Converting a single garage to a rec room

[knanuk]

Has anyone done this?

Any pitfalls etc?

Thanks in advance

[Frogy]

I've seen many people do that knanuk and with good results. The obvious problem is heating/cooling. Will you be able to hook it up to your furnace?

[Ogee]

Has anyone done this?

Any pitfalls etc?

Thanks in advance

Check the zoning bylaws and building codes...maybe a pitfall...

[knanuk]

I will certainly check the local by-laws - think since I live in the "bush" it should be O K.

Heating will be a problem -- will either have to install electric ( no furnace) with wood back up -- which is what I mainly use to heat now.

Thanks for the replies

Just thinking about "possibly" doing it - not definite yet though

[Mischief007]

Just some advice. Previous owner of my parent's place did that and it was always freezing. My dad is redoing it with proper insulation and at the same time renovating. It basically will become an entrance now with the Kitchen backing into the back. So definitely do it properly and you won't freeze your butt off :)

[smirnoff]

I would suggest spray insulation since it doesn't need vapor barrier and covers better.

[stuff]

the floor will need to be insulated as well

[dawtcalm]

Insulate well, maybe look into Radiant floor heating (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiant_heating) since it would be easy to install on a garage's cement floor.

What will room be used for? Will you still use an exterior door to enter the room, or open it up?

[Exmortis]

Garage doors may not be the best for insulation either. ;)

[knanuk]

It will still be seperate - ie. seperate entry door and mainly a closed door in the winter into the main house.

Have only a crawl space so thought it would be much more inexpensive to convert than build.

By the way thanks for all your input.

Take care

[Mouse]

As an aside, crawl spaces make a great playroom for kids.

[Ogee]

the floor will need to be insulated as well
Yes, I think that will be your main problem even if you insulate the walls and ceiling well...unless the old floor was designed for a heated room (which it wasn’t by the sound of things) your feet will always be cold...and if your feet are cold...you are cold...that is why radiant floor heat is so good...keeps you warm from the bottom up. There are however other problems with it in your situation I would think...