You may have decided to take in a few relatives or your kids are growing older, so they no longer want to share a room. Moving to a bigger home might be the easiest solution but it is not exactly the most affordable. The extra space you might be looking for is probably sitting in your garage. However, before jumping into a new DIY project and converting your garage into a spare bedroom there are a few things to consider.

You Will No Longer Have This Storage Space

The garage is typically used to store things. This can be anything from your cars to that treadmill you never got around to using. Once you decide to convert this space into a bedroom you will no longer have this place as storage. Therefore, unless your garage is currently empty it would be good to take the time to get rid of things you do not need. Declutter this space and live without this extra storage space for a few months to see if you can truly function without it.

Converting The Garage Is Not Easy

Looking at your garage space it may appear as though all you need to do is move everything out of it and move your bed in. However a garage is equipped with a foundation, roof and walls, but that does not mean it is move-in ready. A few things that you need to have in your garage when converting it into a room include

  • Insulation, such as spray foam insulation, to keep you warm during the winter and cool during the summer
  • Windows and doors to help to bring in natural light and make the space feel like a regular room.
  • Heater and AC unit are needed because insulation will only do so much. If you live in extreme temperature, then both of these units will come in handy.

Adding all of these additional fixtures will quickly increase the cost of your move in project.

Secure Building Permits

Before you begin demolishing and renovating this extra space, it is important to have a building permit. The permit will allow you to convert your garage into an additional room. Without it you may find yourself in trouble with your city. The building permit can usually be picked up at your local city hall.

Converting your garage into a spare bedroom is a long and exciting task. However, you may find that the benefits outweigh the negatives. Use these tips as a checklist to ensure that you are ready to begin renovating your garage.

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