Been thinking about converting my garage into an ADU, but then I saw some really cool backyard cottages online and now I'm torn. Garage seems cheaper and quicker, but I've heard horror stories about hidden costs and permit headaches. Backyard cottage looks nicer, but pricier and maybe more complicated to build from scratch? Um, anyone done either of these and have thoughts on which is less likely to turn into a money pit or a bureaucratic nightmare?
Did the garage conversion myself a few years back—definitely cheaper upfront, but you're right about hidden surprises. The concrete slab needed leveling, and insulation upgrades were more involved than I expected. Backyard cottages can be pricier initially, but since they're purpose-built from scratch, fewer surprises pop up mid-project. Either way, permits depend heavily on your city; mine was pretty straightforward. Might be worth checking local forums or city hall to gauge the bureaucracy factor first...
That's interesting about the slab leveling—I hadn't even thought of that being an issue. When you tackled the insulation upgrades, did you end up having to redo drywall or interior finishes too? I'm leaning toward a garage conversion myself (budget constraints, as always), but the thought of hidden costs creeping up mid-project makes me nervous.
I've also heard backyard cottages can have more predictable timelines, but then again, you're starting totally fresh, so there's excavation, foundation work, utility hookups... feels like those could add up fast. Did you find that your garage conversion ended up close to your initial budget, or was it significantly more expensive after handling those surprises?
Also curious—did you run into any zoning or setback issues with your garage conversion? I've heard some cities can be picky about setbacks from property lines or height restrictions, even when converting an existing structure. Wondering if that's something else I should brace myself for...
"Did you find that your garage conversion ended up close to your initial budget, or was it significantly more expensive after handling those surprises?"
Ha, "initial budget"—that's a good one. Honestly, ours went over by about 20%, mostly due to insulation and drywall surprises. We thought we could reuse most of the existing drywall, but once we started opening things up, it turned into a domino effect. Nothing catastrophic, just lots of small stuff adding up.
Zoning-wise, we lucked out. Our city was pretty chill about setbacks since we weren't changing the footprint or height. But I've heard friends in neighboring towns had to jump through hoops even for minor conversions. Definitely worth a quick call to your planning department before you dive in.
Backyard cottages might seem predictable, but like you said, starting fresh means excavation, utilities, permits... it adds up quicker than you'd think. At least with the garage, you've got a structure to work with—even if it comes with some hidden headaches.
Nothing catastrophic, just lots of small stuff adding up. Zoning-wise, we lucked out.
Yeah, the domino effect is real. When I did my garage conversion, I thought I'd save by keeping the existing slab, but turns out it wasn't level enough for flooring. Had to pour a thin overlay—unexpected cost right there. Still, compared to friends who built backyard cottages, my headaches seemed minor. Curious if anyone ran into major utility hookup issues with backyard builds? Seems like that could get messy fast.
