Renovating Garage Into Living Space
MortiTenon
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
Hello-
I’m planning to renovate a 24ft X 24ft existing garage into usable living space (adding a bedroom, study, storage room, and bathroom). The quandry is that the garage floor is a post tension slab with a raised shoulder on one side protruding about 3 feet with a height about 4 inches higher than the rest of the slab. What is the best way to raise and level the floor? Can I pour more concrete on top of the post-tension slab or would I need to build a wood subfloor to match the height of the shoulder? Thanks in advance!
Replies
Much consideration will come from location and environment.
I would think about headroom, elevation of the rest of the house, and the need to plan for fresh and waste plumbing for that bathroom.
Also, insulation, sealing and ventilation are important to understand and include in your planning.
I would think a framed floor might have significant advantages.
Thank you- I am in the Tucson, Arizona area with no significant moisture or freeze. The home is one story on a level lot.
I'd pour concrete on top of the slab. Plumbing hint: When I've not been able to go through the floor for one reason or another I've used wall hung toilets. They can be used with horizontal discharge.
Thanks! Yes I’ve stumbled upon upflush toilets with a connection for the sink drain that will allow me to put in the bathroom with minimal need to go through the slab- pretty much just the shower drain will need to go under at this point. Other than making sure it bonds well, I couldn’t think of any reason to not pour on top of the post tension slab since it’s already engineered to hold two cars on it essentially.