skip to main content

Garage conversion -ceiling beams

12 years ago

We have a 1990s suburban home wiht attached garage, that we're now going to make into a game room. First step is to finish the walls -drywall, paint etc. WE were going to put in a ceiling too, but H believes that if we simply painted the exposed ceiling beams/studs, we'd get a nice urban look and save money along the way.

We're going to do an epoxy floor, and lots of storage cabinets - along wiht pool table, TV and sofa.

I'm having a hard time picturing the ceiling. Has anyone done anything similar or have pictures to share?

(Also posted in garage forum)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

User
12 years ago
Describe the roof structure or ceiling structure if there is a room above the garage.

You will probably be required to insulate the walls and perhaps the roof or ceiling
0
virgilcarter
12 years ago
Congratulations on your project. You asked specificially about ceiling treatment, but there are also a host of other issues to convert an "exterior" space to a habitable one. Here's some thoughts about garage conversions:

Floor slab: Is it solid with no cracks? Is it at house finish floor level or are you OK with a step down? Is it insulated below the slab and on stem walls? Are you in a climatic zone where winter coldness is a factor for the concrete slab? If so, floating a floor on sleepers (with insulation) above the top of the slab is an option.

Walls: Will additional sealing of cracks and insulation be needed? Will new gyp board and trim be needed in some areas?

Ceiling and roof: What sort of roof structure do you have? How will you insulate and vent the roof to prevent heat loss and moisture condensation/mold? You will likely be better served to have some sort of seperation between the habitable space below and the insulation/moisture barrier above which is usually not very visually attractive (what a ceiling usually does). Although I hate the look of a suspended ceiling, it may offer one inexpensive option for a new ceiling if the existing roof joists or trusses have uneven bottoms.

Systems: How will you heat and cool the new space? Will you need to run new HVAC ducts, control wiring etc.? Will you need new electrical circuits, controls and a secondary panel? Need water and drainage?

I'm sure you have thought through all of this, so pardon me if this is redundant. Good luck!
0
Related Discussions
Design ideas needed for garage conversion / home addition
Q
Comments (6)
The door by the laundry in the first one would lead to a small courtyard in our side yard. We don’t need access to it but it’s kind of unused side yard space otherwise, so we could link to it and turn it into a nicer area. We do have a powder room in the other part of the house but it would be nice if this one could also be accessed by the main area (doesn’t need to be in the nursery). We have a king size bed, and ideally the nursery could eventually hold at least a full size bed if needed. The French doors lead to our backyard and we want them to be accessible without being in the master. The connection to the house is on the side of the kitchen by the pantry. It could potentially move east (up in the picture) but we’d have to reconfigure the pantry and a closet in the existing house. I’ll draw up another picture that shows what’s inside when I get back from vacation next weekend. Thank you for your help!
...See More
carport to garage conversion
Q
Comments (1)
"Impossible" is a little overstated, but you can definitely generalize that it's not worth the conversion. Most carports are afterthoughts, without proper foundation, roof structure, tie-in to the house, nor any redeeming quality to retain. By the time you dig up (especially for seismic grade beams) and solidify any framing, it's easier and penny-wise to start over.
...See More
garage conversion + new two car garage or build on master suite??!
Q
Comments (2)
I can't tell you how much I dislike garages that are in my face in front of an entry to make the front of the house all garage as the first thing you see. But that said I do not like bedrooms above garages either. A garage is not living space so you will need to dempolish the garage and then build an addition just like any other addition. Can you do what you want where you live there are often rules about sq footage of living space in proportion o the lot. As for cost that can only be decided after getting all the info you need and then quotes from contractors in your area. IMO you also need an architect since IMO additions are best when they look like they have always been there
...See More
Inspo/ideas for garage conversion
Q
Comments (8)
There is some variety in local codes related to garage conversions, so before you get too much further, see what you're up against there. If you do convert the garage are you going to want to build another one next to it or in front of it for the car? If so, another code question as to how close you can get to the lot line. To answer your question about putting in a window where the door is, all windows are really custom because they have to fit a specific opening size which isn't the same from house to house or even sometimes in the same house. So there are multiple configurations you could get, but it won't be cheap. Do something in the same style and scale as the other windows on the front of your house or else it will scream garage conversion. If you want specific advice you need to post a picture of the front of your house.
...See More
Related Professionals
Parkland Home Remodeling · Bellevue Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Beverly Hills Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Panama City Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · South Plainfield Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Lawndale Kitchen & Bathroom Remodelers · Ridgefield Park Interior Designers & Decorators · Brighton General Contractors · Jericho General Contractors · Lakewood General Contractors · Lewisburg General Contractors · Palestine General Contractors · Sun Prairie General Contractors · University Park General Contractors · Williamstown General Contractors
User
12 years ago
I don't really know what you are trying to do. I don't know how the garage roof is constructed or what the climate is so I'm having just as hard a time as you are.

You ask for pictures to share but you don't offer any.
0

Related Stories

GARAGES 6 Incredible Garage Conversions

By Becky Harris

Trading car storage for capacious living space, these garage conversions leave their former incarnations in the dust

GARAGES Houzz Call: Show Us Your Garage Conversion

By Vanessa Brunner

Have you switched from auto mode into workshop, office, gym or studio mode? We'd love to see the result

GARAGES 6 Great Garage Conversions Dreamed Up by Houzzers

By Vanessa Brunner

Pull inspiration from these creative garage makeovers, whether you've got work or happy hour in mind

MORE ROOMS More Living Space: Converting a Garage

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

5 things to consider when creating new living space in the garage

STUDIOS AND WORKSHOPS Room of the Day: A Former Garage Hits a High Note

By Becky Harris

Remodeling turns a hodgepodge storage space into a welcoming music room — just in time for a family wedding

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Warehouse Conversion in Downtown Philadelphia

By Vanessa Brunner

A dilapidated eyesore warehouse is reinvented as an industrial-style modern family home by a husband-and-wife architect team

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: Converted Garage Tackled in Remodel

By Katherine Hershey Photography

The sports court lost out to a hot tub and a firepit, but the real triumph in this Texas home may just be the stunning garage conversion

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Transformed Garage in D.C.

By Vanessa Brunner

A smart spatial arrangement and cheery colors helped turn this Washington, D.C., garage into a functional and family-friendly kitchen

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Underwhelming Garage Now an Upbeat Living Room

By Mitchell Parker

In the California wine country, a new living space bridges the gap between a pool and a courtyard

MORE ROOMS Behind a Garage Door, a Family Fun Room

By Kristy Woodson Harvey and Beth Woodson

Designer Kerrie Kelly's secrets to this low-budget garage makeover: a soothing palette, horizontal stripes and dashes of color

Sponsored

Boss Design Center

33 Reviews

Reputable Home Renovation Company Serving Northern Virginia

More Discussions

Hearth for wood stove

6

Help! I cant seem to get my bathroom design right.

12

Peel and stick tiles for mudroom?

8

Gap between top of shower tiles and ceiling

8

Remodel Kitchen Help

0