Garage Conversion
Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful Garage Conversion project
December 2021
Homeowners have many important questions about their Garage Conversion Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Garage Conversion investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?
Costs, materials and best practices for the example Garage Conversion project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.
Garage Conversion - Project Overview
Important considerations for this project are summarized below.
| Project description | Convert existing garage into living space. Insulate, sheetrock and finish walls and ceiling area. Add vinyl reslient flooring, electric circuits and lighting. Use basic grade of materials and installation quality. |
| Project size | 380 square feet |
| Do-it-yourself assessment | The typical Garage Conversion project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Garage Conversion requires attention to detail and careful planning. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Returns will be impacted by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Garage Conversion project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Results vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and prudent design choices. A typical Garage Conversion project completed with good or better quality will return less than 60% of its initial cost. |
| Green rating | Garage Conversion projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials. |
Garage Conversion - Project Plan and Details
The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Garage Conversion. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Garage Conversion project. Click any task name for task details and an up-to-date Homewyse example cost estimate for the task - this essential information will help you control Garage Conversion project cost and quality.
Do you expect to spend more than $250 on your Garage Conversion project? If so, it is important create and manage a detailed plan for all project activities.
| Task | Service Provider | Time | Difficulty | - |
| Specify Finishes | Interior Designer | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Specify Materials | Interior Designer | 2 to 15 d | - | |
| Frame Ceiling | Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Frame Interior Wall | Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Frame Ceiling | Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Appliance Circuit | Electrician | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Hang Ceiling Drywall | Drywall and Plaster Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Batt Wall Insulation | Insulation Contractor | 1 d | - | |
| Install Batt Ceiling Insulation | Insulation Contractor | 1 d | - | |
| Install Sheetrock | Drywall and Plaster Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Skim Coat | Drywall Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Seal Door | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | - | |
| Seal Windows | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | - | |
| Install Prehung Door | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | - | |
| Install Base Molding | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Door Casing | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Paint Rooms | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Install Vinyl Tile Flooring | Flooring Contractor | 1 d | - | |
| Install Ceiling Lighting | Electrician | 1 d | - | |
| Install Electric Baseboard Heater | Electrician | 1 d | - |
Garage Conversion - Proven Ideas and Project Tips
Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Garage Conversion project plan.
- To maximize return on the Garage Conversion project, limit cost to no more than 2.1% of home's total, post project value
- For best home resale value, follow a consistent design and decorating theme throughout the home
- To keep Garage Conversion costs low, do not move walls or relocate plumbing fixtures or electrical boxes
- Perform major Garage Conversion work with permits to help protect value at resale time
- For best resale value, select components, appliances, finishes and fixtures of comparable quality
- Understand how your project will change property taxes (assessed value) and home insurance - before the project begins
Hiring Local Professionals
Our FREE hiring guide helps you hire wisely, get quality craftsmanship and understand fair pricing for your specific project.
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