Sarah - Author
Here we share our adding a bathroom to a garage guide including the important steps, the cost involved, how to add plumbing and toilet to this part of your house.
Adding a bathroom to a garage makes perfect sense for the house with a spacious garage layout. While the project can run in the thousands of dollars, adding another toilet and shower room to the property can improve occupants’ comfort.
However, constructing a bathroom in the garage presents several challenges, mostly related to electrical and plumbing systems.
Moreover, there are structural elements homeowners must consider. Nevertheless, adding a bathroom to a garage is the perfect project for those looking to improve their homes.
Steps To Install A Bathroom In The Garage
Installing a bathroom in the garage is a straightforward process for people with experience doing home improvement projects.
However, it can be challenging for newbies who are clueless about where to start. Here are the essential steps to adding a bathroom to a garage.
Step 1. Check Local Laws
Some neighborhoods, communities, and cities prohibit the building of living space in a garage. Zoning laws or structural policies may exist, requiring homeowners to have a carport instead of parking their vehicles on the road.
That is why it is best to consult a local building inspector for any laws prohibiting such a project.
Step 2. Evaluate The Garage’s Plumbing And Electrical Requirements
Consult an electrician and plumber to check and evaluate the garage. Plumbing is an essential component of bathrooms, facilitating water supply for the shower and toilet and promoting efficient drainage.
A plumber can provide homeowners insight on where to install the water and drainage pipes. The electrician can also recommend the best location for wiring and outlets.
Step 3. Measure The Garage
It would be wise to provide a space allowance for the flooring above the joists and the sub-floor. Read more about our guide on garage floor ideas here.
Step 4. Plan The Bathroom Layout
Homeowners can use the electrician and plumber’s inputs in drafting a bathroom layout for the garage. One must also adhere to the provisions of the International Residential Code.
Many communities follow the IRC’s guidelines for laying out the space for any home improvement project. The Code specifies clearances that homeowners must observe when installing fixtures relative to the different house parts. Read more about standard garage sizes here.
Step 5. Secure Necessary Permits
There are local building codes that require homeowners to secure a permit and other relevant licenses before they can start any home improvement project. Failure to do so can lead to fines and other penalties if discovered.
Step 6. Install Ventilation System
One must also remember to install a two-inch vent at least 12 inches above the roofline for the drain installation.
Step 7. Install The Structural Elements
Install joists across the garage floor’s width, about sixteen inches apart. One can use 2×6 beams if there is ample floor-to-ceiling space. If not, 2×2 or 2×4 supports will be fine. Increasing joist height can bring more warmth and better insulation on the floor.
Install cross-blocking boards over the joists and fasten them every four feet. Insert and secure rolled insulation between joists before covering them with 4×8-foot plywood or particle board.
Cost To Add A Bathroom To A Garage
Families who want to add a simple bathroom to their carports can expect to pay between $3,000 and $5,000. However, if they must install new sewer and water lines or a more luxurious bathroom, the project cost can rise up to $25,000. Read more about the cost to build a garage here.
How Much To Add Plumbing To Garage
Adding plumbing to the garage can be as affordable as $300 or as expensive as $1,800, or more. Everything depends on how the homeowner wants to install the sewage and water pipes. If it requires underground installation, the owner must break the garage floor to run the pipes before patching the floor.
The distance of the garage bathroom to the main sewer and water supply line also matters. The longer the distance, the higher the project cost. Adding different fixtures can also increase the overall cost.
Adding Plumbing To Garage
One can run the sewage tubes through the wall before routing them underground outside the house and into the main sewer line.
The drainage pipes must have a quarter-inch-per-foot slope relative to the main sewer connection. A macerating toilet is necessary if the main sewer is higher than the sewage tubes or cannot maintain the required pipe slope.
Connect the shower to the macerating toilet or install a holding tank to collect the gray water. However, one must check local ordinances before doing this.
Households living in cold climates should install their water pipes underground and connect them to the shower and toilet. Pipes can freeze if installed outside the garage unless one lives in a hot climate. It is best to use ¾-inch tubes to avoid water pressure issues.
Installing an electric water heater near the shower makes more sense than relying on the main water heater.
Homeowners must connect the ¾-inch water line to the water heater’s inlet port. They can then connect ½-inch pipes from the water heater to the shower and toilet. Read more about our guide on tankless water heater pros and cons here.
Adding Toilet To Garage
Consider the space between the toilet and the back wall. One can determine this by adding half the toilet bowl’s width to 12 inches. The shower floor must have a minimum area of 30×30 inches, and the shower entry must have at least 24 inches of space or clearance in front.
Adding a bathroom to a garage is one way to improve the property’s overall value. It allows the family to make their home more functional, especially when there are visitors or guests.
The main concern in this project is the plumbing installation. If one is not confident about adding a bathroom to the garage by himself, it is always best to hire professionals.
There are garage design software programs that can help you plan your layout and determine the materials needed.
