subject: Need More Space - Consider A Garage Conversion [print this page] Part of the beauty of a garage conversion is that in most cases the shell of the building with electricity and sometimes plumbing already exists. Structurally there is often very little work to do beyond closing up the garage door and, in the case of an attached garage, some people opt to open up the wall between the garage and the rest of the house.
The possibilities for a garage conversion are as wide open as any basement conversion. A media room, a family room or, as most attached garages are located close to the kitchen, the space could become a formal dining area or even an extension to the kitchen itself.
A detached garage offers even more potential, as it could become a home office, a guest house or a separate living space for the privacy loving teen in your life.
As with any remodeling project garage conversions will require building permits and when completed must meet up to the standards of local building codes and zoning laws, so it essential that you check with local building officials before you begin any of the work. For example, many communities mandate off street parking, so if you will be banishing cars from the garage you will have to make sure that they will still be parked legally.
