It was mentioned in a thread here for tips to convert a garage into a T room.
I've not converted one to a T room, but i have helped convert a couple into bedrooms, so the same theories should apply.
WIndows - the one thing I've seen people do and mess up horribly. Don't go cheap, insulated is best to keep the temp fluctuations controlled all year round. A friend first used cheap single pane uninsulated windows to save money, but ended up spending double or triple what a storm window or insulated window would have cost in the increase in the power bill for heating and cooling the room. Next spring we put in storm windows and that made quite a difference.
Insulation - Same as the exterior walls of your house. We used faced Pink from OwensCorning, R-21 if i recall correctly.
Tricky part is the garage door. If you rent or intend to use the door again, put a "fake" wall in front of the door. We insulated between the wall and roll up door and then insulated the wall. Sounds like overkill but there were no drafts and temps in the room were consistent.
Speaking of doors, you'll need to insulate the man door also. Might have to put in a better frame to allow for the insulation strips depending how the door was built in.
Both of the garages i helped convert had a ceiling already that was insulated and the attic portion floored and used as storage. If your garage doesn't have a ceiling that could change things as it'd be a lot more space to heat and cool. I'd put in a fake ceiling if it were me. Run 2x6s from one side to the other and sheet rock the ceiling and insulate as you go.
We used a portable heater in a custom built box on the floor to prevent it tipping over or being knocked over accidentaly, with adequate rear space for airflow. We used a portable swamp cooler for the summer, with the window opened in the evening and mornings it kept the humidity down. You could also use an air conditioner, but you'd have to vent it out the window or create a vent in the wall.
Guess i should mention the insulation type and thickness we used were for the Idaho summers and winters, mostly winters as here in the mountains it can get down right cold. Saturday morning here was -20F with a daytime high of 6F. So adjust for your location
This is what we did that i can remember off hand, hope it gives some ideas
I've not converted one to a T room, but i have helped convert a couple into bedrooms, so the same theories should apply.
WIndows - the one thing I've seen people do and mess up horribly. Don't go cheap, insulated is best to keep the temp fluctuations controlled all year round. A friend first used cheap single pane uninsulated windows to save money, but ended up spending double or triple what a storm window or insulated window would have cost in the increase in the power bill for heating and cooling the room. Next spring we put in storm windows and that made quite a difference.
Insulation - Same as the exterior walls of your house. We used faced Pink from OwensCorning, R-21 if i recall correctly.
Tricky part is the garage door. If you rent or intend to use the door again, put a "fake" wall in front of the door. We insulated between the wall and roll up door and then insulated the wall. Sounds like overkill but there were no drafts and temps in the room were consistent.
Speaking of doors, you'll need to insulate the man door also. Might have to put in a better frame to allow for the insulation strips depending how the door was built in.
Both of the garages i helped convert had a ceiling already that was insulated and the attic portion floored and used as storage. If your garage doesn't have a ceiling that could change things as it'd be a lot more space to heat and cool. I'd put in a fake ceiling if it were me. Run 2x6s from one side to the other and sheet rock the ceiling and insulate as you go.
We used a portable heater in a custom built box on the floor to prevent it tipping over or being knocked over accidentaly, with adequate rear space for airflow. We used a portable swamp cooler for the summer, with the window opened in the evening and mornings it kept the humidity down. You could also use an air conditioner, but you'd have to vent it out the window or create a vent in the wall.
Guess i should mention the insulation type and thickness we used were for the Idaho summers and winters, mostly winters as here in the mountains it can get down right cold. Saturday morning here was -20F with a daytime high of 6F. So adjust for your location
This is what we did that i can remember off hand, hope it gives some ideas
