enclosed garage ---> room addition

[Nathan Gant]

I bought a house last year that had a permit pulled for an enclosed garage. Working garage-door opener is functional, but rarely if ever used today. This area is now used as a very large utility room, xtra fridge, storage, ect.

I am interested in converting most of this area into a small 3rd bedroom (currently house has 2 beds/2 baths). Is this feasible and at what point would it be cost-effective (in long-term valuation of home, home is 45 yrs. old, concrete block&stucco, and has about 40 years of remaining life expectancy according to insurance papers)?

[Edwin Pawlowski]

The additional bedroom may offset the loss of a garage. Do you plan to remove the door and block it up? Will you have the proper windows and means of egress to meet the building code?

As to the value, a local realtor can probably give you a better handle on what the changes will do to the price of the house.

[tbasc]

To add to Pawlowski: Heat and Air Conditioning Electrical Outlets Lighting

Emergency escape requires a window with 5 square feet of opening with minimum vertical and horizontal dimensions.

TB

[nicksanspam]

Why a window, vs an insulated door? I knew a remodeler who used to finish drywalling a room, then invite the homeowner in and ask "Now where do you want the doors and windows?" while starting his chainsaw.

Nick

[Harry K]

Feasible? Yes very. Cost effective? That depends on you. If you are planning to hold onto it for many years and need the room of course it is.

Before proceeding draw up some roungh plans: what are you going to do with the door, what doors/windows will you install, wiring? Lighting? All that has to be approved by the building inspector. He will be wanting to see at least some of that before he will issue a permit. Yes you need a permit.

Harry K

[Edwin Pawlowski]

Check your local code. A door may be allowed. If so it will have to be inward opening.

Most bedrooms do not have doors to the outside. A friend built a house and wanted a spiral staircase. He was allowed because the upstairs bedroom had a French door to a deck and a regular staircase to the ground. The existing door with a motor drive would probably not be allowed as it could fail, trapping the occupant.

[Nathan Gant]

The working auto. garage door, motor, chain, ect. will have to come down, may I could sell most of it on ebay for