Expect excavation below grade, creating a well for access, weatherproofing, and thorough inspections during setup.

The primary reason homes have crawl spaces is so the foundation can reach down below the frost line to avoid dangerous soil movement and structural damage when the ground freezes. They’re more popular in colder climates where the ground freezes down to a few feet, and slabs are most popular in warmer areas where there is no frost line. Crawl spaces also provide a space for utility lines to run where they’re at less of a risk of freezing.

In most cases, you don't need to hire an architect for a garage conversion. Your garage conversion contractor should have the skills and experience to help create your desired design. However, if the scope of the conversion is large and complex, and your budget allows, it's smart to hire an architect to oversee the design.

You should have an architect involved in your project from the very beginning. They’ll be able to direct your vision into workable plans, and they can advise you on potential problems right from the start. You may be able to save money by not using an architect, but larger projects will go much more smoothly with an experienced pro directing the process.