Help with large garage remodeling into recreation/living spa

[TonyTech]

Good day all

I recently purchased a house and the adjacent lot next to it that has a big garage and I have no use for it, So I was thinking of remodeling it into a recreational/living space.

Now I'm no architect but I did play around with this online application I found a few months back. here's what I came up with, this should give you some idea of what I'm looking to do with this space.

Lets see what some of you can come up with, the garage dimensions are 35' x 35'.

Thanks in advance for any help, I would really appreciate it...

[csintexas]

It looks like you made it into a full apartment. Are you planing on renting it out?

[TonyTech]

Yes I might just, but primarily its going to be a recreational/living space & a guest room.

[csintexas]

It looks like your plan is only 30'x30' ?

Is that enough room for a pool table?

[TonyTech]

I'm not sure, as I said before I'm no architect, and just played around with this online application.
What do you suggest? I'm not sure about the bedroom/bathroom and kitchen location.
Oh I forgot to mention the garage space is 35'x35' feet, And not 30' feet.

[csintexas]

Are you going to be doing the construction work yourself?

[TonyTech]

Are you going to be doing the construction work yourself?

I might help out, not sure yet, but what is the point of this?

[csintexas]

Well I was just thinking you might want to get a builder to help you with this.

[TonyTech]

Well I was just thinking you might want to get a builder to help you with this.

Yea I will get some help, I know and am good friends with builders...

[phansford]

A couple of comments -

The office is too small. A desk is 5 feet long and you need at least 3 ft for a walking aisle to get to the back of the desk. So at a minimum, the office needs to be 8 ft in any one direction. Not sure why you are providing an office in such a small space. Who wants an office without windows?

You want to use as few walls as you can to keep the space open and for it not to feel claustrophobic. You might think about flipping your TV area and the kitchen.... put the plumbing in a common wall and let the kitchen be open.

You need at least 5 feet clear on all sides of a pool table.

If this is an apartment - you really don't need to add a door to the bedroom.... just let it be concealed by the bathroom.

Think about how a loft apartment in New York City looks....

You'll need to verify with your local zoning. If the two lots are under one ownership, they might consider the converted garage an apartment on the same lot as the house. Some jurisdictions will not allow this. So check with the city zoning dept.

[phansford]

BTW -

You will have issues with the garage floor. Most likely since is detached and not heated, there probably isn't a vapor barrier under the slab. This will create problems.

Second, the slab is probably sloped to drain toward the garage door. So the floor won't be even. You might thing about three options.

A. Remove the existing slab and start anew..... which will also let you insulate the foundation.

B. Add a vapor barrier and pour a thin slab over the existing to even out the floor.

C. Fur the floor with treated wood and add your vapor barrier and insulation under it.

[TonyTech]

BTW -

You will have issues with the garage floor. Most likely since is detached and not heated, there probably isn't a vapor barrier under the slab. This will create problems.

Second, the slab is probably sloped to drain toward the garage door. So the floor won't be even. You might thing about three options.

A. Remove the existing slab and start anew..... which will also let you insulate the foundation.

B. Add a vapor barrier and pour a thin slab over the existing to even out the floor.

C. Fur the floor with treated wood and add your vapor barrier and insulation under it.

Wow you have a lot of knowledge, and I really appreciate you taking the time and responding to my post.

About the tv area and kitchen switching, good idea, would there be anyway if some one could take the time and draw out a rough Sketch/blueprint of what it should look like? I would very much appreciate it.

Thanking in advance.
Tony