Converting your garage adds about 400 square foot of living space that can be used in a variety of ways – one of the being an ADU.
Whether you intend to house family, have a separate office space or use it for a rental income there are a few things you should know before you tear out that garage door!
Cost
The average cost of a garage conversion starts at approximately $200 per square foot. These costs can vary depending on your location, supply costs and the contractor you use. For a 2-car garage that adds up to be about $80,000 up to $130,000 depending on your location.
Parking
New January 2020 laws do not require replacement parking when converting a garage into an accessory dwelling unit. There does needs to be off street parking though, say like a driveway space. Additionally, if you are within 0.5 miles of a transit route you do not have to worry about adding any parking. But just make sure you have a plan for your own car and the possible renter’s car
Utilities
Your garage could house the water heater, HVAC air handler, sprinkler controller and possibly a water softener. There will be a cost incurred with moving each of these units and you might consider upgrading them. An on-demand water heater can be a huge space saver and help with the increased demand for hot water. The same applies to any other units that may be older and need updating for the increase in usage. So these will all need to be relocated and considered in your design. With all the work of moving utilities, should you convert your garage into an ADU? Let’s keep going.
Flooring
A garage floor slopes away from the home and the concrete is poured right on top of the dirt. A vapor barrier will need to be applied and possibly level the floor. There are several ways that this can be addressed in your design.
Though there are many things to consider when answering the question – Should I convert my garage into an ADU? The added value you are building to your property and possible rental income, we believe, will make this well worth the effort.
We are here to help. Check out our online evaluation or on-site evaluation. For more helpful information click here.
