Garage Conversion Can Add Extra Living Space or a Rental Option
Often homeowners are confronted with the need for additional living space for extended families, for setting up office space or even to add space for entertaining and hosting parties. Converting your garage into an ADU allows you the flexibility of owning more space, or renting that space out to potential renters. This is where a garage conversion in Los Angeles can make sense for many homeowners.
Converting a garage into a living space can have you taking advantage of space that you already own, a structure that is ready with walls and a roof, and often even electrical connections. If you convert it into a complete living apartment, you can even rent it out and ease the burden of your still existing mortgage payments. The garage will already have load-bearing walls, a large door, a roof, and electricity.
Before Garage Conversion
After Garage Conversion
Converting A Garage into an Extra Living Space
What you need to make the space into a livable area is light, probably some insulation, a proper floor, and added power if needed. Planning a bathroom or any other plumbing system can be an additional cost that can raise a lot of problems but is one that can be solved with some ingenuity and thought.
Converting a garage means that you will no more be available to use it for storage or parking your vehicles, and you will have to either build a carport or park on the street if zoning laws in your area allow it. Building an additional structure in your yard could reduce open area, and can be much more expensive because of the need for foundations, walls, and roofs for your new structure.
You will, however, have to reconcile with losing your protected parking space. Garage conversion means that you have the same yard space as before, have the advantage of a structure that is already built.
Hiring A Contractor For Your Garage Conversion
Hiring a contractor, like Los Angeles ADU Builder will speed up the process and make your home improvement project look professional.
You will have to consider garage conversion cost, how many square feet you’d like it to be, and if street parking is an option. You will also need to consider having a backyard studio, 1 bedroom, or 2 bedroom adu. For a garage conversion project in Los Angeles, you will need to research local Los Angeles zoning codes, which we can handle for you prior to converting your garage.
Your new converted living area will have to fulfill all the conditions and building codes. Pulling permits for the conversion is also an essential step in building your ADU. After the city approves the plans we install walls, windows, doors, a full electrical system, and water supply and drainage.
Things You Need to Have in Place for a Proper Garage Conversion to an Extra Living Space
- Start with deciding what use you will make of the converted space. You can use it as an additional backyard home, an office space, a gym, or a rental property.
- Check whether you need permissions for the conversion and the building codes that will apply.
- You will have to create windows to provide natural light and ventilation and will require a certain percentage of your floor area. Instead, you may be able to completely remove your garage door, and fill that gap up with full height glazed doors and windows.
- Garages often may have low ceilings, but you need to have a clear height of at least 8 feet, which can be difficult if you are raising the floor height. Most garage floors are at a lower height than your attached house and may need raising, in which case the ceiling height can turn critical. You can always leave the floor at the same level and have steps, but these can be awkward.
- You may require to insulate the walls and roof, or even the floor if you plan for the converted space to have climate control.
- Most garages will have a single light and possibly a power outlet, but if you need this to be enhanced you may have to install a new circuit that you can add to your mains power board.
- Depending on how your garage is attached to the house, you may have to plan the entry to it from inside your house.
Los Angeles ADU Builder can help you coordinate all these details and give you our expert advice about garage conversion in Los Angeles. Contact us today to learn how you can easily convert your garage to an ADU that works for you!