In cities where real estate is expensive, and homes are squeezed into small lots (Hello, Los Angeles!), garage conversions are becoming increasingly common. With no space to expand outward, homeowners are carving out additional square footage by transforming the garage into a secondary living room or an in-law suite.
If you’re thinking about evicting your vehicle to create more usable space, keep reading. We put together a comprehensive guide so that you can consider all aspects of the project.
Why Do You Want to Convert Your Garage?
This is an important question because the answer will determine what type of conversion would best suit your needs.
Will it be an in-law suite/guest room?: If you want a functional space that guests and in-laws can live in, you’re looking at a sizable undertaking. You’ll need to add all creature comforts, including plumbing for a bathroom (maybe even a kitchenette), heating and cooling, insulation, and drywall. Plumbing will also require drainage and will easily be the most expensive part of the project. The garage door will be replaced with a formal entrance. Whether it’s a single door or patio doors, you’ll need to work closely with a contractor to ensure that it blends with the exterior.
Will it be a place for entertaining?: Converting your garage into a secondary living room or game room is relatively inexpensive, requiring fewer amenities. For example, heating and cooling may not be necessary if you’re only spending time in the garage during mild weather. If you want to go extremely cheap, all you’d need is a couch, a TV, a cable connection. A higher-end makeover, however, will require a paint job, adequate lighting, and floor coating (more on that in a moment.)
What is your budget? Depending on your project’s scope, you can expect to pay between $5,000 and $25,000. In the case of upgrading to a full-on living space, you may need to work with an architect to draw up plans that comply with city building codes. Either way, you’ll need permits.
Will You Have Sufficient Parking?
Consider carefully whether or not you can sacrifice the parking space. How many vehicles do you currently have, and how many will you have in the future? Families with teens may soon find themselves with too many cars, too little space.
Another caveat: Will your HOA allow overnight parking in your driveaway? Some homeowners associations even have restrictions against street parking, so be sure to check first with your HOA overlords.
Parking restrictions, however, won’t rule out a dual-purpose garage. If you plan it right, a two-car garage can be used for both entertaining and parking, with one half reserved for gaming and the other for stowing your ride.
Start From the Ground Up
Whether you’re making a space for an Airbnb or a mancave where you can watch the Big Game, a quality garage conversion begins with the floor. Your garage’s dull gray concrete slab is a canvas on which we can create a stunning, durable, slip-resistant floor.
We use a polyurea basecoat. It’s more durable than epoxy which becomes brittle, cracking, chipping, and peeling within just a couple of years of installation. Polyurea, in contrast, is flexible. It can withstand extreme temperatures, hold up under your vehicle's weight, and is impervious to water, chemicals, and other spills.
Plus, the design options are endless. We mix and match our Enviroflake color options for a custom design to make your garage living space yours. Popular options include:
Adobe
Driftwood
Pebble Beach
Flint
Chestnut
Smoke
Pecan
And much more!
Call ALLBRiGHT PAINTING today at (661) 464-0771 to learn more about your flooring options.