is essential to avoid dampness and leaks. Plus, the cost of converting a garage increases by thousands of dollars when the addition of a bathroom is considered. Check out Flow Pros Plumbing for good plumbing at affordable rates.
Everybody has to consider several prominent elements when planning on a garage conversion. Depending on the size, scope, and extent of transformation, transforming a garage can be anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars. Nevertheless, the added square footage in the home can dramatically improve its overall value and pay for itself long-term.
