How long does it take to renovate a garage?

Prepare yourself with a ballpark figure for the total price. Determine how much of your available funds can be allocated to the garage renovation or construction project before you start feeling the financial pinch.

How high on your wish list for house renovations would it be? Will all of the money you've set aside for the remodelling and building project actually be used for that purpose?

If you know exactly how much money you have to spend, you won't make any extravagant purchases and will be forced to cut back on other areas of your budget.

Despite its common use as a dumping ground for unused belongings, the garage is also a vital storage area and liveable space that may often be better utilised after a redesign.

Some homeowners choose to rebuild their garages so that they may be utilised as a second living area, while others do it so that they can better meet their needs as a place to keep their vehicles and other belongings, as well as a place to work.

Budget an average of $6,500 to make a conventional garage of 600 square feet more functional, but keep in mind that this amount might vary widely based on the size of the garage, the age of the property, and the aim of the redesign.

DIY garage makeovers are viable, especially for smaller projects, but professionals should be hired whenever possible.

Whether you are looking to establish a new workstation, find a reliable spot for additional storage, or are just tired of arriving home to a shabby garage, remodelling your garage is always a smart choice to explore.

Typically, a garage will accommodate two automobiles, with just enough room left over for a workstation.

Redesigning a garage may be a lot of fun with only little effort because many garages are not in a "finished" condition to begin with. For instance, they may be completely devoid of drywall or sheetrock, and feature only the barest minimum of lighting.

The vast majority have automatic door openers, however this may be the extent of the space's finishing. This renders it a versatile canvas for further improvement.

It is likely that a garage will be necessary in the case that the flooring is fractured or otherwise failing, the roof or walls are in bad condition, etc.

Floors, walls, wiring, lighting, and finishes are all part of a normal garage makeover, but the final price tag will depend on a variety of things, including the homeowner's preferences. Check out our range of garage renovations here.

Garage Remodel Cost

A garage remodel can take various forms. Upon completion, some garages are repurposed as living quarters for visitors, recreational spaces, man caves, or even master suites.

The other garages are still used for storage. Still others opt for the time-tested strategy of just cleaning it up so they may use it to park their automobiles. The conventional method is without a doubt less expensive, but our study of garage remodelling prices across the country revealed a national average of around $10,000.

Cost To Finish A Garage

The cost to complete a garage that has been constructed but lacks walls, a floor, a ceiling, and other finishing will be substantially less than $10,000.

Putting up some drywall or beams is a common way to finish off a garage. Wooden or metal beams can be professionally placed for a few thousand dollars each. According to the drywall installation cost calculator we provide, you may buy drywall for as little as $0.30 per square foot.

If you plan on having a general contractor handle the drywall installation, factor in an extra $1000 for their services. Typically, the final cost to build a garage shouldn't be more than $5,000.

Garage Remodeling Cost Considerations

The final price tag of a renovation job can be dramatically affected by a number of factors, not all of which are immediately evident.

All homeowners should be aware of the costs associated with things like construction permits, bringing your garage up to code, installing new windows, and working with various contractors.

Building Codes

It is the responsibility of every homeowner to ensure that their home complies with the building codes in effect in their particular municipality. It's not uncommon for homeowners to want to turn their garage into a new living space, and one of the most popular improvements is new windows.

Building regulations stipulate that every dwelling must have at least one window large enough for a person to crawl out of in the case of an evacuation. Prices for installing a single window can begin at $1,200.

Make sure the city has reviewed and approved your designs before beginning building on your new garage.

Permits

Any substantial garage renovations or new garage construction will necessitate a building permit.

Expenses associated with acquiring a licence vary widely between different jurisdictions. Your permit cost will depend on a number of elements, such as the location of your proposed work, the size and scope of the proposed work, and the intricacy of the proposed work. The normal cost of a building permit, however, is around $980.

Plumbing & Electricity

While bathrooms and kitchens aren't usually part of garage remodels, they can be in some situations. Unfortunately, the cost to convert a garage will likely increase because of the need to instal new plumbing.

Costs associated with hiring a plumber and having them instal required piping can range from $500 to well over $10,000.

Furthermore, although electricity is typically already present in garages, if you intend to convert your garage into a living space, game room, or man cave, you will certainly need to instal extra outlets and wiring. The average price tag for new wiring is $1,100.

HVAC & Insulation

Since garages are notoriously draughty, upgrading the insulation and HVAC system is a must if you plan to use the area for something other than a car or a storage unit. The insulation contractor will begin by focusing on the walls, ceilings, and flooring.

In addition, they may or may not set up insulated garage doors. The price of replacing your garage's insulation and HVAC system might be anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000.

Garage Flooring

The garage floor is usually the starting point and final destination for any garage renovation project. One reason many garages are created entirely out of concrete and brickwork is because of the high cost of repairing or rebuilding concrete.

It is important to get in touch with a concrete mason if there is considerable damage to the floor or walls. While the materials here are cheap, the time and effort required to work with concrete can quickly add up, driving up the total cost of the project.

If the garage's concrete slab is at fault, you don't need to hire a concrete mason to fix it when cheaper options exist.

In most circumstances, having an epoxy- or polyurethane-based coating placed by a concrete professional for a modest fee can effectively restore damage to concrete, such as cracking, flaking, discoloration, pitting, or wear. These sealants last for a long time and can make your garage floor seem like new.

On the other side, some people decide to outfit their garages with indoor/outdoor rugs. Looking for the best tiling renovations? Look no further! Hitch Property Constructions has you covered.

Installing this in your garage can serve practical and aesthetic purposes because it will not be subject to the same wear and tear as an inside carpet.

Garage Floor Stains

Coatings for garage floors often fail for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the floor is usually not clean enough to accept a coating at the present time.

Debris that has accumulated over the years must be removed using a wide variety of solvents and specialised cleaners. You can find these in stores specialising in paint and decorating supplies, as well as in hardware stores, home centres, and even industrial supply warehouses.

If the floor is extremely dirty, a pressure washer could be useful. You should hire a machine with a PSI output of at least 1,200. (psi). You should also get some grease-cutting detergent from the rental shop.

In a similar vein, a steam cleaner may be a viable alternative to a pressure washer in situations when the former is unavailable.

The loss of moisture through evaporation is a further concern. In the event that moisture vapour rises up from the groundworks below, the coating's bond with the concrete will weaken, making it easier to detach. Soap is produced when water and alkaline components in concrete react, and this is especially true with alkyd paints, commonly known as oil-based paints.

Saponification describes this type of reaction. Soap reduces the strength of the paint's bond to the concrete, allowing the paint to peel off more easily. You should never use alkyd or modified alkyd paints on concrete.

The tyres will be heated from the drive by the time a car pulls into the garage. Tires could get so hot to the touch in the summer.

It's possible the paint may melt from the heat, and it could even peel off from the tyre pressure and temperature extremes.

The term "hot-tire pickup" describes this method perfectly. The good news is that answers to these problems already exist.

Garage Remodeling Cost Considerations

New Formulas To The Rescue

Paint companies have taken notice of these concerns and are working on novel remedies.

Warning, though: if your garage floor has sprung leaks, is seriously broken, or gets damp and slimy even in the dry heat of July, you shouldn't varnish it.

In such a situation, it's best to keep things as clean as possible before giving up.

Epoxy Shield garage floor paint is a newer formulation. This coating is water-based, consisting of epoxy and acrylic resins, and coloured chips that are sprinkled on top while the coating is still wet.

The manufacturer asserts that it has been designed to withstand solvents and chemicals leaked from a vehicle or brought in on the tyres. It is also resistant to the effects of hot-tire pickup. It comes in a kit that contains a cleaner-degreaser, two separate paint components, and nonskid colour chips.

There must be a thorough cleaning and degreasing of the floor prior to its application. Next, you'll need to mix the coating's two parts together before rolling it on.

Last but not least, scatter the nonskid chips across the moist coating. By doing so, we can guarantee that they will be dispersed uniformly.

The surface will be walkable within four hours, and after seven days it will be totally cured and ready for driving. The price tag for the set averages around $60.

Another Alternative: Stain

The solids content of masonry stains is smaller than that of paints, much like that of wood stains. Since they penetrate the brick, they don't leave a film like paint does.

In contrast to film-forming coatings, stains won't make your garage floor look like the deck of a ship.

Stains are considerably more forgiving as a result, making it easier to apply them initially and then reapply them as they wear off and become unclean. H&C, one of the oldest (if not the oldest) masonry stains on the market, may be found at any local paint store.

It is available in many different colours and can be coloured to any shade you like. In addition to the solvent-based formulation, waterborne acrylic is also widely available.

If you have the option between two formulations, the one that uses solvents is the more difficult one and should be chosen unless you have an extremely high sensitivity to the fumes that solvents emit.

Both of these paints should be easy for homeowners who have worked with and cleaned up after paints before to use. Heavy-duty detergent and phosphoric acid make up H&C cleaner degreaser, which should be used first to clean the region.

Just sprinkle it over the garage floor with a watering can, work it in with a broom, and let it foam up and clean the floor while you wait.

The floor needs to be washed and dried thereafter. You can use a roller to spread the stain across the surface. Depending on the temperature and humidity, it can be driven on after 72 hours and walked on after an hour.

Other considerations and costs

• The majority of homes currently have completely functional garage door systems, including openers; nevertheless, installing brand new doors and a new opener is a great investment to make during a remodel or upgrade. After all, the garage door is frequently the most-used entryway, and its impact on the property's kerb appeal can be significant.
• Prior to having drywall done, insulating the internal walls is a good investment. It will cost less than $1 per square foot and aid in regulating the garage's temperature while reducing heating and cooling expenditures.
• Many homeowners see garage remodelling as a chance to improve organisational systems and work areas. Putting in new cabinetry at the garage's far end is a wise move. Cabinetry like this should have multipurpose counters, cupboards, and drawers for storing and organising a wide range of materials. Cabinets may be purchased for anywhere from $500 to $2,000, but having them professionally installed will run you about $70 an hour.
• This is on top of the cost of the cabinets themselves.
• Keep in mind that many of the activities involved in transforming a garage may necessitate acquiring licences from the relevant municipal authorities.

Garage Remodel Return on Investment

Converting a garage into a living space could lower the value of your home. Having a garage is a major selling point for many people, especially those in colder climes.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't perform the conversion if it will help your family out, but you should be realistic about how much it will affect the value of your home.

Home renovation experts recommend waiting a few years before selling your house and caution against investing in a garage remodel.

One crucial exception, however...

This regulation may be an exemption, though, if you want to convert your garage into a rental dwelling. This could boost your home's worth, depending on the local real estate market.

Residents in some states are incentivized to transform their garages into rental units so that more affordable housing can be made available to the public.

Choosing a Contractor

If you can't find a contractor who specialises in garage remodelling, look for one who has experience in that field.

If you're interested in seeing examples of previous work, like the before and after pictures of this garage conversion, just ask to see them. You can find some good ideas for garage remodelling by looking online, and a reputable contractor should be able to provide you some samples of garage conversion design.

Because the process of remodelling the garage is different from that of other rooms in the house, it is useful to have a contractor who is aware of these differences.

It's smart to get many quotes from different contractors before making a final choice. However, you should know that the cheapest contractor isn't always the one who delivers the greatest results. Almost always, you should be wary of price quotes that seem unusually high or low.

Do your homework on the company's background before making a hiring selection. Don't forget to ask for references and to check up with them.

See what kind of feedback they have received from customers on sites like Angie's List and the Better Business Bureau. The local construction office is another resource.

Prior to working with a company, make sure they are properly licenced and insured. You must insist on seeing the evidence. Businesses operating without the necessary permits are breaching the law and so are unlikely to have a positive reputation.

If the construction company is not insured and an accident occurs on your property, you could be responsible for paying for the damages.

Put in a written request for more information. Professional garage remodelling businesses will provide you an estimated start and completion date, as well as a comprehensive pricing estimate that includes labour and material prices.

Know Your Garage Remodel Costs

Plan how you’ll pay for it. 

Do you plan to use savings or incoming money to fund the endeavour? Do you intend to cash in on your home's equity? The last thing you need is a bill from your contractor before you've figured out how you'll pay it.

Budget for unexpected costs. 

The construction industry is one where one must always brace for the unexpected. There are many things that could go wrong with your project, such as the discovery of an issue hidden behind walls that would increase your labour and material expenditures. A 15–20% buffer zone should be built into your budget for unexpected costs.

Know your priorities. 

Will your garage be used for nothing except practical purposes? In this instance, practical systems and surfaces should be favoured over fancy embellishments.

Make a detailed inventory of all the things you'll need, from storage to electronics to furnishings, and then rank their importance. If you do this, it will be lot easier to pick which elements to cut when you reach a later stage of the process and realise you need to pare back.

Looking for the best home constructions? Look no further! Hitch Property Constructions has the ultimate list of home designs for you to choose from.

Be diligent about tracking spending. 

There is no point in making a budget if you have no idea how much money you've already spent.

Make a spreadsheet or use another document to keep track of everything. In order to avoid the process becoming cumbersome, it is crucial to accurately record expenses as they arise.

Do-it-yourselfers who are physically capable can complete even the simplest garage renovation projects like removing a stain, adding insulation, or fixing a malfunctioning door opener.

However, a professional should be consulted if you intend to convert your garage into a habitable area or if you intend to instal any sort of electrical or HVAC system in the room. Pipes, wires, and springs from garage doors can be lethal if handled improperly. Furthermore, even the most elementary errors committed by garage specialists will not lead to further costs down the line.

Accordingly, it's prudent to play it safe and seek a few quotes from competent garage pros before undertaking any job involving garage remodelling.

Conclusion

Garage renovations can be done on your own, especially if they're on the smaller side, but larger tasks are better left to the pros. Find out what percentage of your budget may be devoted to the garage makeover. The average cost to improve the usability of a standard 600-square-foot garage is $6,500. There is a wide variety of garage renovations you can do. Some people convert their garages into guest houses, game rooms, man caves, or even their master bedrooms.

To finish a garage that now has no walls, floor, ceiling, etc., for far less than $10,000 is entirely possible. The cost of a building permit varies greatly from one jurisdiction to the next. The cost of hiring a plumber and having them instal necessary plumbing can range from a few thousand dollars to well over ten thousand. If you want to do more than park cars or store things there, you'll need to upgrade the insulation and air conditioning. Many problems can arise that make garage floor coatings useless.

Various solvents and specialised cleansers must be used to get rid of the collected debris. Dissolving soap into the concrete weakens the paint's attachment to the surface, making it easier to take off. The garage floor paint known as Epoxy Shield is very recent. Nonskid colour chips, a cleaner/degreaser, and two cans of paint are all included in the package. You may find H&C, one of the oldest masonry stains available, at any paint store in your area.

When renovating their garages, many homeowners use the opportunity to set up more efficient storage and work spaces. It is recommended that the interior walls be insulated prior to having drywall installed. Professional installation of cabinets will cost you roughly $70 per hour, in addition to the $500-$2,000 you'll spend on the cabinets themselves. It's a good idea to compare prices from multiple service providers before settling on one. It's recommended to leave a 15-20% wiggle room in your budget for those pesky "what if?" moments.

Make sure you look them up on review sites like Angie's List and the Better Business Bureau, and ask for references. Create a comprehensive list of everything, from boxes to computers, that you will require. Maintain a careful budgeting system. Incorrectly dealing with garage door pipes, wires, and springs can be fatal. Get multiple estimates from qualified garage professionals before starting any garage renovation project.

Content Summary

• Determine how much of your available funds can be allocated to the garage renovation or construction project before you start feeling the financial pinch.
• Typically, the final cost to build a garage shouldn't be more than $5,000.
• The final price tag of a renovation job can be dramatically affected by a number of factors, not all of which are immediately evident.
• All homeowners should be aware of the costs associated with things like construction permits, bringing your garage up to code, installing new windows, and working with various contractors.
• The normal cost of a building permit, however, is around $980.Plumbing & Electricity
• While bathrooms and kitchens aren't usually part of garage remodels, they can be in some situations.
• Unfortunately, the cost to convert a garage will likely increase because of the need to instal new plumbing.
• The price of replacing your garage's insulation and HVAC system might be anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000.Garage FlooringThe garage floor is usually the starting point and final destination for any garage renovation project.
• Coatings for garage floors often fail for a variety of reasons.
• If the floor is extremely dirty, a pressure washer could be useful.
• Soap reduces the strength of the paint's bond to the concrete, allowing the paint to peel off more easily.
• Epoxy Shield garage floor paint is a newer formulation.
• Putting in new cabinetry at the garage's far end is a wise move.
• Converting a garage into a living space could lower the value of your home.
• You can find some good ideas for garage remodelling by looking online, and a reputable contractor should be able to provide you some samples of garage conversion design.
• Know Your Garage Remodel Costs Plan how you'll pay for it.
• Budget for unexpected costs.
• Make a detailed inventory of all the things you'll need, from storage to electronics to furnishings, and then rank their importance.
• Be diligent about tracking spending.
• Make a spreadsheet or use another document to keep track of everything.
• However, a professional should be consulted if you intend to convert your garage into a habitable area or if you intend to instal any sort of electrical or HVAC system in the room.