Replace garage door with wall and window

There are plenty of benefits to converting your garage into a room. Whether you need an office, an extra bedroom, or a gym, the garage can be the perfect place for it. However, you will need to close in or remove the garage door properly in order to have a fully insulated room you and your guests can stay in. Read on for 3 ideas to close in your garage door and turn it into a functional room.

• 1. Convert the Garage Door Opening Into a Wall
• 2. Leave the Garage Door and Build a Wall Behind It
• 3. Replace the Garage Doors With an Entry Door or Windows
• How to Remove a Garage Door
• In Conclusion

1. Convert the Garage Door Opening Into a Wall

Although it can be pricey, closing off the area your garage door used to be with a wall is your best bet. It’s particularly useful to replace your door with a wall if your garage is on the smaller side. That way, you will have the whole garage to turn into whichever room you’d like.

If you want to turn your garage into a living space, enough light is essential. Therefore, windows are something you should think about before you start the renovation process. If you have a garage that has large enough windows to let in enough daylight, this option can be a great choice. However, if you don’t have any windows in your garage, we suggest the third option.

Still, once you disassemble the door and build a wall in its place, it will be difficult to turn the area into a garage again. That can be a problem, especially if you’re planning to sell the house in the future. Additionally, since you will have to invest in building materials, insulation, and the tools to remove the garage door, this process can be quite expensive. If you want to turn your garage door into a wall, this video can help you do so easily.

2. Leave the Garage Door and Build a Wall Behind It

There are many reasons you may not want to get rid of your garage door completely. For one, you may want to keep it in case you change your mind or need to use the space like a garage again. Additionally, if you want to sell your house, potential buyers may want a garage instead of an extra room.

Still, depending on which room you want to transform your garage into, keeping the door as it is may not work. Garage doors tend to let heat escape from the room. That means you’ll have a problem if you want to make the garage into an extra bedroom or a living room.

One way to avoid that is to invest in an automatic garage door closer. Mounting an automatic closer will ensure your door is always closed properly, meaning that less heat will escape. However, this will only work if you plan to use the room as a gym or an outdoor kitchen or office. If you want it to be a proper bedroom, you may need more insulation.

Another way to bypass breaking down your garage door is to build a wall inside of the garage. That way, the room will have more insulation, making it warm enough to be a bedroom. Additionally, it will be more soundproof, which may be a concern if you have neighbors.

However, if your garage is on the smaller side, you may not have enough space once you put the wall up. Measure out your garage and make sure there’s enough room before you start building the wall. If there’s not enough room, you may need to go with the first idea.

3. Replace the Garage Doors With an Entry Door or Windows

One of the biggest disadvantages of garages is the lack of windows. Since they were meant to be used for storage, they are usually completely dark or have small windows that barely let in any light. However, if you plan on converting your garage into a living area, you must find a way to get more light into the room.

The best way to do that is by putting windows in the place your garage door used to be. Since you will need to remove the garage door, install a window, and put up a wall around it, this process will be much more expensive than the previous two ideas.

If your garage is completely detached from the rest of your house, you will need to install a front door as well. Even if you can access the garage from the inside of your home, it’s smart to install a front door anyway. You never know whether you’ll want to turn the garage into a separate living area or an office space you can completely isolate yourself in.

For those who want to install a door or a window where your garage door used to be, this video may be quite helpful. It’s got all the information you need to make the remodeling process quick and easy.

How to Remove a Garage Door

If you want to convert your garage into a living space, you will likely need to remove your garage door. Removing the garage door can be tricky, and you’ll probably need help from a friend or two. It’s important to approach garage door removal cautiously and to use the right tools. Otherwise, you may end up hurting yourself or others.

A standard garage door has about four to five sections. Each section connects to the next with hinges. Additionally, it has rollers that allow the door to move up and down. These rollers are usually located on the sides of the garage door and overhead. Here’s a step-by-step guide that can help you remove your garage door safely.

1. Disconnect the Automatic Garage Door Opener

Before you start the removal process, you must disconnect your garage door opener. That way, you’ll ensure your own and the safety of your helpers during the removal process. Firstly, close your garage door all the way and lock it if possible. Once you do so, unplug the motor unit from an electrical outlet.

As automatic garage door openers use electricity to work, it’s important to unplug them for safety. Alternatively, some garage doors are wired directly to an electric box. If that’s the case, you must turn off the breaker before proceeding to the next steps.

2. Disconnect the Trolley Support Arm from Your Garage Door

The trolley arm is a mechanism that opens and closes your garage door. If your garage door doesn’t open and close automatically, it likely has a trolley system. In order to disengage the opener’s trolley, you must disconnect the trolley arm from your garage door.

You can do so by removing the cotter pin and the connecting bolt that’s located on the end of the trolley arm. Once you do so, the trolley mechanism will separate from the door. Therefore, you’ll be able to remove the mechanism quite easily.

However, make sure your garage door is completely closed before you remove the trolley arm. Once you remove it, you won’t be able to seal shut the door anymore, which can cause problems during the removal process.

3. Remove the Springs on Your Garage Door

Garage door springs carry much of the door’s weight during the lifting and lowering process. Most garage doors use two types of springs. Firstly, they have extension springs. These springs are usually located on the sides of the door. Secondly, not all, but many garage doors have torsion springs that are usually right on top of the door.

Torsion springs are quite difficult to remove. If you don’t have the skills or tools to do it safely, it’s best to call a garage door professional for help. However, you can remove the extension springs quite easily with tools you probably already have in your home.

To do so, you will need either locking pliers or C-clamps. Attach the tool to the tracks on each side. These tools prevent the door from rolling down once you remove the springs. Garage doors are quite heavy, and they can fall down and injure you if you don’t use C-clamps or pliers to secure them in place.

Before you proceed to remove the springs, tie or tape them temporarily to the door track. With pliers, remove the lift cable from the bottom bracket. Do the same thing on the other side of the door as well. Once you do so, untie the springs and disassemble them.

4. Remove the Door

For this step, you’ll need the help of at least two more people. Although metal garage doors don’t seem that heavy, their looks can definitely be deceiving. Some garage doors can weigh up to several hundred pounds. Therefore, if you start lowering them by yourself, you can end up seriously hurt.

Before you start lowering the door, you will have to lift it up slightly. Make sure you and your helpers are strong enough to do so. Additionally, make sure they can hold the door for a few minutes in that position.

While they are holding the door in the open position, put blocks of wood underneath, where the door meets the ground. The woodblocks will prevent you and your helpers from pinching your fingers under the door once you lower the door.

Once you do so, remove the clamps that are holding the door. Your helpers should still be holding the door at this point. Once you remove the clamps, the door will fall down. Step in and help your friends hold the weight of the door and slowly lower it to the blocks of wood you set up.

5. Remove the Garage Door Panels

You should remove the garage door panels from top to bottom. First, remove the bolts that secure the hinges on the top door panels with a socket wrench. Garage doors usually have two roller hinges located on each side of the panel and three regular hinges located between the roller hinges.

Make sure to only remove the bolts on the top half of the hinges. The bottom bolts hold the lower door panel, so it would be unsafe to remove them before you take the top panels down. Once you disconnect all hinges from the top panel, tilt the panel back, lift it up, and remove it from the rest of the door. Set it aside and repeat this process until you remove all remaining panels.

In Conclusion

If you have a large garage, you may not need to remove your garage door at all. Simply build a wall on the inside of your garage and use the area as a spare room. However, if your garage is small, you will likely need to remove your garage door in order to turn it into a proper living area. Alternatively, if you want more light to come into your garage, place windows where your garage door used to be.

Can I remove my garage door and replace with a window?

Can you replace garage door panels with windows?

Can you replace a garage door with a normal door?

Is replacing a garage door worth it?