Turning attics and garages into bedrooms: is it worth the hassle?
Been down this road a few times, and honestly, “simple” is a myth when it comes to conversions. I once tried to turn a garage into a rental suite—thought I’d just slap up some drywall and call it a day. Ended up learning more about vapor barriers and city inspectors than I ever wanted. Radiant floor heating actually worked wonders for the cold feet problem, but it wasn’t cheap. By the time I was done, I could’ve built a tiny house in the backyard for less money (and fewer headaches). If you’re hoping for a quick win, these projects have a way of multiplying costs... and gray hairs.
I get where you’re coming from—the cost spiral is real. But I’d argue it depends a lot on your local market and what you actually need. We converted our attic for our teenager last year, and yeah, it wasn’t cheap, but adding that extra bedroom seriously bumped up our home’s value. If you’re just looking at immediate costs, it feels like a money pit... but long term, it can pay off. Just don’t skip the permits or insulation, or you’ll regret it when winter hits.
Just don’t skip the permits or insulation, or you’ll regret it when winter hits.
That’s the truth—insulation is a must, especially in these old houses where drafts find every crack. We turned our garage into a guest room a couple years back and yeah, it was a pain dealing with the city paperwork, but now it’s everyone’s favorite spot. Costs add up, but I’ve found the extra space is worth it, especially if you love your neighborhood and don’t want to move.
Funny you mention the paperwork—when I did an attic conversion last year, I thought the city inspector was gonna move in with how many times he showed up. But yeah, once it was done, that extra room made a huge difference. I’m curious, did you run into any weird surprises with the garage? My attic had some ancient knob-and-tube wiring hiding behind the walls… that was a fun discovery.
- Honestly, I get the appeal of extra space, but sometimes these conversions turn into a bigger hassle than they’re worth.
- Garage surprises? Oh yeah—ran into a cracked slab and a weird old drain that went nowhere. Not as wild as knob-and-tube, but still a headache.
- One thing I’d push back on: after all the work, the “extra room” didn’t feel as cozy as a real bedroom. Maybe it’s just me, but garages always have that... garage vibe, you know?
- On the plus side, it’s awesome for hobbies. Just not sure I’d want to sleep in there every night.
