If you are looking to begin the adventure of converting your garage into a bedroom in Australia, you must tread lightly. Under the country’s national construction code, you are technically not allowed to rent out your garage as bedroom space.
This is because it is not built as a habitable area but instead purposed to keep vehicles. Fortunately, though, this does not prevent you from being able to convert it to a bedroom.
Related Articles:
- The 10 Best Garage Conversion Ideas
- Things You Need to Know Before Renting Out Your Bedroom
- How to finance your home renovation
Can you rent out the garage as a bedroom?
Converting your garage into a bedroom in Australia comes with a lot of necessary foresight to ensure ultimate success. According to experts in architecture and building design, the garage is strictly built to house vehicles.
For this reason, it is not considered suitable for living. Multiple “uninhabitable” factors drive this point further.
For one, waterproofing very well may be inadequate along with the concrete flooring not being adequately waterproofed. Termite treatment may even be required for some garages, and ceiling heights may also be inadequate.
Lastly, your garage may not meet energy efficiency requirements to serve as habitable space.
Can you convert your garage into a bedroom?
When beginning the process of garage conversion, you must focus on what you are capable of doing depending on your budget.
For a pursuit such as this one, adequate waterproofing, termite treatment, meeting energy efficient rules, and abiding by all the requirements held under the national construction code for various aspects of a garage are all necessary factors to consider.
You will also need to seek permission from your local council. In order to convert a garage to a bedroom, there must be a reclassification of a 10a building to a 1a building. This means that you would have to apply and receive development approval before beginning this project.
Some people opt to hire a designer for a job as big as converting your garage into a bedroom in Australia.
Converting a garage into a bedroom
There are a few requirements that you must consider before you convert your garage into a bedroom and rent it out. For one, you must make sure that your garage is even a suitable place for living.
If it is not large enough, is too compact, or just not aesthetically pleasing, you must assess how you want to approach an endeavor such as this one. Taking a look at the roofing, floor, walls, doors, water pipes, electrical wiring, and energy efficiency requirements is quite important.
If even one of these things is disregarded, your end result may not be as desirable as you had hoped.
Converting a garage into a bedroom in Australia is not as difficult as you think it is! Start the process sooner rather than later and pick up some tips and tricks along the way for success.
Roof requirements for converting a garage into a room
When it comes to the roof, the minimum BCA requirements have to be met to successfully convert a garage into a room. Ceiling height is also a key consideration that must be taken into account when converting your garage into a bedroom in Australia.
The minimum ceiling height for garages in Australia is 2.1 meters, which is a stark difference compared to the ceiling height deemed appropriate for any habitable space: 2.4 meters.
This means that if you are trying to convert a garage into a studio, you must, quite literally, raise the roof. It is more affordable than you would think, but keeping this in mind during pre-planning is important.
Floor requirements for converting a garage into a living space
The floor is another key element that should be inspected before embarking on this reinvention journey.
Under building requirements, the entire area that lies beneath a concrete slab should be treated with a termite management system along with the necessity of a waterproof membrane beneath the concrete as well.
The two most important areas that should be considered when converting a garage into a living space are the roof and the floor.
Look through Australia’s national construction code to learn of all the requirements that may take a big chunk out of your budget. Before beginning, list out the things that you need to prioritise.
Don’t be too overwhelmed about your journey of converting your garage into a bedroom in Australia! Read on to lessen the stress and become excited again at the prospect of a reinvented garage!
Garage conversion – walls, doors, and more!
In converting your garage into a bedroom in Australia, walls, energy efficiency, doors, water pipes, electrical wiring, and even rainwater is important.
Because most garage walls are made from single bricks, the walls are not completely sealed. To properly convert your garage into a room, you will need to seal your walls using a waterproof paint or membrane. A stud wall is also preferred for electrical wiring and insulation.
To ensure that your plan is following the energy-efficiency provisions of your building code, you can consult your building designer or draftsman. This will need to occur prior to submitting your development application to your local council.
It is important to note that provisions vary depending on the state. Before you convert your garage into a bedroom and rent it out, the doors should be removed and replaced with a wall and windows.
A change like this must meet requirements that have been set by the BCA. It is also required that the window be 10 percent the size of the floor area.
When it comes to water pipes and electrical wiring, you should only work with licensed, experienced plumbers and electricians. They will be able to inform you of the necessary information from the Certificates of Compliance.
Lastly, it may seem insignificant, but redirecting rainwater is also a measure that should be taken when converting your garage into a bedroom in Australia. Rainwater typically runs in front of the garage door so finding a way to divert the rainwater away from that area is necessary.
Like what you’re reading?
Keep yourself updated with useful tips like these by downloading our app for the full Soho experience. Not only are we finding you your dream home, but we’re also helping you save for it and decorate it! So don’t forget to swipe on your property matches so we can get you there faster.
