I'm in the process of framing a new office in my existing garage, but I've run into a bit of a challenge. There's a concrete lip around the edge of the garage that messes with my measurements for the interior walls. Should I be measuring from the top plate down to the floor for the new walls, or from the top plate to the lip and use two studs for the bottom plate instead? I'm really new to this kind of work and could use some guidance. By the way, the room dimensions will be 11 x 9 feet due to the garage door and the existing exterior walls. I've attached some pictures to help clarify the situation. Thanks!
2 Answers
When framing a new wall, it's actually best to measure from the ceiling down rather than worrying about that lip. You'll want to nail in a single baseplate for your wall's perimeter, then stand the wall up on top of that baseplate. This way, you get a cleaner build and it's easier to connect everything nicely!
One thing to keep in mind is you should probably check with your neighbors or local authorities before starting this. Depending on where you live, converting garage space might increase your square footage, which could lead to higher taxes. Just a heads-up! I personally have a large garage and sometimes think about adding a studio apartment, but I'm aware of the potential complications.
Thanks for the heads-up! In my area, there’s no need for permits since it's an existing structure and under 400 sq ft, so I should be good to go.
Thanks for the tip! I was wondering how to attach the new interior wall to the existing raised exterior wall. Any advice on that?