Garage Addition: 7 things to consider

When thinking about a garage addition, you should consider the following:

Detached vs. Attached Many home owners prefer to have an attached garage with a door that directly connects to the living area. Attached garages eliminate a cold, snowy walk to the garage or a blast of heat on your way to work. However, the lot size and the position of your home on the lot may not always allow this to happen.

A detached garage is a great option that allows more design flexibility since it is not directly attached to the house. A number of different rooflines, sizes and heights can be used to complement the style of your home.

Orientation The orientation of a garage addition depends to a large degree on where the garage is placed on the lot:

Elevation Many garage additions are built at ground level. If you decide to convert part of your basement into a garage, or place your garage addition below grade, an area drain with a connection to the municipal storm sewer system must be located outside of the garage. Click on Step 8 - Do We Need Permits for more details.

Size Choosing a one, two, or three car garage with additional storage space will largely depend on your needs, the size of your lot, the local building code and your budget. For specific sizes, see Step 6

Roofline The roof of your garage addition should be similar to the roof shape of your home.

A flat roof can be built to support an outdoor patio, adding an additional amenity to your home. Flat roofs can also support a green roof which is an increasingly popular way of managing storm water, reducing heating/cooling costs, and increasing the amount of plants versus hardscape, an environmentally sustainable building option.

Garage Door The size, shape, color, material, and design of garage doors have an immense impact on the overall appearance of the garage and how well it fits in with the rest of your home.

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Garage Addition: 7 things to consider