A carport and a garage both keep direct sunlight and precipitation off of your passenger vehicles. Then again, a garage is an enclosed and far more secure space, although carports tend to be more affordable early on. If you’ve been enjoying a carport for some time, you might be wondering how to turn a carport into a garage.
Make a Plan
Having a professional draw a plan for you is a good idea. Not every carport is the same, so each one can be a unique starting point.
Get Prepared
You might not need a foundation underneath your carport to convert it into a garage. However, you do need to make sure what is there is stable enough to handle the project.
Put the Walls Up
Your existing carport can serve as the base structure for your garage as you put up walls on three sides and a roof over the top. You’ll need some wall space on the garage door side, but that might not happen until you know what garage door you are getting.
Install Access Windows and Doors
Not all garages have access windows, but a door or two are usually necessary to get in and out of the garage. You will probably have one door leading into the interior of your home, but you might also choose to have another door leading to the outside.
Choose a Garage Door
Check locally for a company that has a good selection of options you can look over. You not only need to decide on a garage door but whether or not you will install it yourself or have a professional technician do it for you. Check with a local company like Love Garage Doors LLC to see what’s available and best for your area.
Insulate
Insulation along the walls helps your garage maintain a relatively stable internal temperature, even if you don’t route HVAC in there. A vapor barrier of some kind is also good protection for your home’s newest addition.
Finish the Exterior
Completing the exterior of your new garage is the final step. This part might not impact the garage interior that much, but you do want to try and use materials that exactly match the rest of your home’s exterior or at least be a close match to their current aesthetic.
Converting a carport into a garage is an effective home improvement project. You’ll enjoy immediate benefits once it is completed, but you’ll also likely improve the resale value of your home should you ever decide to put it on the market.
