Garage apartment conversion. Three simple words with mammoth consequences. Sure, you'll add more livable square footage. And, increase the footprint of the house without the big expense of an addition. What's more, you'll have another living space which can easily be used for a variety of purposes. But, you've got to ask yourself a few questions to determine if it's the right move.
The Pros and Cons of an Garage Apartment
So, you're seriously considering a garage apartment conversion. After all, you don't have to go through the planning and large construction project of a room addition. Which means it comes at a much cheaper cost. However, there's a few things to take into consideration before you go forward. First of all, you're sacrificing a dedicated parking and storage space. If you plan to sell in the future, that's going to present a problem.
If you’re looking for a way to enlarge your home without shelling out for a full-scale addition, converting your garage into living space typically adds about 600 square feet (assuming it’s a two-car garage). The good news is that you’ll spend less than if you build an addition. Because a garage already has a foundation, walls, and a roof, using the existing structure typically costs around half what you’d spend for an all-new addition. --House Logic.com
Several studies show that buyers strongly object to such a conversion. Then, there's the matter of pseudo-overbuilding for the neighborhood. But, if your home is typical of others on the block, with 3 beds and 2 baths and it will be 4 beds, 3 baths, that just might price it out of the neighborhood.
Cape Coral Garage Apartment Conversion How-To
If you're still set on the garage apartment conversion, you’ll need to start by obtaining the necessary building permits. And, you’ll have to begin the transformation by replacing the garage door with a typical entryway. Here's some more things that are also needed for a garage apartment conversion:
- Level and finish the floor. This will probably be a necessity since garage floors are usually sloped for drainage. Once finished, you can then install carpet, tile, engineered hardwood, or another subfloor covering.
- Upgrade the plumbing. Of course, to make it a dedicated apartment, you'll need to equip it with an independent bathroom. Also, you'll have to build-in a kitchen to make it functional.
- Upgrade the electrical wiring. Additionally, you'll need extra electrical outlets, along with light fixtures. (It's also advisable to construct two or three window spaces for natural light.
- Insulate, drywall, and install climate control. To finish it all, you'll need to add insulation, hang drywall, and finally equip it with climate control to make the transformation complete.
When you need remodeling debris disposal done for your garage apartment conversion, phone 800-433-1094 or visit AAA Rousse Services.