Garage Remodeling and Conversion Projects


why decide to take on garage remodeling and makeover project?

Common garage conversion projects: New living spaces, Bedroom conversions, Home Office conversions, play areas, entertainment areas, transform into a room, in-law quarters, family rooms, guest house.

INTERVIEWING GARAGE REMODELING CONTRACTORS


There are typically several reasons why homeowners decide to take on garage remodeling and makeover project:

Transforming garage into a desired living space
Support a growing family
Create added functionality for home

Garage Remodeling Contractor Question Categories:

Experience
Contracts
Permits
Job specifics

EXPERIENCE


Finding a contractor with the experience and know how to complete your project on time and on budget should be an attainable goal. Be up front with any questions or concerns you have while interviewing about your garage remodel they will appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

How long have you been in business?

Do you have a contracting license in my local municipality?

Do you work with a dedicated team?

What experience do you have with my specific garage remodeling project?

PERMITS


Making significant to an existing structure on your property will most often require permits. This includes all proper building inspections during the process and after the project is completed. Additionally, each specialty trade, such as electrical or plumbing, has its own permit.

Will you add the costs of all permits into your bid?

Do you have experience in my local municipality pulling permits?

CONTRACTS


There is room to negotiate and add in items you want in your garage remodeling project.

How do you provide a description of the work?

How are you paid?

Can you add “start and end dates” into my contract?

How do you address changes to the contract?

How do grace periods work?

Can you add language into my contract that removes any liens?

JOB SPECIFICS


Here the idea is to get a picture of how the contractor will run your project. Are they responsive, what does a typical day look like? How Responsible are they?

What is your working day like?

What are the approximate start and end times during remodeling days?
What items do I need to remove around the garage and my home?
How much noise can I expect?
Do I need to be at home during construction?

What is your process for cleaning up at the end of the day?

How do you protect my property?

How and where will you store tools?

Hiring A Garage Conversion Company?

Once you realize the wide array of attractive possibilities available to you with a garage conversion, the temptation is to just pick up the phone and call the first name that comes up on a Google search. This checklist is designed to save you headache, heartache, and a walloping to your bank account if you happen to choose the wrong garage conversion contractor. Don’t hire a company until you’ve seen them masterfully handle every concern listed on this page.

Your Checklist For Garage Remodeling Contractors

Experience: There are quite a lot of garage remodeling outfits springing up recently as garage renovation has drastically grown in popularity. It is incredibly important that you remain wary of boisterous advertising campaigns from brand-new companies promising you the sky and the moon.

Your best bet is to hire a garage conversion company with some experience. Ideally, you’ll be able to find one with ten or more years of history specifically remodeling garages.

Diversity of skills: Finishing your garage requires a number of diverse skill sets, including foundation work, electrical, painting, and flooring. You’ll also potentially have to have to modify your driveway or remove an old driveway.

In a best case scenario, you will be able to contract a team with experience in all of these diverse skill sets, but not just as it pertains to garage conversions.

Schedule: If the garage conversion team you’re interviewing isn’t able to commit to a timeframe for the completion of your project, they’re probably going to take longer than you’d like. In a perfect scenario, the team you select will not only commit to a deadline but will also communicate with you on a daily basis as the project unfolds.

The only legitimate reasons for a delay are unforeseen acts of nature and a change in the original plan.

Material choices: Some companies will just quote you a really rough price based on the basic criteria you select, whether it be for an office, bedroom, living space or any other type of garage conversion. The best price estimates will break down labor costs and will offer you choices regarding materials.

Then, once you’ve selected the grade of materials that you desire, the material costs should be itemized separately from labor charges in the estimate.

Past work: Glossy brochures, business cards, and a functioning website are all par for the course. If you’re going to entrust thousands of your hard-earned dollars to a company professing to be able to convert your garage into a worthy living space, you’d better ask for references. With the prevalence of smartphones, today’s reference had better come with pictures.

Any contractor who is proud of their work will have countless before and after photographs available so that they can demonstrate the quality and unique style of their work to new prospective clients such as yourself.

Opinions: Often overlooked is the aspect of creativity that goes into a successful garage conversion project. As the homeowner, you’re sure to have many great ideas as to what you envision your finished product to be. That said, a true professional will be able to offer their own suggestions regarding layout, materials and color choices that will make your job easier.

The right team will be able to suggest space-saving ideas, design elements and other possibilities that may enhance the value and usefulness of your space once the garage conversion process is complete.

Main house walkthrough: Another aspect of a garage conversion process that is easily missed is whether or not it fits well with your original home’s decor and layout. While it’s totally within your right as the homeowner to give your remodeled garage a slightly different twist, you want to be mindful of the cohesiveness the overall home will have once the work is complete.

A top-notch garage conversion contractor will ask to see the main portion of your home, in addition to the garage, to get a good feel for what you can do to make the most of your conversion effort.

Heating and cooling: After you’ve done your due diligence regarding your contractor and feel comfortable with their ability and pricing, be sure to ask them about heating and cooling options and whether those functions can be brought into the garage.

They might remark that it is possible but may also indicate that such work will come at an additional cost. It’s important to hammer out exactly what is included and what is not when you seal a deal and hand over a deposit check.

The door: Every garage has a door and some have two or more. You’ll want to make sure the question of your garage doors is addressed by your garage conversion specialist as a primary component of their estimate. If they don’t bring it up, they might just be assuming that you’re comfortable leaving the door as it is.

In many garage conversions, homeowners want the garage to appear as if it has never been a garage in the first place. This will require either framing out where the garage doors once had been or putting in another type of entryway that has the right aesthetic appearance.

Permits: Local building authorities can be found at your city’s municipal center and, in most cases, a qualified contractor will already know what codes and permits are relevant to the project at hand. Be sure to breach this topic with any garage conversion company you’re considering and expect detailed answers.

If you hear, “I’ll look into it” or “It shouldn’t be a problem,” chances are you might be in murky waters. Some garage conversion projects won’t require any permits or approval from the town, but it’s important to know what the requirements are in your area.

Anything worth doing is worth doing right, the old saying bears weight here. You may not be fully utilizing your garage today, but that doesn’t mean that you want to leave a remodeling job in the hands of just any old company.

The difference between a slip-shot garage conversion effort and an all-star quality job is quite vast. If the company you choose can stand up to each of the recommendations on this checklist, you’re probably dealing with a quality garage conversion company worthy of your trust.

More Garage Conversions Projects

Home Fixology Garage Conversion to Bedroom ProjectsCONVERT GARAGE TO BEDROOM PROJECTS

  • Transform garage into bedroom.
  • Add additional square foot, adds value to home economically.

Garage Remodeling Companies For Bedroom Conversions (3 Free Quotes)

Experienced with transforming garage into living space & bedroom. Design & Build. Required building permits.

Home Fixology Garage Loft ConversionsGARAGE LOFT CONVERSION PROJECTS

  • 20+ Years Garage loft conversions.
  • Design and build. Bedrooms, Office, Guest Houses.

GARAGE REMODELING COMPANIES FOR LOFT CONVERSIONS  (3 FREE QUOTES)

Garage conversion professionals with expertise turning garage loft spaces into desired living areas. Help with building codes, local permits, custom design and build projects.

Garage Resources


Converting a garage cost guide

Understand the associated costs and request free estimates.

Garage Door Installation & Repair

Read our cost guide and request free project estimates from garage door contractors.

Garage Building Plans and Kits

See our garage building plans and kits page.

Woodworking Garage Cabinets & Shelving

Read what you need to know about installing garage cabinets.

Adding new Flooring or Coatings?

Garage flooring and coatings can make a big impact on appearance and durability.

1 -3 Car Garage Builds

See what you need to know before you decide on dimension and auto sizes.

Attached vs. Attached Builds

Building an attached or detached garage? Read our guides.

Adding a Loft Above the Garage?

You have so many options, what is right for you?