In a perfect world, every home would come equipped with a large garage. Unfortunately, a lot of homes in large cities do not have them. The best way to rectify this problem is by building a garage addition on your property. Since this is a significant construction project, it is critical to weigh all of your options before making a final decision. These are the four most essential things to think about when building a garage onto your home.
Local Zoning Laws
To make your garage addition legal, you must adhere to the local zoning laws. These laws commonly have size and location restrictions on home additions. You will not be able to make it too big. It also cannot be extremely close to your neighbor’s property line. The zoning laws may also specify the roofing and drainage materials that must be used on the addition.
Attached or Detached
It is up to you to decide whether you want the garage to be attached to the house. Attached garages are generally cheaper because you already have one existing wall built. Since they are the costlier option, detached garages are recommended for anyone planning to use it as a workshop. This will keep the loud noise from disturbing the other people in your home.
Possible Livable Space
If you’re primarily using the garage addition to increase your home’s value, you will want to consider turning it into a livable space. Treat the garage as an extension to your home during construction. Add furnishings and windows to give it an appealing look. This will provide you with flexibility when using your garage. In addition to using the garage as a storage space for your car, you can also easily turn it into an extra bedroom.
Size of Garage
You will need to know the exact size of the garage before starting construction. A single car garage typically requires at least 280 square feet of space. You will need to nearly double this space to fit another car. More space will be required if you plan on using the addition as a work area or storage space. You do not want to spend all that money and end up with something too small.