Converting a carriage house may be the easiest way to gain extra living space on the property without constructing a new addition from the ground up. Most carriage houses were built, literally, for the horse and buggy era. Frequently, they were subsequently upgraded for automobiles. Homeowners with a carriage house on the premises often choose to convert to an in-law apartment, a rental space or just a comfortable guest lodging to utilize on an intermittent basis.

Sage Builders LLC provides design/build services that take projects like converting a carriage house from drawing board to occupancy with a seamless approach under single management. Because vehicles are frequently the most recent occupants of the structure, certain construction considerations are specific to converting a carriage house for comfort and energy efficiency.

• The floor – Frequently carriage houses have an existing concrete slab. A floating wood floor can be installed or even carpeting laid atop it. However, carriage house slabs often need rehab to remove oil saturation, repair cracks and install a vapor barrier if the concrete’s holding moisture.
• The walls – Brick or masonry predominate in carriage house construction. To insulate, most builders construct a stud wall in front of the masonry, add insulation and cover with drywall. Some later carriage houses have intact finished walls which are usually uninsulated. In this scenario, blown-in loose-fill insulation is the best recourse.
• The doors – Four-horse or two-car carriage house doors may be replaced with large French doors by adding transoms, or the openings can be reduced with framing to any door design or closed off entirely. Some preservation-minded owners construct an interior wall while maintaining the original doors facing the exterior.

Sage Builders LLC is the west Boston source for superior additions and renovations. Ask us about converting a carriage house to fit your lifestyle preference and energy efficiency needs.