Looking for input on a home office conversion project at our 1962 Scarborough bungalow. My wife and I both work hybrid and are fighting over the third bedroom.
What we’re considering:
Option A: Convert the attached single-car garage into a home office. The garage currently stores bikes and lawn equipment. We’d relocate that stuff to a small shed. The garage is about 220 sq ft — plenty for two workstations. Attached, so heating is relatively straightforward.
Option B: Finish the part of the basement that’s currently unfinished utility space (about 180 sq ft beside the finished rec room). Lower ceiling than the garage option but no permit complexity since it’s just framing and drywalling existing space.
Questions:
- Anyone done a garage-to-office conversion in Scarborough? What was the Scarborough permit experience like for this?
- The garage has a 7’6" ceiling — is that comfortable for a home office? Our contractor says yes but it feels a bit low to me.
- Any basement home office builders who work in Scarborough’s east end that people have used recently?
We’ve got a budget of about $45,000 for either option. Contractor quote for the garage conversion was $38,000 complete. Haven’t gotten a quote on the basement option yet.