Renovating Your Garage

Many people tend to overlook their garages, since they are primarily used for storage. Taking the time to renovate your garage may seem time-consuming, but it is wellworth the time and effort. Imagine having a new room in your home! All you need are cordless power tools for installation and wiring, and a good set of instructions.

To get you started, here are some steps you can take for renovating your garage:

• Determine whether you need to acquire any permits

If you plan on adding plumbing or electricity, you might need a basic permit. If you plan on using the garage for renting or occupancy, you should have a building inspector view the property, before and after the renovation.

• Go ahead and throw out any unused items

Make your garage more spacious by throwing away trash and getting rid of old items that you never use. If there are any items you’re not sure about, install a shelving system. Install shelves on the walls and storeyour automotive supplies, paint, tools, equipment, and so on.

• Remodel the floor

The floor should accommodate the purpose of the garage. If you want to use it as a family room, or as an extra bedroom, then carpeting is the ideal choice. Go with tiling if you want to create a laundry area or DIY area. Concrete is a good choice if you plan to work with liquids and chemicals, as it is the easiest to clean.

You might want to level out the floor – especially if you plan on turning the garage into an extra room.As for the paint, matte enamel is a good choice for concrete. It also adds traction to a slippery surface.

• Decide what you want to do about the door

The garage door can be a huge obstacle. Even though the cheapest option is to leave it intact, it might not be the best option. If the garage is going to be occupied a lot and/or rented out, you should consider having the door converted into a large window, or a solid wall.

Should you decide to keep the door intact, be sure to invest in a good weather seal. Sealing the edge with polyurethane foam or caulk will protect the garage, not only from the weather, but also from rodents, insects, and burglars.

• Take care of the piping and electricity

You will need to run piping through the wall of the house and into the garage, if it is attached to your home. For detached garages, you will need to run a circuit from the house service panel underground. A buried cable system takes more time to set up than an aerial one, but it’s well worth the time and money in the long run.

As long as you keep these steps in mind, you should be able to renovate your garage and turn it into a brand new room!