One of the most common home renovations is to convert an attached garage to a small apartment for older members of your family. This family member may be a child that is going to university but living at home or an elderly family member that needs in-home nursing care. Regardless of the reason for the garage conversion, there are certain steps you will need to take. One of those steps is waterproofing. You can handle this as a DIY project, but there are a few things you need to know before getting started.

To Stain or not to Stain

One of the first questions you will need to answer for yourself is if you will be staining the garage floor a certain colour while you waterproof it. This is usually done if you are not going to cover the floor in wood, vinyl or carpeting. If you are going to leave the floor as concrete, or possibly seal it with epoxy, then you may want to give it more colour than grey. You can find concrete waterproofing stains that help you choose a colour for your floor and provide the waterproofing that you need to prevent water damage or cracking.

Side Walls

One of the other considerations of taking on a DIY waterproofing project is the side walls, both exterior and interior, of the garage. You will need to waterproof them as well to help block out water damage issues and humidity. If the walls are concrete, you can use the same waterproofing option that you are using with your floor. If they are wood, vinyl or another material then you will need a material-appropriate waterproofing option.

Waterproofing and Carpeting

You may think that you do not need to waterproof if you are putting down carpet. This misconception generally comes in when people think about the carpet padding and glue that will go down to hold the carpet in place. If you don't waterproof the floor underneath, then you could have major issues with water damage from changes in weather and humidity. For example, if humidity builds up it can cause your concrete to become damp. This dampness can seep into the padding of the carpeting and into the carpeting itself, causing mould and mildew. So even if you are going to have carpeting put down, make sure to have the floor waterproofed with a concrete seal or other form of waterproofing suitable for your concrete garage flooring.

These are just a few things you should consider before taking on a DIY waterproofing project for your garage if you plan on converting it to a living space. If you aren't sure what type of waterproofing to use or how to apply it, consider contacting a waterproofing contractor for a price estimate and assistance.