INCREDIBLE Garage Conversion! DIY Converting your Garage to the Ultimate Studio or Living Space.

This isn’t the normal type of video I usually post on this channel, but I figured the content could pertain to anyone needing more working space for the ultimate studio, an office, a bedroom or in our case all of the above.
With a borderline recession upon us, you may need to get creative when trying to expand your working or living space. For us this came in the form of a two car garage that was only being used as storage.
The cleaning out process almost had us changing our minds, but once we got the whole family helping, it didn’t take as long as I expected. Once everything was cleared out, we were left with about 400sf of open space to work with.
*Just as a disclaimer, I have a little experience at most aspects of this whole project, so it didn’t seem like I was in over my head, but I was willing to call on a local handyman if I needed any help. I did need to use a licensed electrician to run a few new outlets and hook up a new light and a ceiling fan but that’s about it. I’m including links to some helpful professional’s videos down below that helped me out a lot.
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Plans:
16” On Center Measurements- www.dropbox.com/s/dkdsjxdtji6...
Main Floorplan - www.dropbox.com/s/1x3pubhu22f...
Long Wall Framing Plan - www.dropbox.com/s/ok2r911mu1o...
Door Wall - www.dropbox.com/s/e6h9d3bztqu...
Small Wall - www.dropbox.com/s/r1z10rrj7bw...
Framing a stud wall 16” on center- • How To: Frame a 16" O....
Check out these helpful videos:
Installing a pre-hung door- • How to install a pre-h...
Framing a wall with a door opening- • How to Frame a Door | ...
Installing door casing (trim)- • How To Install Door Tr...
Taping and Mudding Drywall- • How To TAPE and MUD Yo...
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Timestamps ⏱
0:10 Clean Up and Clean Out
0:42 Plans, Plans, Plans
1:23 Prepare Your Workspace
1:49 Remove Garage Door Opener
2:27 Wall Framing
4:39 Insulation and Sealing
5:33 Drywall Installation
6:41 Mud & Tape
8:11 Paint Walls & Ceiling
8:48 Flooring
9:56 Completion!
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♫ Music by Epidemic Sound
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[@bokadesh6840]

The best part of it is you got two hard-working little helpers. Hahaha. Keep up the good work.

[@rigobertogarcia84]

Great video, congrats on the new living space

[@willrobbins1183]

Thank you for sharing. This is one of the best videos found on this topic.

[@almamendez9681]

This helps tremendously !!! I'm literally converting my garage so I searched for videos and came across this one . Great video !

[@ChrisGualazzi]

Great video babe! Love you!!

[@Smackwater587]

Thanks for the video!!! ❤

[@Jrenglehorn]

Great work! Looking at doing a very similar project. Your drywall mudding tips were super helpful

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Ha! I hate mudding and taping. I was surprised it turned out as good as it did 😃

[@ogeesmastinos7751]

Looks great

[@ericevans9257]

nice work

[@rigoenriquez6433]

Thank you for the video

[@schoolzonespeeders]

So leaving in Vegas myself, how is the room in the summer? We are about to do this to our Garage and was thinking about insulating all the walls.

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Don't forget insulating the ceiling and while you're up there see how hard it would be to tee off of one your houses main AC ductwork. Our portable unit runs all day long and use to have trouble cooling it down enough.

[@scoa]

Does water ever leech up from the concrete under the flooring? What about having such a thin layer between your feet and the bare concrete, does it make the temperature really cold in the winter? I am looking into a conversion like this, but the flooring is one of my bigger worries.

[@DigitalOutdoors]

This is in Las Vegas where it's very dry. I did put some concrete sealer down but I'm not sure if that helps much. So far no water. The floor is cold in the winter time, but nothing a space heater and some rugs can't handle 😃

[@bokadesh6840]

There are aluminum covered plastic underlayment is very good. I have re-done the flooring with it, in winter outside -20C but the floor is not cold at all in both seasons. It costs about the same or more as flooring per SQF but worth it. Good luck with your project. I got it from Lowes.

[@Rob-bo9lu]

What do u use to seal the garage from the outside?? I did my garage like this aswell but, When it rains hard, some water starts to get in.😢

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I was thinking of getting some rubber door seals and sliding them in between the door and frame then screw the door to the frame. Make sure you replace the bottom seal on the door. Use a good flexible outdoor sealant and go all the way around the inside and outside of the door. It doesn't rain much here so I haven't had to worry much. 🫤

[@user-fi4up8id2d]

What software did you use for framing planning and planning the floor area?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

There's some framing calculators online that also give you the graphic. Most of the plans I just sketched out then made a final copy in Adobe Illustrator to scale.

[@DivineDissident]

This is great, what about AC though?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

We bought a stand alone ac unit and vented it out of one of the screen vents in the garage wall. It works good, but it's a little noisy.

[@ChristopherStetson]

PLEASE tell me how you sealed the door. I would like to learn exactly what you did to seal the garage to prevent moisture and bugs. This is exactly what i need for adding extra living space to my house, but i haven't been able to find any learning material that covers this without completely removing the door permanently. Also, if you don't mind disclosing, about how much did this run you without the floor? Much appreciated!

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I live in a very dry climate but I actually screwed my garage door directly to the frame so it wouldn't move. I put a new bottom seal on the bottom of the door and caulked around the inside and outside of the door with some good flexible outdoor sealant. I sprayed it with a hose the next day to make sure it didn't leak anywhere.

[@willrobbins1183]

Your responses are great. Thanks for sharing

[@ChristopherStetson]

@@DigitalOutdoors I am definitely copycatting you on this lol. Appreciate the insight and God bless!

[@whattheflip1073]

This is fantastic!! We're looking at doing this. If you don't mind me asking, what was the final cost? Seems a little intimidating but you laid it out so well in this video. I thank you for that!!

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Hi there, thanks for the comment. If you want to shoot me an email at [e-mail], I'll give you a rough breakdown.

[@helenferede8013]

Waw. Did you install HVAC in your garage or you just bought the portable one?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I started out with just a stand alone unit, then I T'd off of one of the houses AC ducts and added a little vent.

[@imwhisper]

How did you seal the garage door?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I just put a new seal on the bottom of it and lined the garage door frame with a rubber seal and screwed the door directly to the wooden frame. Then I caulked around the inside real good. I also sealed the inside wall real good.

[@alexmartinez-yf4cz]

Hi i would like to know how did the outside came up. Did you have siding to replace? Removed old siding and installed new?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I kept the garage door in place, removed all the opener parts, sealed all the sides of the garage door, then fastened it directly to the frame. After I did that, I built the large wall about a foot in front of it.

[@alexmartinez-yf4cz]

Nice is a great idea, I am doing a 2 door garage conversion to a small apt. Do you think i can just take one out to put a door and window.. worry that without a window wont pass inspection

[@user-jl2xx5di7w]

Was there a fall to your garage? We are thinking about doing this but we have a slight fall to the garage floor.

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Ha! Yep, all garage floors are slightly angled. You hardly notice it with my floor.

[@CATario15]

I really wish you would've showed us what you did with the garage... I'm about to embark on a project like this and I'm trying to gather information on what to do... nevertheless great video.

[@DigitalOutdoors]

😃 I thought that's what the video was about. Ask me any questions in the comments here and I'll try to answer them all.

[@CATario15]

@@DigitalOutdoors I guess I didn't hear or understand how you sealed your garage which what I'm having most trouble with

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I guess I figured there's a bunch of different garage doors with different installations out there, but with our particular door, I put a new seal on the bottom, then removed all the garage door opener components, including the top rail and the rounded rail parts. I only left the bottom side tracks in place along with the top spring and bar. I should note that I screwed the top part of the garage door to the wooden frame before I took off the tracks, so it wouldn't flop over and knock me out. After the tracks came off I put a good amount of flexible sealant between the door and the frame, then screwed it in place all the way around (it doesn't move at all). Afterwards I sealed around the outside of the door just for good measure. Let it dry for a day then I sprayed it with water to see if there were any leaks. I'm sure there's a better way to do this, but it's been working really good so far.

[@samuelrivera7186]

What did you do for AC

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I use this portable AC unit that I vented out of the existing vent in the garage wall. It runs nonstop all summer long and does a great job! amzn.to/3USKjNL

[@Nikki-ws2jc]

Did you install the window during the conversion?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

We did it after the conversion because it was too dark in there and I wanted another escape route in case of an emergency.

[@talkaboutangelina3130]

how much did it cost just closing up the garage door?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I did it myself. I put a seal between the door and the frame and screwed the door right to the frame. Then I also used a foam sealant spray on the inside and some silicone caulking around the outside.

[@tamishreves9891]

how much did it cost you?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

I'm sure everything will cost different depending on where you're at. It probably cost about $2500 not including the portable ac unit, flooring and electrical work. It can definitely cost more or less depending on the type of items you buy.

[@joshuaburns4667]

How will all this cost

[@DigitalOutdoors]

It depends on how many walls you need and the size of the walls along with your square feet. Mine cost about $500 in lumber and drywall, $300 flooring, $300 mud and paint. Misc. costs for a stand alone AC unit, electrician charges, ceiling fan, light fixture, base boards and a door.

[@danielanino9355]

How much did you spend?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

It was under $1000 for all the lumber, drywall, insulation, nails and screws. After that you can control your budget with paint, flooring, AC unit, etc.

[@successfullym3]

You were supposed to waterproof the floors first.....I use Redgard

[@DigitalOutdoors]

The flooring that I got is supposed to be waterproof and the garage floor is treated, so I'm not too worried. Especially since it's so dry in the desert where I'm at.

[@successfullym3]

@@DigitalOutdoors city code where I am says waterproofing like regard is mandatory even if the floors are waterproof

[@Jazzilaladi]

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO NO ONE WEAR A MASK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LUNG COMPLICATIONS LATER GREAT WORK..

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Ha! I'm pretty sure I was wearing a mask when we were sanding the drywall. That place filled up with dust real quick. Yes, wearing a mask is important. 😷

[@thelandoftwitchclips]

100k for the garage build? what a waste of money..

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Yes that would be a waste of money. This was more like 4k. Must be a typo somewhere.

[@thelandoftwitchclips]

Love the choice for the outside planks. beautiful touch . @@DigitalOutdoors

[@vbboyv]

This is illegal unless you got city permits and inspection. If the neighbors rat you out, the city will make you tear it down.

[@DigitalOutdoors]

This is simply putting up three walls inside your existing garage and leaving the garage door in place. As long as you don't mess with the existing structure of the house, you're fine. This can be converted back pretty fast too.

[@willrobbins1183]

Stop being a hater. There’s nothing illegal about this. I think it’s magnificent that he’s even able to do it.

[@LozanoMotoRacing]

Not to be a hater. But this is illegal. 😅

[@dutch4117]

Depends where you live. States with more freedom do not care….

[@scothoesly1]

Snitches end up in ditches…..lol

[@midnyte_tv]

Did that air conditioner keep the living space cool in the summer?

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Not enough, until I added insulation to the ceiling and one of the exterior walls. Now it does pretty good. It's kind of loud and runs constantly in the summer though 😃

[@babakkhoram3423]

Hello, I live in Las Vegas and I am planning to do this, can I get your help and guidance? Please, if possible, give me your email address so that I can contact you

[@DigitalOutdoors]

Message me on Instagram @ digitaloutdoors_video