[stewart7]

I have a garage that I would like to make an office. What is the proper way for making an exterior wall so no water leaks through?

 

[Ron6519]

If you have a standard driveway that slopes to the street, you don't have to do too much. You can frame right on the concrete. If you want insurance, lay a course of block accross the opening and frame on that.
Permits will probably be required.
Ron

 

[user1007]

Might change your tax assessment.

 

[stewart7]

my garage is gutted right now and i have notice the framing is built on a foundation about 1 to 2 inches high. can i just fill this spot where the garage door was with cement to match the foundation? also the water runs toward the house not away

 

[vsheetz]

In many areas a garage conversion requires a building permit to ensure the space is appropriate for conversion to living space - safety, proper usage, setbacks, etc. Suggest to ensure you have investigated this before moving forward with actual work.

 

[Ron6519]

my garage is gutted right now and i have notice the framing is built on a foundation about 1 to 2 inches high. can i just fill this spot where the garage door was with cement to match the foundation? also the water runs toward the house not away

You need to correct the water issue or the conversion will be water logged.
Ron

 

[Otherbill]

temp wall

I did almost the same thing in my home, only I put up the wall, no window, two feet in from the door. I used the two foot space for storage from the outside and didn't have to worry about any tax changes or permits. I removed the wall before selling the house and ended up with a nicely decorated garage for the new owner.:thumbup:

 

[All Glass]

Installing The Window

Check to see if you are required to use an impact window or not. You may be able to use a regular window and apply storm shutters (this is usually the cheaper way to go). One thing you want to make sure of is that you seal all around the window with a good caulking like polyurethane or silicone depending on your substrate. Window leaks can cause a lot of trouble and they can be costly to repair. If you are going to construct your wall out of wood, use a good window wrap around the whole opening before installing your window. Good luck on your project.

 

[Woodsmith]

What is the driveway surface next to the garage made of? If it's soft (like gravel or clay), you could dig a little trench and put some kind of small diameter pipe in (with holes drilled in it to catch the water) to divert any runoff. If it's asphalt, it still might be possible.

 

[Joe Carola]

my garage is gutted right now and i have notice the framing is built on a foundation about 1 to 2 inches high. can i just fill this spot where the garage door was with cement to match the foundation? also the water runs toward the house not away

Call your building department and ask them because they are the only ones who can tell you what your codes are. You will also need permits and inspections to do what you want anyway.

Where I'm from you can't just frame on top of the slab. We always install a course of block to the height of the existing block because you have to have a minimum of 6" above grade to the framing/siding. Building a wall right on top of the slab is not code or a good thing to do no matter if your driveway is pitched away or into the slab.

 

[Tizzer]

Have you given any thought about electric and/or plumbing?