What To Consider Before Turning Your Garage Into A Room?

If you're like most homeowners, then your garage is probably just taking up space.

And if you require some extra living space, then turning your garage into a room might be the perfect solution!

Before making any big changes, though, there are a few things you'll want to consider. Keep reading to learn more!

Permits Required For The Renovation

According to Australia's Building Code (the "BCA"), a garage is indeed a Class 10a building, meaning it is not meant for human habitation.

Therefore, a Development Application and Permission from your Local Authority are needed before converting a garage into a liveable space (a reclassification to Class 1a).

Concerns To Address Before Remodeling Your Garage

Ask yourself these questions to ensure a garage convert is a right choice for your house before you start removing the door. 

Is It Ever A Good Idea To Transform A Garage Into A Living Space?

Converting a garage into a habitable room is a cost-effective way to increase your home's square footage without building an addition.

If the following apply to your situation, then you should consider a garage renovation:

• A new garage door may be installed in no time. Will the space where the overhead door was suitable for patio doors or another entrance into your home? If not, try to make the new wall fit in with the house's exterior so that it isn't immediately obvious that it was once a garage.
• You can afford heating and cooling: Check out if your current heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system can handle an extra room to save money. If that's the case, you can also extend the system to ventilate the garage. If not, you can either replace it or buy a separate system to instal in the garage to solve the problem of cold temperatures.
• You can get plumbing if needed: Call a plumber first to turn your garage into a guesthouse, in-law quarters, or studio apartment with a bathroom and kitchenette. Putting in new plumbing lines, especially drainage, can be the most costly aspect of a garage renovation.
• There are plenty of other options for parking and storing your belongings: If you decide to convert your garage, you will no longer have a place to park vehicles or store items. If you can't park reliably or need help finding a location to store your vehicle, converting the garage into a living space is not a good idea.

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Is Permission Needed To Transform A Garage?

Since you are altering the intended function of the area, you may need to obtain building permissions, but this varies by municipality.

For example, if you want to convert your garage into a liveable space, you'll need permission from the city. To apply for a building permit, you should consult with just an architect to submit a proposed floor design.

Get the necessary permits to ensure your home design complies with all the rules and regulations your municipality sets.

Minimum requirements for things like windows, doors, ceiling height, and electrical outlets may be set by local ordinances.

Depending on the specific circumstance, a deviation may be granted if you cannot fulfil any of these conditions.

The price of a permit to convert a garage often falls between $1,000 to $1,500. However, you can count on paying more for the application process if you need a variance.

Consider that local legislation or HOA rules that mandate a certain number of covered parking spaces could be prohibited by converting your garage.

If you're renovating a place that needs a permit, it must pass an inspection once you're done to ensure it's up to code and in the right area.

In What Other Kinds Of Rooms Might One Expect To See A Garage?

Each aspect of your project can be adjusted to suit your needs. For example, adhering to local ordinances may turn your garage into just about any living area you can imagine.

On the other hand, it may be more difficult to convert your garage into an apartment than to convert your garage into a single room, depending on the zone of your home.

• Converting a garage into a playroom, studio apartment, or in-law suite is viable.
• Bedroom
• Studio for the Creation of Artwork Office
• Common space for the family

Converting a garage into a living area is only restricted by your imagination and the amount of money you have available.

Will Converting Your Garage Increase The Value Of Your Home?

You will increase your home's resale value if you convert your garage into liveable space while adhering to all applicable regulations and permits.

The quality and type of new room you construct will determine how much your home is worth after the conversion is complete.

About eighty per cent of the money spent on a home improvement project will be returned to you in the form of a higher selling price.

The value of your home could drop if you decided to rebuild your garage and:

• Parking in your area is restricted to garages or garages only. If potential buyers are put off by the house's absence of a garage, you can expect to get less money for it.
• Without proper authorisation, the project went ahead and was finished. Permits are a pain initially, but they add to the project's value.
• The need for extra space for storing things is removed with this idea. If your home already suffers from a lack of storage space, eliminating the garage would only make matters worse, which could decrease the asking price.

Why Might It Be A Good Idea To Transform Your Garage?

Some of the potential benefits of a garage conversion are outlined below.

• It is feasible monetarily. The cost to transform a garage into a liveable space is much lower than that of constructing an entirely new room. You might complete most of the repairs independently or with minimal professional assistance.
• It may increase the property's market value. The square footage of a home is commonly used as a metric to determine its market worth, so adding more of it could be a good investment.
• The foundation you're building upon already exists. Working with an already-existing structure is one of the main advantages of transforming your garage. Depending on how old or new your garage is, you may or may not have to instal items like a foundation, drywall, or insulation.

To What Extent Might There Be Drawbacks To Transforming A Garage?

Some potential drawbacks of transforming a garage into a living space are discussed below.

• It could lead to a rise in your real estate taxes. If your local government calculates property taxes based on the usable space in your home, an addition will increase those costs.
• Lack of garage and attic space. However, if you reside in a very congested neighbourhood, losing your parking place could significantly lower the value of your home. Parking on the street often necessitates the purchase of a permit and may be less safe than parking in a garage. Upgrading only half of a two-car garage can save one parking space.
• Getting rid of the garage could reduce the home's resale value. Even if the extra space in the house increases its value, a property without a garage may be harder to sell. Those who are thinking about selling their homes soon should give this some serious thought.

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Conclusion

One example of a non-classifiable building is a garage (Class 10a).

To turn a garage into a habitable room, you must submit a Development Application and receive approval from the local authority (a reclassification to Class 1a).

Before you start removing the door, you should ask yourself these questions to be sure a garage conversion is the appropriate choice for your home.

A garage conversion may necessitate permits from the local municipality.

You may require a building permit from the city and the services of an architect, depending on where you live.

Local regulations may establish a minimum size for windows, doors, ceiling height, and electrical outlets. If you are remodelling and require a permit, your work must be up to code before you can call it done.

Converting a garage into a usable room is more cost-effective than building from the ground up.

The concept eliminates the requirement for additional storage area. It's possible that you could fix most of the issues on your own or with minimal outside help.

The property's worth might go up as a result. Lack of a garage may deter potential buyers, resulting in a lower sale price for your home.

In this article, we will look at some of the potential drawbacks of converting a garage into a living space.

One parking spot can be preserved by upgrading only one carport in a two-car garage. Removal of the garage may lower the selling price of the house.

A house with extra rooms may be more valuable, but if it doesn't have a garage, it may be more difficult to sell.

Content Summary

• There's a good chance that your garage serves no purpose other than to occupy valuable real estate if you're like most homeowners.
• Additionally, converting your garage into a room could be the best option if you need additional living space.
• Still, there are a few things to think about before making any drastic adjustments.
• A garage is considered a Class 10a building under the BCA in Australia, which means it is not suitable for human habitation.
• Therefore, before turning a garage into a habitable space, you must submit a Development Application and receive permission from your Local Authority (a reclassification to Class 1a).
• Before you start removing the door, you should ask yourself these questions to be sure a garage conversion is the appropriate choice for your home.
• When would it be a good plan to convert a garage into a living area?
• Without adding square footage to your home, converting a garage into a usable space is a cost-effective option.
• One should think about remodelling their garage if any of the following hold true:
• There is a chance that a new garage door installation won't take long at all.
• If that's not possible, attempt to match the new wall's appearance to the rest of the house's exterior so that it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb that it was once a garage.
• Your heating and cooling costs won't break the bank: If you want to save money on cooling and heating, you should see if your current system can accommodate an extra room.
• In that situation, you can add a new section to the system to provide air circulation in the storage area.
• If it doesn't, you may either get a new one or buy a different system to put in the garage to combat the chilly conditions.
• When it comes to plumbing, you have options: To convert your garage into a living space suitable for visitors, in-laws, or a small apartment, you will need to hire a plumber.
• Repairing or installing brand-new plumbing lines, especially drainage, might be the most expensive part of a garage makeover.
• You can leave your vehicle and storage items at any of these other locations: Garages are great for storing things and parking cars, but if you opt to convert yours, you'll lose both.
• Since you will be changing the area's original purpose, you may need special permits from the local authorities; however, the specifics of this may vary from municipality to municipality.
• For instance, you will need to obtain building permits from the city if you intend to transform your garage into a habitable room.
• Only an architect should be consulted before submitting a floor plan for a building permit.
• The design of your home must adhere to all local building codes, so be sure to obtain the appropriate permits.
• Local regulations may establish a minimum size for windows, doors, ceiling height, and electrical outlets.
• If you are unable to meet any of these requirements, a waiver may be granted under certain conditions.
• However, if you need a variance, you should expect to spend more for the application procedure.
• Before deciding to convert your garage, find out if any nearby laws or HOA rules prohibiting fewer than a specified number of covered parking spaces would be violated.
• If you are remodelling a building that requires a permit, you will need to have it inspected once you are finished to make sure it is safe and in the appropriate location.
• Where else but a garage would you expect to find a garage?
• Your project can be tailored to your specifications in every respect.
• For instance, depending on the rules in your location, you might be able to convert your garage into almost any kind of living space.
• However, depending on the zone of your home, converting your garage into an apartment may be more challenging than converting your garage into a single room.
• It is possible to transform a garage into a game room, studio apartment, or mother-in-law suite.
• One's creativity and financial resources are the only limitations on transforming a garage into liveable space.
• If you convert your garage into liveable space while following all building codes and obtaining all necessary permissions, you will boost the value of your home.
• A home's resale value after a conversion depends on the quality and type of the space you build.
• Reconstructing your garage could lower the value of your property and
• Your neighbourhood only allows parking in garages.
• The lack of a garage may deter potential buyers, resulting in a lower sale price for your home.
• The project was completed without the required approvals.
• Obtaining permits can be a hassle, but they ultimately increase the worth of your project.
• The concept eliminates the requirement for additional storage area.
• Removal of the garage may reduce the selling price of a home if there is currently a shortage of storage space in the house.
• We'll go through a few of the potential upsides of transforming your garage into liveable space.
• From a monetary standpoint, it is doable.
• Converting a garage into a usable room is more cost-effective than building from the ground up.
• It's possible that you could fix most of the issues on your own or with minimal outside help.
• The property's worth might go up as a result.
• Increasing a home's square footage might be a smart financial move because it is often utilised as a metric to estimate its market value.
• Your project is being constructed on an existing framework.
• One of the biggest benefits of converting your garage is that you may use an existing structure.
• There may or may not be a need to instal a foundation, drywall, or insulation in your garage, depending on how old or new it already is.
• What potential problems could arise from transforming a garage, if any?
• In this article, we will look at some of the potential drawbacks of converting a garage into a living space.
• In some cases, it may cause an increase in property taxes.
• A home addition can raise property taxes if that's how your municipality assesses taxable value.
• Disappointing lack of storage in the garage and attic.
• However, if you live in a particularly crowded area, the loss of a parking spot could substantially reduce the value of your home.
• Parking in a garage is likely safer than parking on the street, which often requires a permit and may not be as well lit.
• One parking spot can be preserved by upgrading only one carport in a two-car garage.
• Removal of the garage may lower the selling price of the house.
• A house with extra rooms may be more valuable, but if it doesn't have a garage, it may be more difficult to sell.
• Those who are considering selling their homes soon should give this some serious consideration.

FAQs About Garage

Can I Turn My Garage Into A Room?

As long as you obey building code requirements, you can create any living space with your garage remodel. However, depending on your home's zoning, you may hit more hurdles when attempting to build an independent living space, such as an apartment, than converting your garage into a single room.

What Permission Do I Need To Convert My Garage?

Planning permission is not usually required, providing the work is internal and does not involve enlarging the building. However, if you intend to convert a garage into a separate house (regardless of who will occupy it), then planning permission may be required, no matter what work is involved.

Do I Need Planning Permission To Put A Door In My Garage?

Appearance: Installing a new garage door may require planning permission if the door's appearance is vastly different to the one used in the house's original construction. This is because unsightly aesthetics can affect the whole neighbourhood and potentially reduce the value of surrounding houses.

Can I Install A Toilet In My Garage?

If your garage is adjacent to your soil stack, you may be able to plumb a toilet and waste pipes from your basin, shower and bath directly into it with minimal disruption. The same goes for your water supplies.

Can I Convert My Garage Without Building Regs?

When and if you plan on selling your property, solicitors/insurers are keen on building regs certificates, especially a document concerning planning permission. The answer is yes; building control can force you to bring the conversion up to building regulations.