[Dianna]

Hi Guys,
What do you think the possibility of adding a garage on to the front of my existing garage is? Can it be done fairly easily? I do not like the "looks" of my house, and I need more space. I would want to move the doors to the side of the house.

If the cost is going to be considerably more than just building a separate garage, I would probably go that route.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Bud9051]

Would your plans remain inside your setback requirements?

New driveway, new roof, new rafters.

Extending it to the left and adding 2 more doors, odd looking, would be easiest.

Start with what you want and then we can detail what is involved.

Bud

 

[BigJim]

If you meet code, the expense should be about the same as building separate, with all things taken into consideration.

 

[craig11152]

Hi Guys,
What do you think the possibility of adding a garage on to the front of my existing garage is?
If the cost is going to be considerably more than just building a separate garage, I would probably go that route.

aside from whatever a Governing authority might or might not allow, is your first wish to essentially "put an addition" on your garage? If so the roof line would seem to call for an intersecting gable with 2 valleys. But the right side valley shouldn't dump on the side of your second story house.
Maybe I am misunderstanding what you want. Would your new garage become "the garage" and what about the existing garage? Turned in to living space or just storage?

 

[Dianna]

I am set back quite a distance from the road, that should not be an issue. I can't find any images on the internet that describe what I'm wanting to do. I am not expanding length-wise, I would be building over the existing driveway, expanding that way. The gable would go in the opposite direction than the current garage.

I would like a 3 car garage, and then use the extra space in the current garage to make a mud room.

 

[Bud9051]

Are you still talking entering from the left or straight in from the current driveway?

Bud

 

[Dianna]

From the side, if possible. Not a deal killer if I need to have the entrance in the front.

 

[craig11152]

My background is roofing and the one concern there is how that valley on the right side ends. Do you live in snow country?

 

[craig11152]

If you have room on the left to swing cars out and turn right in to the garage do you also have room to bump the garage one or two more stalls to the left? That would be easier I would think.

 

[BigJim]

From the side, if possible. Not a deal killer if I need to have the entrance in the front.

It would be if the entrance was in front. For a three car garage you would have have to have more width, which would cover the windows closest to the garage now. Then the roof line would be really low or over shoot the ridge of the garage.

Another thing is the valley would be dead into the side of the second floor and a saddle would be needed and if you have a lot of snow that could be a problem. I would shoot for entrance on the side, you wouldn't need as much width on the face.

One more thing, the roof line you are showing with the addon, will surely over shoot the existing ridge.

 

[Dianna]

My background is roofing and the one concern there is how that valley on the right side ends. Do you live in snow country?

I am in the snow belt.

 

[cmorales]

Hi Guys,
What do you think the possibility of adding a garage on to the front of my existing garage is? Can it be done fairly easily? I do not like the "looks" of my house, and I need more space. I would want to move the doors to the side of the house.

If the cost is going to be considerably more than just building a separate garage, I would probably go that route.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Do you mean is extending into the front of your garage?

 

[craig11152]

I am in the snow belt.

As mentioned before this adds importance to that right side valley. As BigJim said a saddle will likely be needed unless the new structure is not as wide as the existing which could be the case if you go in from the side.
If you make it the same width then someone needs to give serious thought to how a saddle will be built at the base of that valley. It will need a flat roofing product that rolls up behind the siding and covers the saddle. Then shingles can pick up above.

If you can do the opening on the side like you want then perhaps you can narrow the width to keep that valley away from the house.

 

[craig11152]

One more thing, the roof line you are showing with the addon, will surely over shoot the existing ridge.

she just copied and pasted something for display. I'm sure the new will match the pitch of the existing.

 

[craig11152]

Something like this doesn't interest you? Or perhaps you don't have the room? It would seem that wouldn't take any more room to the left than a drive way that swings out far enough so cars can turn right in to the garage.

 

[Dianna]

I would love that, and I have the room on the side of the house, but I don't think it looks very good, I worry about resale value, if I ever decide to move. I also worry about how much water would be coming at the garage, my garage sits lower than the driveway, unfortunately.

 

[Bud9051]

Ack, that is ugly and she already doesn't like what she has, Just my opinion.
Dianna, you originally said a detached garage in back was an option. If you went ahead and moved the garage doors to the side and reworked the appearance of the front and then built a second building out back it might be a more positive step. In some cases when you tear down to remodel by the time you rebuild, the improvement is marginal. With a completely new building you will retain the space you have and be able to move the excess to the second building.

In my experience, going from a 2 car to a 3 car garage only buys you a year or two before you need more space.

Bud
Sorry, I type slow and was interrupted.

 

[BigJim]

Another option would be to T bone a three car garage against the end of the house with the entrance in the left like has been mentioned, it would look pretty good and would solve the valley into the second floor. Someone may have already suggested this.

 

[Dianna]

Thanks BigJim, so that would be expanding the garage in the front and the rear of the house?