Finishing off a Garage

-Before you consider finishing off a garage, you should check with your local building code enforcement office to be sure that there are no regulations precluding your efforts.

-Usually the floor of a garage is sloped, so in finishing a garage, you should plan on leveling the floor. I've always used a tile contractor, when finishing a garage, to apply self-leveling concrete to take care of this problem. Of course, this does not mean that you have to use tile.

-Another consideration is ventilation. I would consult an expert, either an hvac contractor or an architect, to be sure that your hopes for finishing off your garage will not be dashed by some ventilation problem. You want to be sure that you can heat and cool the space properly and that there are no noxious fumes being emitted into that space.

-Insulation can be a challenge when finishing off a garage. Be sure that you have adequate r-values used where necessary.

-Ceiling height can sometimes be a problem when finishing off a garage. Be sure you can live with whatever height you're going to end up with.

-Be absolutely sure that there is no moisture seeping into the space from the floor or concrete walls. Whether finishing a garage or any space with a concrete floor, I would be sure to eliminate any moisture potential, so as to avoid any mold or mildew problems in the future.