Personalize your house and increase your living space with the assistance of an Orange County garage remodeling contractor. If you want an additional bedroom, home office, storage space, work area, or supplementary living unit, then evaluate these garage renovation suggestions and prices.
Here at GreatBuildz, a free service that connects homeowners in Orange County, Los Angeles, Ventura, or San Diego with reliable garage remodeling contractors, we speak to homeowners every day about planning their desired garage remodel – here are some ideas & tips for planning your project and finding a contractor to get you started.
1. Customize Your Space Using These Garage Remodeling Ideas
A garage remodel modifies a basic garage area to fit your lifestyle. Explore garage remodeling options that will not only make your space more beautiful and contemporary but also make it more specialized or adaptable for a range of activities. Review these suggestions for ideas/costs as you plan your garage renovation project.
The Home Office
If you are one of the 45 percent of Americans who work from home at least part-time, a home office provides the privacy and comfort you deserve. Home office garage renovations might be less expensive than other types of renovations since they do not require plumbing.
Consult with a garage contractor to select an interior design and layout that will enhance your working environment. Request that your preferred contractor build a professional background for video chats, add sufficient outlets for all of your gadgets, and enhance the lighting for a pleasant workstation.
Depending on your demands, a single-car garage may be large enough to accommodate your dream workplace.
Fitness Center/Gym
There is ample space in a garage for a weight bench, exercise bike, treadmill, and yoga studio. Enjoy yoga sessions at home or perform your fitness program in complete solitude. A contractor can rapidly install comfy, easy-to-clean flooring in a dedicated workout facility. Lights, mirrors, and other accessories can give your home gym the elegant appearance it merits.
Hobbyist’s Fantasy or Man Cave? (She-Shed)
Do not allow your pastime to clutter your spare bedroom or living room. A local garage remodeling contractor in Orange County can enlarge your hobby space by customizing your garage. Transform your new room into a successful side venture or use it as a springboard to discover interesting new hobbies. Who knows, you may even join well-known businesses that began in a garage.
Convert Your Garage Into a Master Suite or Guest Room
In a guest suite, you may accommodate relatives, friends, or tenants. Your garage can be spacious enough to accommodate a studio apartment with a kitchenette and bathroom. This allows you to accommodate family members or tourists without compromising your home’s privacy. Depending on the height of your ceiling, you may be able to add a loft for even more useful square footage.
2. Expand Your Living Space
A garage renovation project changes a substantial portion of your garage into a living space. Depending on the size of your garage, you likely have 300 to 400 square feet of room. Many homeowners utilize their garages for storage and do not make the most of the available space.
The addition of a living room, recreation space, or fitness center improves the home’s useful square footage. A garage conversion is often far less expensive than a house expansion, which may not be permitted owing to zoning or space limits.
3. Construct an Additional Dwelling Unit
An accessory dwelling unit, commonly known as an ADU, is a living area that is different from a single-family or multiple-family dwelling. A competent and seasoned ADU builder or garage remodeling business may construct an ADU on your property or in your garage. ADUs offer significant versatility for usage in any of the following scenarios:
- Long- or short-term rental property
- Suite for parents or adult children as guests
- Downsizing and renting out the principal home
Consult with an expert garage renovation business to ensure compliance with zoning and building regulations. With the appropriate permits, you may be able to generate additional money by renting out either your main property or your ADU.
4. Garage Remodeling Costs in LA
Professional garage remodeling is an excellent investment for a variety of reasons. Adding a workplace or storage area may make a garage more practical and orderly, and installing a heating and cooling system can make a garage more comfortable and energy-efficient.
Depending on the options chosen, garage renovations might yield an ROI of up to 80 percent.
A garage makeover can range from a simple do-it-yourself job or basic repairs to a complete overhaul or conversion into a living area. Typical garage renovation tasks include installing insulation, drywall, and flooring; installing new windows and doors; and installing electrical and plumbing systems.
The cost of a garage renovation is dependent on the garage’s size, the project’s scope, and the materials utilized. In Orange County and Southern California, a little garage renovation might cost between $10,000 and $50,000, while a total conversion to an ADU can cost up to $100,000. Due to the fact that many garages are old and have not been maintained or upgraded in many years, a significant portion of the expense would be devoted to correcting any aging concerns.
Garage Upkeep
Possible garage repairs include:
- To preserve structural integrity, repair or replace deteriorated wood studs or beams.
- Repairing or repairing a cracked, separated, sloping, etc., old concrete garage slab or floor.
- Performing any necessary repairs to the garage’s roof or rafters to ensure watertightness and weatherproofing.
- Repairing or replacing a worn-out garage door or opener.
- Repairing any interior or external termite damage to wood parts such as eaves, fascia board, etc.
Garage Renovation
In addition to repairing your aged garage, there are other possibilities for a complete garage renovation in Orange County. There are several ways to make your garage a comfortable area, whether you’re converting it into an office, man cave, or another function. To improve the effectiveness of garage renovations, it is essential to evaluate the layout of the area and how it will be utilized. Listed below are a number of popular modifications to a garage that makes it a more livable space:
Plaster and Paint
Adding drywall to the walls of your garage will make an enormous impact in establishing a living area. It is also essential for creating temperature and sound insulation. In addition, it offers a polished look for your walls, allowing you to add artwork, storage, etc. If soundproofing is essential, such as if you produce music or live in a noisy area, you can even install soundproofing insulation within the walls.
Once the drywall is installed, the ceiling and walls can be painted any color. Paint is one of the least expensive home improvements you can do, and you can do it yourself to save money.
Insulation
Before installing drywall, insulation must be installed within the walls and on the ceiling. This simple addition will guarantee that your renovated garage is pleasant and energy-efficient.
HVAC
Although a heating and cooling system may not be required as part of a garage renovation, it would be essential if you want to spend significant time in the room. Especially whether you want to use the garage in the winter or summer, a compact HVAC system, such as a ductless “mini-split” unit, is likely to be the most cost-effective way to add air conditioning to this room. And if you live in Southern California, you’ll be thankful for air conditioning for at least nine months of the year!
Lighting/Electrical
If you want to spend time in your refurbished garage, you will need adequate lighting and electrical outlets for your electronics and other equipment. You may need to replace your electrical panel to supply sufficient electricity for your needs.
There may be enough electricity in your garage to operate a few lights, but it may not be sufficient for more. Also, because OC houses are often rather old, the wiring and switches may need to be replaced for reasons of safety and efficiency.
Storage
If you convert your garage into a living area, you will no longer be able to use it as a vast storage room. However, you may keep some storage space by constructing a closet or storage room, or by putting cabinets or shelves.
Garage Flooring
A “raw” concrete floor is a practical and fashionable alternative, but it will exhibit cracks, flaws, and discolorations. Polishing or painting the garage floor with concrete paint is an alternative. Alternately, a number of garage floor coatings and tiles are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Alternatively, you may go for a more conventional approach and install the same flooring as you would inside your home. Regardless of whether you want to install laminate, hardwood, vinyl, or similar material, your contractor will likely have to prepare the floors for this new material; thus, you should begin your job with your flooring goals in mind. Also, remember to install floor molding and trim.
Windows & Doors
Presumably, while the garage door is open, there is plenty of natural light. With a closed door, though, some individuals may desire additional natural light and install one or more windows. Additionally, even if you’re installing an air conditioner, you may want to add an additional window or two to maximize circulation and ventilation in the space.
In addition, the installation of a man-door in the garage, if one does not already exist, greatly improves accessibility.
Plumbing
If you want a bathroom, laundry room, or bathroom sink, you must install plumbing in your garage. Installing plumbing where it is not previously there is an expensive endeavor. It needs running hot and cold water lines, establishing waste pipes to dispose of sewer water, and presumably a water heater.
Developing a Kitchen
If you wish to convert your garage into a completely functional living area, you will likely need to install either a kitchenette or a full-sized kitchen. Consider all the essentials you already have in your home’s kitchen and determine which ones you’d like to incorporate in the garage when designing a full kitchen. Typical kitchen equipment includes a stove, oven, microwave, refrigerator, and maybe a dishwasher.
In addition, there are kitchen cupboards, countertops, a sink, and a backsplash installed behind the counter. Garage kitchens may be too tiny for an island or too many cupboards, but hey – it’s your room and you can do anything you want!
The manner in which you permit this space will determine which of these kitchen features you may include. Note that only an ADU will normally permit a complete kitchen with all appliances (as discussed above).
Costs of a Full Garage Conversion
You should not be startled by the cost of converting the garage. Depending on your scenario, we estimate that a garage conversion in Orange County will cost between $80,000 and $125,000. This covers labor, blueprints, supplies, and permits. You may use GreatBuildz for free to locate a screened general contractor in your region. Here you may get a free garage conversion checklist (work scope).
This pricing is normally for a place with a complete bathroom (with a vanity and cabinets, a toilet, and a shower), a full kitchen (with flooring, cabinets, countertops, backsplash, appliances, sink, etc.), and a living area.
Experienced contractors can provide you with reliable garage conversion cost estimates to help you plan your project correctly. Obtaining numerous quotations from local contractors is one approach to keep expenses down. Bidding is an excellent approach to discovering a contractor with a competitive price, but make sure you select a garage remodeling firm that has been thoroughly verified to guarantee you receive the finest quality labor.
Related: How Do You Compare Contractor Bids?
5. Garage Remodeling Steps
Call GreatBuildz and follow these steps to convert your garage with a general contractor for hassle-free renovations:
- Plan the makeover of your garage, including must-haves and questions for your contractor.
- Based on your goals and expected expenditures in Orange County, establish a reasonable budget for your renovation.
- Request multiple bids from general contractors in your region who are ready to provide examples of similar work they have accomplished.
- The highest deposit allowed by law for contractors in California is $1,000.
- Employ a garage remodeling contractor with whom you have confidence in and with whom you feel comfortable working to complete the desired makeover.
How to Locate a Garage Remodeling Company in Orange County
Who are the best garage remodeling contractors near me? Please know that not all general contractors perform garage renovations. The goal is to identify a reputable, local general contractor that has completed comparable work in your area and has received positive feedback from previous clients. When I mention “good reviews,” I do not always mean Facebook or other website reviews. Those evaluations might be genuine, but they could also be “paid for” or written by the contractor’s friends/family. To determine whether a garage contractor is genuinely reputable and trustworthy, you must call the contractor’s local prior customers and chat with them.
Discuss your garage project ideas with a professional Orange County general contractor. For each trade, a general contractor has a trusted team or contacts with trustworthy sub-contractors. Here are the steps to hiring a reputable Orange County garage remodeling contractor:
- Request local recommendations from family, friends, and local businesses
- Utilize GreatBuildz or other contractor search tools to get connected with qualified professionals.
- Request pricing estimates
- Request references from the company in order to confirm their quality.
- Interview the general contractor with whom you will be collaborating to learn more about their methodology and communication style.
Contact a Reliable Garage Remodeling Firm in Orange County
When rebuilding a garage, a general contractor is the ideal choice of contractor. General contractors are the only certified professionals authorized to handle numerous building trades by the State Contractors License Board. A general contractor may therefore perform framing, electrical, plumbing, flooring, insulation, drywall, and painting, among other tasks. Make sure the business you pick has a B license for general contractors.
When it comes to planning and coordinating a garage remodel for your home, you shouldn’t have to go it alone – GreatBuildz can help simplify your garage remodeling experience.
GreatBuildz is a free service that connects homeowners in Los Angeles, Orange County, Ventura or San Diego with reliable, thoroughly screened general contractors and provides project support from start to finish. Call now (818.960.7911) to chat with a real person about your next garage remodeling project or visit our website for more information: www.greatbuildz.com
