You’ve decided that you want to create more space in your home by building an additional basement under the garage.
Even though many people have done this, it is still important to plan the process carefully and hire a professional to make sure that the result is exactly what you want.
There’s a reason why you rarely see a basement under a garage, even on new construction. They need a lot of support underneath, and that is best provided by undisturbed earth.
Placing the space under it will require a lot of heavy structural elements, and it adds unnecessary costs.
Use these tips to build a basement color ideas under a garage and get started today!
The pros of basement under the garage
The basement can be set up with nice, easy-to-clean surfaces that are moisture-resistant, and with some creative thinking, there is no reason you can’t have it finished looking just as good as any other room in your home.
This is ideal if you have kids because you can control what they play on and keep things nice without worrying about major damage. It’s also great for extra storage space if you don’t have enough room in your main house for all of your items.
If you live in an area where flooding or high humidity is not an issue then adding extra space by building a basement under your garage can really be worth it.
The cons of the basement under the garage
When undertaking any construction project, it’s crucial to examine both sides of every pro and con list. That said, building a basement under your garage can be an extremely useful space addition.
While it’s one of the more involved home renovations out there, planning properly and taking precautions when constructing your basement will minimize headaches in the long run. Here are some important things to consider before you start.
Step 1 – Mark Out Where It Will Be Located
Because basements under garages are somewhat uncommon, your first step should be to decide where you want to place them in relation to the home. You’ll need to plan out how you want to build it and make sure that you leave enough room for some type of entrance. When deciding on what kind of entrance you’d like, think about how large your finished basement will be.
Step 2 – Excavate and Prep
Excavation and prepare two of the most important steps in building a basement under your garage. Most of your planning will hinge on knowing exactly how much work you’ll need to do underground. For example, if you’re going to lay concrete flooring, you might have to break up and remove some of your existing concrete.
Again, research is important here. Find out what your local regulations are regarding building permits, permits, and more. Another thing to consider: foundations can be expensive and costly so make sure you’re certain about your plans before moving forward with construction. If all goes according to plan – great!
Step 3 – Layout Concrete Slabs for Foundation Walls
When it comes to the basement under garage construction, one of the first steps is laying out concrete slabs. There are several options for building slabs and you will need to determine which method works best for your project.
You might want to consider renting a jackhammer or asking a mason to work with you on building them in order to save money and have professional results.
Be sure that you know how deep your subfloor has been installed before laying out slabs so that you don’t have any uneven pressure from above or around your foundation walls as they are being built up. To get started here’s what needs to be done.
Step 4 – Secure Posts
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Step 5 – Construct Outer Walls
There are several steps to take when building a basement under your garage. First, you will need to excavate and place columns on which to build your basement walls. Your columns must be extremely strong or else they will not support your outer walls once they are built. After constructing your columns, you can begin work on framing the outer walls of your basement.
Step 6 – Create Framework For Roof & Ceiling
Before you can install drywall, you need to install plumbing, electrical wiring, and more. We are going to install all of these things before we put up any walls or ceilings. We could go about it in another way, but it would be inefficient and incredibly unsafe.
I know that most folks will want to jump straight into hanging drywall so they can start living in their new basement as soon as possible. The problem is that they could end up with fires breaking out or floods destroying their valuables within days if they don’t use proper planning and professional installation on every step of their basement project.
Step 7 – Insulate Inside & Outside Walls
When adding a basement under your garage, be sure to insulate outside walls and under any exposed walls in your basement. The last thing you want is cold air flowing from your garage into your house, especially during extreme temperature changes outside. Install insulation on all exposed surfaces even if it’s difficult or time-consuming.
Step 8 – Install Plumbing, Electrical, etc.
When you create your basement space, make sure you plan carefully. Before you begin building walls and reinforcing beams, it’s important to make sure that you know exactly what kind of space you want.
Do you need room for extra storage?
Step 9 – Sheetrock Wall & Finishing Touches
As you start to build up your walls and frame out your basement, you will want to start thinking about installing drywall. Drywall is a lightweight wall framing material that is used to make interior walls in houses, apartments, offices, and other structures.
Sheetrock (the brand name of drywall) comes in 4’x8′ sheets that are easy to cut and install. The following tips will help guide you through the drywall installation process.
