Garage to Kitchen Conversion ADU Project

The existing kitchen space is the heart of any home because every family member visits this room at least once a day. Along with this, no matter how carefully you try to think about the kitchen design, in the process of living, it immediately becomes clear that extra space is necessary for the most comfortable life. There are countless reasons for this, from a lack of space during the arrival of guests to the need for additional square feet in case of opening your own home bakery.

Buying a new house just for the sake of decorating a new spacious kitchen is a very expensive idea, unlike the renovation project. In particular, the renovation of the old garage, where you can create a technological and modern kitchen that will meet all your current needs and requirements.

Garage to Kitchen Project Essentials

The structure of the garage space is very different from any other room in the main house. For this reason, your general contractor will have to do a big job, as the changes can be large-scale. However, as with any other construction project, there is always an opportunity to simplify the task even before builders with a concrete mixer appear on your site.

The following six steps will create ideal conditions for the implementation of the future draft of converting the old garage into a new technological kitchen:

• Garage door installation. The very first component of existing space that will require changes is the garage door. Depending on the size of your car, the garage door may occupy a relatively small area or, conversely, the entire wall. In the first case, during the renovation, it will be enough for you to replace the door with a kitchen format, in the second we cannot exclude a complete replacement of the wall, which is a very complex construction task.
• Garage windows. To fully realize the need for window replacement, just close your eyes and take turns remembering what the garage and kitchen look like. Most often, the garage resembles a basement space because natural light penetrates inside only through small windows under the ceiling, and the main goal of lighting falls on artificial lamps. The kitchen, on the contrary, is the most illuminated part of the house; therefore, when it comes to converting your garage into a new kitchen space, you need to install new windows or at least window trim.
• Floor & ceiling height. One of the first things that the general contractor will draw your attention to is the size of the floor and ceiling in the garage. The standard garage has a floor height that does not meet the standards of other living spaces. Accordingly, during construction, specialists will either reduce or increase the floor rise from the ground so that it corresponds to the local building code. In the case of a ceiling, the main recommendation has a close connection to the additional insulation, as, during the garage building process, there is no need for excessive insulation of space.
• Plumbing lines repair. Someone will say that among all the components of the life support system, electrical wiring, and ventilation are of the greatest importance. However, as a rule, when designing garage space, homeowners ensure the operability and safety of these systems, unlike plumbing. The main explanation for this lies in the fact that plumbing has practically no value in the garage, unlike kitchen space, where it is impossible to imagine the functioning of kitchen appliances without high-quality water pipes.
• Building codes relevance. The converted garage should comply with all building codes, and any lawyer will confirm that the number grows every year. Today, if you convert a garage into a kitchen space, then you need to observe all the smallest details, including the height of the flooring, the size of windows and doors, fire safety measures, and much more. Finally, do not forget about the most crucial point, namely the settlement of the issue of liquidation or re-equipment of the parking space.
• Preliminary garage conversion costs. All the previous factors are necessary for the formation of the final cost. Using these points, you can estimate the approximate scale of work on converting your garage to a new kitchen and the amount of money that you need to invest in this project.

Overall, if your garage already has a suitable door, high-quality plumbing and heating system, insulated ceiling, and floor of the right height, then the final cost of such a draft will not exceed several tens of thousands of dollars. However, if your garage is in a dilapidated state and requires renovation for each of the above points, then the price tag of such a project instantly increases several times.

ADU Garage Conversion Implementation Plans

After you, together with your building company, evaluate the scale and cost of structural component changes, you can proceed to the direct implementation of the garage conversion draft.

This is already a more creative and interesting process, which also has several milestones:

• Garage conversion layout development

The previous part of our review gave a very clear hint that the garage floor plan has nothing to do with the kitchen. This leads to the need for detailed plan development for the construction of a new kitchen. Moreover, this part of the living space should meet all your household needs, starting with the comfortable location of all furniture and ending with a space for maneuvering in case guests arrive.

• Building permits issuance

When you have a detailed layout of the new space in your hands, you will need to approve it at the local construction department. As we noted earlier, there are plenty of building regulations in case of garage conversion projects, so to be fully confident in the project legality, we strongly recommend contacting specialists. Lawyers from the construction industry know all the hidden aspects about which an ordinary property owner can not find information in open sources.

• Materials & appliances choice

After completing all the bureaucratic routines, you can move from theory to practice, in particular, to the purchase of materials and kitchen equipment. To optimize this process, you can pick an evening and have a little brainstorming session with your family members on what inventory you need to meet all the household requirements. Do not forget that it does not matter what room we are talking about, whether it is a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen; today, smart transformer furniture is available to all property owners, which expands storage capabilities and makes life more practical.

• Main construction works

This stage practically does not require your participation because installing new walls and flooring, electrical work, or assembling furniture are all large-scale tasks that require excellent training and experience. However, to keep your finger on the pulse, you can visit the construction site, make adjustments if necessary, and consult with the builders on any issues.

• New kitchen interior development

So, we have come to the most exciting step for each property owner. The moment of thinking over the kitchen interior is a chance to realize all your ideas. Perhaps you remembered interesting cases from TV shows, saw an attractive design on the Internet, or came to a common concept during conversations with your family. Regardless of the scenario, the converted space should perfectly match your taste preferences, be filled with pleasant emotions at one glance, and, of course, include all the most profitable design solutions.

As you can understand, each of these steps is the area of responsibility of a certain specialist, and without this help, it is impossible to implement the conversion of living space. Only professional architects can develop a unique layout, builders can securely install kitchen appliances, and lawyers can establish the difference between building and planning permission.

Garage to Kitchen Conversion Project Benefits

The re-equipment of living space is always a toss-up between different pros and cons. When it comes to converting your garage into any other room, there is even more doubt, because how is it possible to transform a garage that has not changed its design and configuration for years? However, in the case of this decision, you do not need to make a list with strengths and weaknesses, because garage conversion will be your best renovation draft.

Firstly, if you convert a garage into a kitchen format, then you instantly pump property value and cover all construction costs because additional kitchen space is a technological upgrade of a part of the house and boosts its attractiveness in case of sale. Secondly, by converting your garage into a kitchen, you get an additional storage area, and not only for kitchen utensils. If you install transformer cabinets, you can use them to store any household items, from a vacuum cleaner to towels.

Thirdly, in the case of large family gatherings and holidays, an additional kitchen will greatly simplify the process of preparing dishes, as you can diversify responsibilities and effectively manage the process. Finally, you can use one kitchen for everyday use and the other for cozy family evenings, especially if you think about its interior in detail. After all, there’s nothing better than to have a little rest with a glass of wine, pasta, steak, or any other of your favorite dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions — FAQ

How can experts help me in garage conversion draft implementation if I can do everything myself?

If you want to convert a garage into a kitchen without the help of craftsmen, then you are very likely to fail this mission. In fact, even builders can not finish this draft, because the development of layout is the prerogative of the architect, the designer’s sphere is thinking through the interior from picking cabinets to wall paint, local ordinances is the field of a lawyer, and the formation of the final cost is the task of the project manager.

What are the unique advantages of converting an existing garage into a kitchen?

If we accept by default the fact that an additional kitchen simplifies the performance of most household tasks, then this extra living space will also increase property value in the long run perspective, provide additional storage area, and also allow you to save money on large feasts, because you will not need to gather guests in the restaurant.

What is the average cost of converting a garage into a kitchen living space?

If you have made the final decision, and you absolutely want to convert a garage into a kitchen, then get ready to invest in this idea. However, we can note that garage conversions are more profitable from the point of view of final cost than any other ADU draft, especially if you do not need to change doors, flooring, and walls. The price of such a project may not even exceed $50000 — $70000, while global changes will mark an increase in price.

What is the most difficult task in the process of implementing a project to convert a garage into a kitchen?

Someone may think that this is installing cabinets in a room or replacing electrical wiring or drywall, however, we can say with confidence that there is no more difficult construction task than replacing walls. This may be necessary if the door of an old garage occupies a large area. Then the builders will dismantle the previous door, demolish the wall and erect one new or several walls, if the architects say so.