Converting Garage Attic Into Living Space

Converting an attic into a living space is one method of gaining an extra room without moving.

Converting garage attic into living space.

Once you convert attic space into living space you need to bring it up to the standards of modern building codes. Because this room is next to the roof you ll find it feels cooler and warmer than the rest of the house depending on the weather outside. Reclaiming the space under your roof also avoids many zoning and easement concerns common chores when adding onto a house. A garage conversion can be one of the quickest and most affordable ways to add living space to a home.

The missing piece of information is those miserable little beasts called the building and energy codes. Website estimates for a complete attic conversion vary between 24 000 and 36 000 16 000 and 21 000 depending on size and specification. Have at least 7 feet of vertical clearance in the majority of the room be a minimum of 7 feet wide and have at least 70 square feet of space available. In california washington portland austin denver boulder and other places across the united states converting an existing permitted structure like a garage has never been easier.

According to the national association of realtors converting attic space into a bedroom that includes a small bath has a national median cost of 65 000 and retains 61 percent. One way is by working within the home s existing footprint and converting the attic into living space. Converting an attic to a living area yields a modest return on your investment. With full home additions costing 75 000 minimum and usually far higher many homeowners search for creative ways to increase living space without overly decreasing their bank account.

While converting an attic into a living space can carry a hefty up front price tag the remodeling costs could end up being an investment that increases your home value. When converting an attic to a living space it must meet the same building requirements as the other rooms in your home. For this reason it s important to properly insulate the space. The foundation walls and roof are already in place.

If the garage is attached to the house the entry already exists. The wiring is often sufficient. Now that you ve done the preliminary research here are a few ideas for converting your attic into usable living space. To meet most building codes your attic should.

In fact converting your garage into a granny flat is one of the only ways to legally turn it into living space. That means you ll need 2x10 floor joists or maybe 2x8 in rare circumstances and at least 2x12 roof rafters.