If you want to do a makeover on a room of your home, the garage may be the room that offers the most potential. You can convert it into a living space, a workspace, an office, a studio, or just an improved and upgraded garage and storage space. The options are endless.
However, a garage renovation isn’t as simple as it may seem at first glance. It’s easy to make mistakes along the way, and they can be hard to fix after the fact. Ensure that your garage remodeling project is a success by avoiding these common mistakes.
Failing to Obtain a Needed Permit
Whether or not you need a permit for your remodeling project depends on both your location and the parameters of the project itself. If you’re just bringing in improved storage solutions, you may not need a permit, but if you’re knocking out a wall to expand your space or converting the garage into living space, there’s a good chance that you do need a permit.
Whatever your project, it’s worth doing the research to find out whether or not you need a permit before you get started. It’s much better to investigate and find that you don’t need one than to go ahead with the project and find out later that you should have had a permit. In the latter scenario, you could end up being ordered to pay fines or even undo everything that you’ve done.
Winging It
You probably wouldn’t go into your kitchen and just start moving appliances, knocking down walls, and installing new cabinets without a plan, some instructions, and some professional guidance. That room is important. You need it to remain functional, after all, and you want the finished room to be perfect.
The same is true for your garage. It’s an important space, and you want it to be both functional and attractive when you’re finished with it. You can’t achieve that without careful planning. You need to design a layout, create a strategic plan, and make sure that you have your budget, supplies, and timeline sorted. If you’re planning a big project or any project that goes past the scope of your abilities as a DIYer, you also need to consult with a professional contractor. Be very honest with yourself about your abilities and don’t attempt a renovation alone if you’re not skilled enough to handle it.
Ignoring Safety Risks
Your safety and your family’s safety should always come first in any project. That means that it’s important to take precautions. If you have small children or pets, for example, you may want to make sure that they’re out of the house, or at least unable to access the garage, any time there might be dangerous tools or debris around while you’re working on your remodel.
Taking your personal safety into account matters too. Make sure that you’re not overloading your electrical outlets. If your garage door’s torsion spring needs attention, contact a garage door repair expert because trying to replace that spring yourself can be very dangerous. If your garage needs new wiring or outlets, hire an electrician who can do the job safely. You could hurt yourself trying to do the job yourself, and even if you don’t, faulty wiring can be an electrocution or fire hazard.
Help from garage renovation professionals can be the key to a great garage renovation. To find out more, schedule your free design consultation. 
