Converting a garage into a living space is not difficult. The hardest part has already been done. The foundation, walls and roof are in place, all that needs to be done is the consideration for placement of windows, location of electrical outlets, providing conditioned air to the space and the selection of wall, floor and ceiling finishes. Plan on using materials and products made from recycled materials to create a Green design and construction project. It will save you money over the years and enhance the resale value of your house too. Use energy-rated materials, doors, windows and utility systems if those are to be included in the project.

Things Needed:

clean garage

ideas for furniture and furnishings

sketch design by homeowner

design plans and specifications from designer or architect

materials list from home store

subcontractors or contractors to complete work or DIY effort by homeowner

Find Designer or Architect

Locate a good designer or Architect to sketch some plans for your space. Ask for references and examples of similar projects they have done. Be sure to have them provide detailed specifications for materials and equipment needed, if any. A local home store can take their sketch designs and provide a complete materials takeoff if you commit to purchasing all materials and items from their store. Check to see if you will need a building permit, some localities do not require one for interior work unless substantial electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work is required. If so, those subcontractors can pull the permits for you. You can be your own contractor and pull the permit yourself, subject to the jurisdictional authority requirements. All work will need to be done to local codes and ordinances.

Sketch Furniture Layout

The homeowner living in the space will need to provide the designer or architect with a sketch or ideas of what the furniture layout will be in the room addition. Decide on the finishes wanted for the floors and walls and choose chairs, couches, tables and lighting for the space.  A good way is to clip pictures from magazines and provide them to the designers or architect with some handwritten notes.  They will ask questions and determine what is needed to finish off the room. If the homeowner is artistic, a hand drawn sketch on graph paper will work as a guide to the architect.

Clean Concrete Foundation

Most garages today have concrete floors with a very slight slope that can remain. No need to put any kind of topping for leveling the floor unless garage concrete is in bad condition. Clean the existing concrete floor to prepare for the flooring. Let concrete dry. Protect the cleaned concrete surface with oil-resistant materials like plastic sheeting or plywood sheets while work on walls, windows, doors, ceiling and mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP) work is done, if any. This is very, very important. The flooring finish is the last item to be installed (see Flooring Finish below).

Walls

If walls are wood stud with drywall (gypsum board) most of the work has already been done.  Just check the walls to see they have no dents, holes, or scratches and marks that need cleaning and repair. If so, repair with drywall repair kits provided by home store. If walls have any texture on them, match the texture or totally redo texture for a uniform surface. Ask your architect for texture suggestions and the home store for material recommendations. If your wood frame wall is not insulated and some is desired or required, consider spray foam between the studs or applied insulation boards under the drywall. Ask your architect for recommendations according to that required by code and the geographic area of the project. Insulation for warm climates is different than that for cold climates. The home store can also provide suggestions.

Windows

The architect can provide the necessary details for installing pre-hung windows to the garage space if there are none and some are desired. Follow the plans and ask the home store for recommendations also. Use energy-efficient, double or triple pane glass windows and use the operable type for air circulation. Provide wood trim around window to match the remainder of house.

Doors

A garage entry door from main house will already be present. Just check the condition and replace or repair door with a pre-hung door unit if existing door is in bad shape. Plan on leaving the garage door in place if you want for future resale in case a new owner desires to convert the room back into a .garage.  Just have the architect provide details to wood frame a wall leaving the garage door in place and that it is secured firmly from the inside before the framing and drywall is installed. The garage door opener and spring devices can be removed and stored in the attic for future reinstallation by another homeowner.  Most garages will already have a pull-down stairs to the garage attic space which you can leave in place, just install a hook at the ceiling to loop the rope handle and cord to for when you need access to the attic.

If a walk through exterior door is desired, then simply remove the entire garage door, and provide a wood-framed wall and drywall with a pre-hung door for exit purposes. Outside finishes to the framed garage door opening will need to match the building exterior or can be siding, stucco, or some other panelized exterior materials.  Be sure the exterior wall is well insulated (see Walls above)..

Flooring Finish

Clean concrete floor of all construction debris.  Remove protective covering on concrete floor. Broom sweep clean, then clean with appropriate cleaner recommended by manufacturer of the material chosen as the new floor finish. Finish can be stained concrete, wood, carpet, or hard surface like a vinyl, clay or concrete tile. There will probably be a slight lowering of the original garage concrete floor of about 1-1/2 inches at the house wall that may or may not be desired to be raised. As appropriate, use the subflooring material recommended by the finish flooring manufacturer's product as instructed if decision is made to raise the floor. If a level floor is needed, some method must be used to make up the difference  from the original floor dimensions. This can be any number of materials from a concrete topping to an applied surface. Let the final floor finish dictate what is used according to architect's specifications, home store suggestins, and flooring finish manufacturer recommendations.  When final floor finish has been installed, apply perimeter base at walls if needed (car[et may not need a base). Use base material to match flooring or a simple wood base painted to match drywall color.

Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical

These are technical areas that the average DIYer may not not want to tackle without professional help. The architect can provide good advice, but if extensive work is required engineering help will be needed. Sometimes subcontractors will provide these services as part of their bids for the project, but make sure all work is designed and installed per local codes. The home store as well as the architect can provide suggestions for qualified engineers and subcontractors that do this type of technical work. Try to avoid installing a complete HVAC system for the single room remodel tough, as it will be extremely costly to start from scratch. Plan on trying to tap into the nearby air conditioning and heating ducts if the whole house system is capable of carrying the garage remodel space.

Tips and Warnings:

Choose energy-certified and rated products and materials.

Select materials made from other recycled materials.

Make garage conversion into a Green project.

Use only certified and licensed designers, architects, and contractors.

Be careful with all electrical and power tools.

Don't do work without a permit; local building inspectors will make you tear down and out any work done without a permit if one is required