When you need extra space at home, one of the cheapest ways you can find it is by converting your garage into a spare bedroom or home office. Remodeling a garage is cost efficient and easy, because the shell of the room is already there. However, most garages still need new flooring to make the room warmer and provide a finished feel.

You’ll need to get building permits and meet all your local codes to legally convert a garage. Read on for tips on how to choose a new garage floor for your conversion.

New Garage Floor

Most garage floors are just slabs of concrete. To spruce up your garage plans, you have lots of flooring options. After you’ve spoken to local building officials and you’re ready to convert your garage, consider the following options for a new garage floor:

• Add carpet: If you’re converting the garage into a guest bedroom, carpet will provide the area with the coziest feel.
• Install hardwood floor: If you’re converting the garage into a more formal space, a hardwood floor offers a nice appeal.
• Install tile flooring: Choose tile for an easy to clean option.
• Lay down rugs: When you add an area rug to improve the appearance of the garage floor, it isn’t permanent. Another advantage to this option is that it’s the most cost-efficient.
• Paint garage floor space: Adding an epoxy garage floor coating is more durable than standard interior paint. Garage epoxy can give the floor color, and will hold up well against stains.

Carpeting For a New Garage Floor

One of the best ways to add an extra room to your home is to convert the garage into a spare bedroom. Carpet is usually installed by a professional. However, if you want to do it yourself, here are some general steps to follow:

• Treat the concrete: Treat the floor with a sealant, found at a hardware or home renovation store.
• Use waterproof sheets: Lay these sheets on the sealed concrete floor.
• Attach plywood: With concrete screws, attach a half-inch slab of plywood on top of the waterproof sheets and through the concrete floors.
• Add carpet pad: Place a carpet pad on top of the plywood. Tack this pad to the floor along the edges of the new garage floor.
• Measure the space: Cut the carpet so that it fits the room perfectly.
• Attach carpet: Place the carpet on the carpet pad and attach it to the tackless strips on the new garage floor.

As you work out your garage plans, changing the appearance of the garage floors can make it feel like a real home addition. There are garage flooring options for any taste and any price range.