Is it possible to turn a garage package into a winterized cabin?

**Sophiasmama** · 08-10-2011, 04:38 PM

We are looking into building a small cabin...about 800-900 sf...2 bedrooms and 1 3 piece bathroom...as I was outside...got looking at the width and length of our detached garage...it is 25ft by 22ft...thinking it would be the right footprint to put on our lakelot...has anyone heard of a person doing this? TIA! Janine

**Russ** · 08-10-2011, 06:42 PM

Of course! Properly insulated and heated, I see no reason why not.

**abecedarian** · 08-10-2011, 07:01 PM

We once had neighbors who built a packaged house, garage first. Lived in the garage for a year or two while they saved money to build the rest of the house. I think they even had three or four kids. It was tight, but they seemed to manage. As long as there are no restrictive covenants prohibiting the practice, there's no reason one can't make a garage package work for living quarters.

**low-1** · 08-10-2011, 07:04 PM

That's exactly what our cabin is. We are in Northern Manitoba, not far from Churchill and Hudson Bay, regularly gets below -40 for weeks at a time. With the Wood Chief wood stove rockin and some good insulation, we often have to crack a window or a door. I can't remember the exact dimensions, but it's right around 900 sq ft and pretty much exactly what you're looking at. We love it.

**Sophiasmama** · 08-10-2011, 07:23 PM

Thanks for posting you guys! Going to look into it.

**abecedarian** · 08-10-2011, 07:38 PM

In fact, if I'm not mistaken, the house I grew up in was not more than 900 sq ft, not counting the garage. I'll have to ask my husband later, but the house was two bedroom, with an average sized living room, one dinky bathroom, kitchen with room for a dinette set, and utility room off the kitchen leading to the garage.

**Brat** · 08-11-2011, 05:42 PM

In my area they are makeing beautiful homes from garage..

**crafty73** · 08-11-2011, 06:16 PM

Yrs ago I wanted to built a house out of a garage package, at the time they were about $3000. Everyone laughed at me. I was around 21 at the time, married with 3 small kids....Wish I would have followed my heart back then.....would have been easy to add on to it and not worry about a mortage payment!!

Fast forward nearly 18 yrs later, now I live in a house that's smaller than 800 sq ft and i have a mortage to pay! lol But I am glad you brought up this topic...as we are renovating....and I was wishing to add onto the house.....now the wheels are turning again lol But the garage pkgs that used to be $3000 all those yrs ago have definately risen in price

My original idea all those yrs ago, was to build it with a sunken floor plan so that the ceilings would be taller.

**Brat** · 08-12-2011, 05:19 PM

The have garage packages with 10-12-14 fr side walls now..

**Joshin** · 08-12-2011, 09:19 PM

Another option is a barn kit. Penny Pincher makes some that are very affordable and look like cabins. Though they call them barn kits, they are really meant for finishing out into homes. I have a friend who built one on his land a couple years back.

Here's their site:
Cabin Kits | Barn Kits | Micro Cabins | Small Homes

For the square footage you're looking at, it probably be less than $5,000--so not much more than a garage. I'm sure there are similar companies out there.