Finishing a garage can be a great way to add value to your home. But is it worth the expense?
Think about the budget for the project first. Be careful to set aside enough money to finish the garage.
Next, think about how much time you have to work on this. Perhaps it is not worth your effort to complete the garage on your own if you rarely find yourself with free time. To avoid the hassle, you may always employ an outside contractor.
Consider the benefits and drawbacks of a finished garage, please.
While a finished garage can be convenient for extra storage and add value to your house, it does require some extra room.
If you're looking for things to outfit your entire garage, GarageSmart® got you covered. We can turn your cluttered garage into a clean, crisp, highly functional area for your home.
You and your family can make the decision to complete your garage after considering the benefits and drawbacks. Consequently, here are a few things to consider.
What Does It Mean When a Garage Is “Finished”?
When the drywall is used to conceal structural elements like beams and openings, we consider the garage to be complete.
Depending on the circumstances, it might or might not have insulating and cabling.
A converted garage is another term for a garage that has been finished off. This is a common indicator that a room has been tailored to serve a certain function.
Our vehicle park and media room are two instances of garage conversions that work well.
The electrical work would need to be set up differently if we were to convert it into a complete sensory assault arcade as opposed to simply installing a home theatre system in one corner.
Unless you want to hide the wires from view by weaving a rug over them, that is.
What Is Then an Unfinished Garage?
Simply put, if the beams and anything else that may be hiding between them are exposed in a garage, it is unfinished.
Some electrical work may need to be done in an unfinished garage.
To be more specific, if you've ever had to work on the electronic systems of a house, you'll realize that not putting any drywall up could make things significantly easier.
Insulation in an unfinished garage is apparently possible, though somewhat unusual.
However, the methods used to fasten such insulation would likely be unsightly.
The Effect of a Finished Garage on the Property Value
If you're only looking to boost your home's resale value, you might be better off investing in something other than a finished garage. That's a bit of a downer, but it doesn't convey the whole tale.
Even if the finished garage doesn't contribute much to the home's appraised worth, it might be a deciding factor for a buyer.
An unfinished garage may not affect the home's appraised value, but it can be a deal breaker for certain buyers.
It can set your home apart from the competition and appeal strongly to consumers who are enthusiastic about DIY initiatives.
This is where the true worth of completing your garage lies, but because it is subjective, it will only increase the value for the correct buyer.
Garage Finishing Costs to Think About
Although the final cost of finishing the garage will be significant, it will be less than the cost of other room renovations.
The preliminary investment is substantial, as the average cost to complete a garage is around $10,000. The value of the investment depends on the buyer's perspective.
Rather Than Converting, Why Not Finish?
Instead of converting your garage into something else entirely, finish the renovations first.
Whereas a finished garage loses none of the charm or practicality of a standard garage, a converted one only becomes another room.
Here are the benefits of finishing an unfinished garage, including making it more aesthetically pleasing and functional for parking, storing, and recreational activities.
It’s Very Twentieth Century to Still Have an Unfinished Garage
For the first century, or so after the garage was added to the average home, it served only as a place to store one's car. It didn't make a difference how it looked.
That outlook has changed considerably during the previous two decades.
In addition to "not brought to a conclusion or to the desired end condition," Merriam-Webster also defines "unfinished" as "could be in a bad state."
Indeed, that sums up the condition of roughly 90% of all garages well!
The Majority of Garages Are Inefficient Storage Units
According to research, one in seven homeowners have a space in their house that they don't utilise because it's stuffed with things they seldom use.
Typically, that room is the garage.
The garage's interior might quickly resemble a never-ending garage sale if left unattended for too long.
Inefficient utilisation of household storage areas necessitates resorting to costly measures like renting external storage facilities.
If we take the time to organise our storage areas (especially the garage) and get rid of the unnecessary clutter that accumulates there, we may greatly increase our houses' storage capacity with relatively little effort.
With GarageSmart® Storage Solutions, you can have the perfect garage for your needs without all the hassle.
Having a Finished Garage Makes It Easier to Enjoy Time Spent There
Half of all homeowners use their garage as their main entry and exit, so making it appear prettier and more pleasant so they don't have to dodge debris should be a priority constantly.
However, the fact that you have to walk through the garage so frequently is not a good enough reason to desire to keep it clean. Modify the storage space to better suit your needs.
If you put some thought into the layout, your garage may become a much more functional space for all of your family's interests. What we mean can be shown by the following:
- Build a spacious workshop in your garage to house all of your tools.
- Start your own fitness centre at home
- Make a stunning display of your high-end automobiles.
- Make use of the storage shed as a workshop.
- Provide a comfortable spot to kick back with a good book, enjoy a movie or sporting event, or listen to your favourite podcast.
Your Cars Merit a Safe and Secure Garage
Why don't more people use their garages for what they were originally intended: keeping cars? It shouldn't be shocking that many of us can't use the garage as a parking spot.
You may not have ever paid much attention to the number of cars in driveways and on the street, but you should the next time you're driving through your area.
One of the greatest ways to safeguard your vehicle investment is to clear the garage of clutter and clutter-causing items using storage systems that free up space for automobile parking.
They'll be safer in the garage first and foremost.
Vehicle bodies also deteriorate with time when left sitting outdoors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Having them under cover means a greater decrease in washing, and you also save time clearing off snow and ice in the winter and waiting for them to warm up in the spring.
One more way to fit more cars into a garage is to instal a car lift and park a car on top of another.
Garage organization is a huge hassle - but it doesn't have to be! Our GarageSmart® Shelving, Baskets and Hooks make garage organization simple and easy.
Conclusion
The value of your home could be increased by finishing the garage.
Once the garage's structural parts, such as beams and apertures, are concealed by drywall, we can declare it finished.
Having one's garage completed is sometimes known as a "converted garage." The wiring in a garage that hasn't been finished may need to be worked on. A completed garage may not be the best investment if your goal is to increase your home's market value.
While the presence of an unfinished garage might not have any bearing on the home's appraised value, it might be a deal breaker for some purchasers.
A converted garage is just another space, with none of the charm or use of an unfinished garage.
When people don't make good use of their home storage spaces, they have to turn to more expensive options like renting storage space elsewhere.
It's possible that we may considerably enhance the storage capacity of our homes if we take the time to organise our storage rooms (especially the garage) and get rid of the superfluous clutter that accumulates there.
Having a finished garage increases the amount of time you can spend in that space.
Content Summary
- The value of your home could be increased by finishing the garage.
- Take into account the project's financial constraints at the outset.
- Make sure to put away enough cash to complete the garage.
- Time constraints should be considered next.
- If you rarely have free time, finishing the garage by yourself might not be worth the trouble.
- An alternative to dealing with the issue yourself is to hire a professional.
- Please take into account the upsides and downsides of a finished garage.
- There needs to be some extra space for a finished garage, but it's worth it because of the increased storage space and resale value it brings to your home.
- After weighing the pros and cons, you and your loved ones can decide whether or not to build out your garage.
- We will know the garage is finished when the drywall is installed to disguise the beams and apertures.
- Depending on the specifics, it may or may not have insulation and wiring installed.
- Having one's garage completed is sometimes known as a "converted garage."
- It's a telltale sign that the space has been purpose-built for a certain purpose.
- Two examples of successful garage conversions are our car park and the media room.
- Rather than just putting in a home theatre system in one corner, we could make it into a full-on sensory assault arcade by rewiring it in a whole different way.
- In the alternative, you may weave a rug over the cables to cover them.
- A garage is incomplete if the beams and anything else that could be hiding between them is visible.
- The wiring in a garage that hasn't been finished may need to be worked on.
- Specifically, if you've ever had to work on the electrical systems of a house, you'll know that not having any drywall up may make things much simpler.
- It seems possible, albeit unusual, to insulate an unfinished garage.
- However, fastening solutions for this sort of insulation are likely to be ugly.
- A completed garage may not be the best investment if your goal is to increase your home's market value.
- That's discouraging, but it's not quite the complete story.
- There's a chance that a buyer will still be interested in the house even if the finished garage doesn't add much to its estimated value.
- While the presence of an unfinished garage might not have any bearing on the home's appraised value, it might be a deal breaker for some purchasers.
- It might give your home an edge over the competition and pique the interest of do-it-yourselfers.
- This is where the real value of finishing your garage lies, however it will only improve the value for the right buyer because it is subjective.
- The total cost to finish the garage will be substantial, but it will be less than the expense of renovating other rooms.
- Putting up the initial capital is a big deal because the typical cost to finish a garage is around $10,000.
- The buyer's point of view determines the investment's worth.
- Don't start a new project before finishing the garage renovations.
- Instead of just being another space, the elegance and utility of a normal garage are preserved in a finished garage.
- Among these are the enhancements in aesthetics and practicality for parking, storage, and recreation that result from finishing an unfinished garage.
- Leaving the garage unfinished is so 20th century.
- When garages were first added to the typical home, they were used solely as a place to park cars for the first hundred years or so.
- The outward appearance was irrelevant.
- That perspective has shifted significantly during the past two decades.
- True, that accurately describes the state of 90% of all garages.
- Most garages are not ideal places to keep things for long periods of time.
- One in seven homeowners has a room in their house that is rarely used because it is crammed with things they don't need.
- When people don't make good use of their home storage spaces, they have to turn to more expensive options like renting storage space elsewhere.
- The storage capacity of our homes may be easily expanded with little effort if we take the time to organise our storage places (especially the garage) and get rid of the superfluous clutter that accumulates there.
- Having a finished garage increases the amount of time you can spend in that space.
- Since half of all homeowners use the garage as their primary entry and exit, it's important to keep it looking nice so that people don't have to walk around clutter every time they want to enter or leave the house.
- To be sure, the fact that you pass through the garage so regularly is not sufficient motivation to keep it tidy.
- Adjust the closet so that it best accommodates your belongings.
- Your garage has the potential to serve as a multipurpose room for your family if you give it some planning.
- The following examples should help clarify our meaning:
- Construct a sizable workshop inside your garage to house your equipment.
- Open up shop as a personal gym in your own place.
- Make an impressive show of your expensive cars.
- Transform the shed into a workshop.
- Make sure there's a cosy place to relax, take in a nice book, watch a movie or sporting event, or listen to your favourite podcast.
- Having a secure garage for your vehicles is a necessity.
- One common question is why fewer people today use their garages for what they designed: storing vehicles.
- It's not surprising that many of us can't park in the garage.
- If you've never really noticed how many cars are parked in driveways and on the street, you should start doing so the next time you take a trip through your neighbourhood.
- One of the best things you can do to protect your car investment is to instal garage storage systems that eliminate clutter and make room for cars.
- First and foremost, they'll be safer in the garage.
- The vehicle's body will rust if kept outside in the elements for seven days a week.
- Keeping them covered reduces the need for cleaning and saves time shovelling off snow and ice in the winter and waiting for them to warm up in the spring.
FAQs About Garage Finishing
Should You Drywall Your Garage?
Drywall is a great building matter that is highly resistant to fire so it is a great addition to garages. Garages often have power tools, flammable materials, and people who work on cars with products that could catch fire. Installing drywall would be a good idea to keep it a safe area.
Is Painting Your Garage Worth It?
Painting a garage floor not only makes the garage look cleaner, but it also helps keep the inside of your home clean, offers some floor protection and is relatively inexpensive.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Finish A Garage Wall?
Shiplap is actually the perfect choice for garage walls. It's durable, inexpensive, and easy to install. What is this? Unlike drywall, the solid wood makes it perfect for securing anything, anywhere, with hooks or nails.
Is It Worth It To Insulate The Garage?
Adding insulation to a garage delivers a great return on investment in terms of energy savings throughout the year, and the benefits don't stop there. A well-insulated garage can help extend your vehicle's life, increase your home's value, and even provide critical protection against fires.
Should I Use Drywall Or Plywood In My Garage?
Drywall has a thick compound that offers superior fire resistance in comparison to plywood. Drywall consists of gypsum and crystallized water. Due to the addition of crystallized water, it's highly resistant to fire and hence is the go-to option for garage walls in terms of safety.