More and more people are opting for garage conversions when it comes to obtaining extra living place. After the recent economy crisis, the buying power has decreased and moving to a new, larger house is not that easy. However, people are getting more creative when they are short on solutions. So what do you do if you need an extra room after your new baby is born? You choose garage conversions. What if your teen needs his own room? Same answer 🙂

Usually, garage conversions are an excellent method to add 200 to 400 square feet of living place to a home. Whether you turn it into a master bedroom, a royal bathroom or a home gym, it’s more convenient compared to building a new living area. Because garages already have a foundation, four exterior walls and a roof on top, your expenses will be low.

Even if they sound easy for a beginner DIY, garage conversions need careful planning in order to produce a room that blends seamlessly with the rest of the house.

Step 1

Assess the garage situation and make a list with the advantages of a prospect garage conversion and the problems that may arise.

Step 2

Check with your local building inspector in order to see of there are any local code requirements regarding garage conversions. In case there are structural or zoning issues, he can advise you on what are the required steps to follow. For garage conversions, you will need to obtain permits anyway, and this is a good way to learn more about the code restrictions before hiring any contractors.

Step 3

Make Garage Conversion Plans and Plumbing Installations

If garage conversions are meant to provide a new kitchen or bathroom, up front attention is needed for plumbing. Take note that generally garage floors are made of concrete and there are few options for installing a plumbing system. First, you can cut out pieces of the floor to install drainage pipes. The second option is to elevate the floor, which is more expensive and complicated. The most popular solution for kitchen/bathroom garage conversions is cutting out swaths of concrete flooring. It’s messy, it’s a hard work, but results are far better.

Step 3

Windows and New Walls

When converting garages into regular living spaces, windows are another point on the checklist. The most convenient thing to do is to frame new widows or doors into the existing garage door openings. Just replace the garage door with a new wall with windows in the desired size. Make sure the new wall is made of concrete or concrete blocks that have the same height and width as the rest of the house walls. Those structural alterations will also need building regulation approval. Don’t assume that the existing floor will support the extra load; the building inspector can estimate whether it is necessary to excavate new foundations or expose the existing ones in order to ensure the proper support.

There are a few other elements to consider during garage conversions, including wiring, heating or cooling or insulation. With patience, hard work and commitment you can extend your living space at a fraction of the costs associated with building a new house area or moving to a bigger house.

Author Bio: 4K Construction are professional Liverpool Builders Please also visit http://www.4kconstruction.co.uk