Did you know that you could turn your garage into a new looking room with just a few steps? By working with a knowledgable contractor, you can transform your drafty, dingy, spider-infested into a bright, and comfortable, space. Read below to see some steps on you can accomplish that!
Most rough-framed garages aren’t ready for drywall, so one of the first things you’d want to consider is to add blocking and framing. Many garages may be missing necessary studs at the corners and attachment points for the ceiling drywall, and to go into a garage project without them would be disastrous. The most common areas that are in need of additional framing are inside corners where walls meet, and where the walls meet the ceiling. In addition, you could consider adding the following framing or structural elements:
- Add blocking between studs for attaching shelving.
- Nail blocking between ceiling trusses for hanging lights, cord reels or bicycle hooks.
- Cut a hole and frame an opening for a through-the-wall air-conditioning unit.
- Add windows or skylights.
A next step is to do a complete electrical rerouting. Your current set up may not be ideal for what you’d like to accomplish in the garage in the future. Most unfinished garages have the bare minimum of outlets and lights, so you’ll want to add a few. It may be necessary to drill holes through studs to help in the process of rerouting wires. Your contractor needs to make sure that the holes need to be directly in the center of the stud. This is also a good time to add outlets, lights and even another 20-amp circuit for power tools.
We’ve mentioned this in other blog posts, but be sure to call the local building inspections department to get a permit before you add or change wiring, and have the wiring inspected before you cover it with drywall or insulation.
Weather stripping your doors and windows has a tremendously positive effect on the garage remodeling project. It helps keep pesky bugs out of your new space! But more importantly, if doors and windows are leaky letting in uncomfortable drafts it can increase heating (or cooling) costs. Be sure to check your garage service door to see if it has good weather stripping and a threshold that seals tightly to the bottom of the door. If the service door is missing a threshold and weather stripping, it could be more efficient for you to replace the door entirely with a new, weather-tight version.
One of the final steps you’d want to do is install drywalling. Drywall is the easiest and most economical covering for your garage ceiling. Once the drywall is in place, you’ll have a brand-new space in which to do work! And whether or not you use it for DIY projects or not is up to you, because you now have a space in which you CAN do those things.
As always, Inch By Inch Construction is here to help you with your garage remodeling project. We help take the hassle off of you, and make your garage remodeling project simple and easy. Call to get your free quote today!