How To Convert A Garage Into A Bedroom

Start by completely clearing out the garage. This may include moving items that were in your garage to a basement, shed, or rented storage unit. You can also consider renting a dumpster for unwanted items. The dumpster rental could also come in handy when you need to discard building materials throughout the renovation.

The prep stage is also a good time to seal any cracks that you see in the garage's floors or walls using epoxy crack filler. Once the garage is fully cleared out, vacuum all surfaces to remove any lingering dust and debris. Finally, clean the floor and walls with a mop and warm, soapy liquid.

With the garage door being the biggest obstacle to this space feeling cozy, removing the garage door to add a closed-off wall is the first major step in the renovation process. Next, you'll need to build an exterior wall to close up the space. Depending on the material you choose for your exterior siding, getting the front of your newly renovated garage matching the rest of your home from the outside will cost anywhere from $3 to $28 per square foot. Here's a look at average siding prices:

• Brick: $9–$28 per square foot

• Aluminum: $2–$5 per square foot

• Vinyl or engineered wood: $3–$12 per square foot

If your current garage layout doesn't already have a window that provides a way to exit in an emergency, you'll need to build an egress window to satisfy fire code requirements. While egress windows can be casement or sliding windows, they must be low enough to ground to allow a person to exit easily in the case of an emergency while also meeting all of the other local code requirements that are in place where you live. If your garage does not currently have an egress window, building one into the new exterior wall that will replace the existing garage door is more cost effective than cutting a window into an existing garage wall. Expect an egress window to cost between $300 and $950.

It's smart to bring in a structural engineer to ensure that your garage's foundation is stable and sound before building your subfloor. The technique you use to build a subfloor will vary based on local building codes. However, the goal is to get the new floor to match the existing floor height throughout your home. To achieve this, you will need a main beam that is anchored to the knee wall. You can use 2 x 10 boards for the rest of the floor. Subfloors should also be insulated with an underlayment material that can consist of foam, fiberboard, or a moisture barrier. In general, underlayment adds $0.50 to $5.40 per square foot. Finally, you can add new floors of your choice over the subfloor framing. While adding new flooring generally costs $12.50 per square foot, this is what you'll pay on average based on flooring material:

• Tile: $15–$20

• Hardwood: $6–$25

• Engineered Wood: $4.50–$16

• Stone: $6–$20

• Carpeting: $3.50–$11

• Laminate: $3–$13

• Vinyl: $2–$14

• Linoleum: $3–$12

• Polished concrete: $2–$16

• Bamboo: $2–$20

• Cork: $5–$19

If your garage to bedroom conversion will include a closet or bathroom, you'll need to build interior walls to split up the space. Depending on your home's layout, you may want to also frame out a hallway or "mud area" that creates a natural entry into the bedroom. Note that you'll only be able to add drywall to finish your walls after you complete your electrical and rough plumbing work. Expect the cost to drywall a garage to range from $360 to $1,700.

Finish the Ceiling

If your garage needs a finished ceiling, the cost for a drop ceiling ranges between $1,078 and $3,315. Vaulting the ceiling for a more spacious look costs an average of $19,900. If you'd like a more custom look, the cost for a tongue and groove ceiling is between $600 and $3,400.

While your garage may already be connected to your home's electrical system, it's likely that you'll need more light fixtures, switches, and outlets now that the space will be part of your living area. An electrician can install wiring for ceiling lights and create boxes for your outlets and switches. Each box can cost $125 to $300. Adding recessed lights will cost $100 to $300 per fixture.

For plumbing, you'll need to add what plumbers call rough-in plumbing to create pathways for any future shower drains, sinks, or toilets you plan to add if you're building a bathroom inside your new bedroom. While rough-in plumbing for a single bathroom costs around $6,500, costs can range from $3,000 to $20,000 based on the specifics of a project.

Decide How to Add Heat

If your garage isn't heated, you'll need to either tie the space into your existing HVAC system or create an independent heat source. The cost to have a professional extend ductwork into your garage can range from $2,000 and $7,000. Installing a ductless mini split system to provide heat to your newly finished garage can cost between $2,500 and $3,600.

Most homeowners doing a garage to bedroom conversion hire professional insulation experts to add insulation. Fiberglass, rock, slag wool, and cellulose insulation can range from $1,500 to $4,500. Spray foam insulation costs an average of $2,885. For your new exterior wall that is replacing the garage door, only fiberglass or equally hardy options should be considered.

Once all of your walls and flooring are installed, it's time to put on the finishing touches. Adding wood trim to a finished garage costs $0.50 to $10 per linear foot for various quality and thickness levels. If you opt to have the finished space professionally painted, expect to pay roughly $2 to $6 per square foot.