Get matched with top home and garage organizers in Springfield, VA

Depending on your carport's configuration, foundation or slab condition, and location in relation to the house, turning a carport into a garage has a lot in common with adding an addition to your home. However, you can skip some of the necessities of adding living space to your home, such as fine flooring, trim work, or even drywall or HVAC. It might be possible to DIY the conversion, but it’s complicated and potentially dangerous work, so it’s best left to the professionals.

In some cases, a detached garage can be considered extra living space, but you will need to gain permission and comply with your local building code. Depending on where you live, you may need permits for a variety of installations, including electrical work, plumbing, and structural work. Many homeowners make the mistake of converting a garage into a living space without acquiring permits, which can result in hefty fines and even the removal of your hard work. Furthermore, a detached garage doesn’t add to the livable square footage of your home when it’s time to sell.

The least expensive way to convert a garage to a living space is to perform as much of the work yourself as possible, using materials you can acquire at discount prices, and avoiding making structural changes to the building. While you can’t control what type of garage already exists on your property, converting a detached garage to living space will cost 20% to 30% more, so going with an attached garage conversion will save quite a bit.

An addition like a garage can increase your home value significantly, but it’s also quite expensive to convert a carport into a garage. In some cases, you may see just a small boost to home value. With that being said, a carport conversion can add value to your experience as a homeowner long before you sell. Garages are useful for security reasons and storing vehicles, plus they can serve as a convenient place for storage and as workspaces or even living spaces.