First time buyer Nia, has this question:
My husband and I are looking for our first home with an office space to run a business from. Most houses in our price range don't have rooms that are adequate for this but some have dilapidated structures (usually garages) in the back that could be turned into a separate office (even better!) Having no experience with anything home-related or handyman-related, how do we go about researching how to insulate a structure? And how do we even know if it can be insulated? We are completely lost and any help you give would be great.
I don't know if there are building code requirements governing the garage space as work space, it might be worthwhile to get professional advice first.
Check the condition of the basics like joists, subfloor, roof trusses, studs. Then, assess which components of the dilapidated garage need to be fixed. The insulation is pretty easy, you buy it and install sheetrock over it. Find some strong, hopefully experienced, friends to help you hold the sheetrock and not staple your thigh to the wall.
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I intended to turn the (unfinished) garage that came with my rental house into a "messy" artist's studio (ie - painting, screenprinting, anything I wouldn't want to do inside, etc.). It was rough, cinderblock walls, exposed beams, but had electricity so I thought I was set. Once the rains came last month I realized the place holds about 1-2" of water in heavy rains. It's something I never would have thought about because my lease began in the summer.
So take that as a cautionary tale! It's something that's easily overlooked when we're having nice weather. I guess when it's dry you can inspect the concrete for signs of long-standing water - discoloration, mildew stains, etc. Good luck!
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