Why Are Most Garages Unfinished? (What You Should Know)

As you stroll around the local neighborhood, you may notice that no matter how attractive the houses are in the street, many of the garages are unfinished. So why is this?

The most common reason garages are unfinished is that the builder wants to save money. Garages only require a level two drywall, so many opt for this. Plus, garages are notorious for getting dirty and often end up as storage units for various belongings. For these reasons, it can seem kind of meaningless to put the time and cost into finishing a garage.

Continue reading to explore why so many garages are unfinished as we weigh up the benefits and drawbacks of a finished vs. unfinished garage.

What Is An Unfinished Garage?

Put simply, an unfinished garage has no drywall to cover the beams and anything in between them. There may be some electrical work, but it’s unlikely to have insulation.

Why Are Garages Not Painted?

It might seem strange to leave a job half-finished, but there are many reasons why people opt to leave their garages unfinished.

Your Builder Wants To Save Money

Builders will want to keep their costs to a minimum, and the garage is an area where they can make significant cuts in expenditure.

To complete the job, a builder is only required to complete a level two drywall finish, so that’s often what you’ll get unless you specifically request a level four drywall finish that is painted or papered.

If you want the builder to finish painting your garage, you’ll need to pay them extra to do so. More often, if homeowners want their garage finished, they do it themselves.

You Want To Save Money

It’s not just your builder who’ll be looking to keep outgoing costs to a minimum; you’ll likely have a budget too. If you’re only using your garage for parking your car and storing a few bits and pieces, you might not be bothered about the area’s look so much.

Finishing your garage requires a fair amount of prep work, and the cost can outweigh the benefits. The average one-car garage is around 240 sq. ft, while a two-car garage is about 360 sq. ft.

The average cost of a drywall covering is anywhere between $150 – $300, depending on whether you do it yourself and the area you’re covering.

For a one-car garage, you could face a cost of $374 – $766 to paint your garage, while a two-car garage will cost around $552-$1,130. The average price to paint your garage is between $1.50 – $3.00 per square foot, depending on the quality of your finish and the company you hire.

It’s High Maintenance

One of the key reasons people don’t finish their garage is that it gets dirty very quickly. If you do opt to paint the interior walls, it won’t be long before you face mud, dirt, and exhaust stains on your walls.

Maintaining painted walls in your garage can be an expensive and time-consuming task – for some people, this is just not worth the investment.

You Have Already Covered The Walls

Another reason you might not bother painting the interior of your garage is that the wall space can often be quite cluttered. Many people use their garage as a storage unit or workshop, so there are often tools, props, and a whole lot of shelving to store these things.

This makes it time-consuming to remove everything so that you can’t paint, and you may also view it as a little pointless if your walls are full up anyway.

What Are The Benefits Of Finishing A Garage Wall?

Leaving your garage unfinished saves a lot of time, effort, money, and ongoing maintenance, but there are a host of reasons why you may want to consider adding in some drywall, insulation, and a coat of paint.

You Can Convert Your Garage Into A Useable Space

Following the COVID pandemic, more people than ever are working from home, and when you’re sharing a house with other people, it can be challenging to focus on the task at hand. That’s why setting up a home office in your garage could be worthwhile for your own space, focus, and productivity.

And it’s not just home offices; finishing your garage allows you to use the space as a livable area and suits an array of purposes from workspace to snug, second living area, or even bedroom.

It Provides Extra Space In Your Home

Converting your garage into a livable area increases the amount of room in your home. This could be particularly advantageous if you have a small house or a large family, as it allows everyone to have their own little bit of space.

It Increases The Energy Efficiency Of Your Home

Many unfinished garages lack insulation which means the heat from your house can quickly escape. By adding insulation, you can retain more heat and therefore pay less on your outgoing bills.

It Can Add Value To Your House

Along with saving you dollars on your power bills, finishing your garage can add dollars to the price tag of your house. If you have a finished area that is livable added onto your property, then people will see the space and living potential of that area and may be willing to pay more for your home.

Why Do So Many Garages Walls Have White Paint Streaks On Them?

When you walk into a garage, you may notice that instead of a finished paint job, many have white streaks of paint down the wall. This is what a level two drywall finish looks like.

A level two drywall is a fundamental building requirement and the least a builder will need to do to comply with the International Residential Code. A level two drywall requires the builder to apply a thin layer of paint to cover any screw holes or joint tape.

This finish is adequate for many garages, where the owners are less concerned with the aesthetic and more concerned with cost and efficiency.

How Do I Take Care Of The Unfinished Walls In My Garage?

If you decide that painting the garage walls is not for you, that’s fine, but you’ll still want to do some basic maintenance as unfinished walls often retain dirt, dust, and contaminants.

Conduct a regular check for any moisture, pests, or water stains. These may seem harmless, but they can cause significant damage to your property, including structural issues. Give your walls a clean from time to time using a brush for dirt and dust, plus a cloth to remove any stubborn stains.

Final Thoughts

Whether or not a garage is finished comes down to its owner’s personal choice. Many people opt to leave this space unfinished because it saves time, effort, and money. Plus, the garage isn’t generally a room you use for hosting – more often, it’s a workshop or storage area, so it doesn’t matter if it’s not quite as well presented as other areas of the house.

But remember that your garage is still an integral part of your home and requires its own share of care and attention to keep it dirt, dust, and contaminant free.

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