I'm looking to make better use of my small home by converting my one-car garage into a living/gaming area. I currently have a driving simulator that takes up valuable space in one of our bedrooms, and I want to move it to the garage. However, I need to deal with temperature and humidity issues that could damage my equipment. I'm debating whether to invest in a high-quality insulated garage door or to wall off the garage completely. I'm concerned about zoning laws and HOA regulations if I decide to wall it off, plus I might want the garage for car storage in the future. I'm located in South Carolina, where summers are hot and humid and winters can drop to the 20s. What are my best options for achieving a decent living space while keeping the garage door? Is insulating the door and adding a climate control system feasible? I could really use some advice on this!
3 Answers
Instead of fully walling off your garage, leave the door in place to keep the exterior appearance and just build a stud wall inside. Insulate it and cover it with drywall, which is reversible later. If you ever want to sell, just remove the wall. It’s a great way to keep the option open for future car storage while also gaining some usable space!
You might want to consider keeping the garage door and building a false wall about six inches inside. Just make sure there are no electrical boxes behind it. That way, if you ever need to turn your garage back into a true garage, you can easily remove the wall. Just don’t forget about your homeowner's insurance—could be a headache if something goes wrong!
I had the same thought! But I've heard that might complicate insurance claims if you ever needed to file one. Better safe than sorry!
Why not insulate the door and augment it with a mini-split AC? That way, you can keep the existing garage structure while making it comfortable for your rig. Also, consider adding some cheap flooring options; garage slabs can be really cold in the winter!
That sounds pretty feasible! And you could always store the door opener in the gap after construction!