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· Registered
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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Is it possible to take a 1car garage and extend it into a 2 car? My garage is current 16 feet wide and has a 10 foot garage door. I would be paying someone to do this but I just looking for advice if I should ask to extend the existing structure built in the 50s or just build new.
 

· Civil Engineer
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5,832 Posts
You cannot realistically expect an internet chat forum to evaluate the cost of expanding an existing garage versus building new. You have provided no photos, not description of the existing garage etc. And this forum generally stays away from cost estimating because costs vary regionally and by the job.

My suggestion is you develop two alternate plans, one for expansion, one for a new building. If you are uncomfortable developing your own plans, you may want to purchase a basic building book such as ones commonly found in big box stores, they often have detailed schematic plans for a garage. Or you can go to a lumber store and purchase a set of detailed plans for a garage.

Then you can bid the job out with two options, one to expand the existing garage, and the other to tear down the existing structure and build new. After you receive a few bids, you will be in a better position to evaluate which way to go.
 

· Registered
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37,499 Posts
Got a picture?
What type siding do you have?
The whole roof would have to be removed and replaced or you'll end up with a goofy looking roof line.
 

· Registered
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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
I can take some pictures. Do you need just a picture of the outside or the internal structure? I figured the roof line would need to redone. I really was just trying to figure out if enlarging the existing structure was even worth getting estimates.
 

· Retired Moderator
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There will be a major difference between expanding a free standing garage and an attached one--

Full ,below frost ,footings and stem wall will be needed if the garage is attached to the house---so the more information the better
 

· Registered User
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11,730 Posts
It tells us no second story above portion pictured...no trusses on existing, board sheathing on roof, walls sheathed with Thermo-ply, 1/4" foil-faced structural with 1x4 wood let-ins, has a newer vinyl-covered insulated overhead door to reuse (professionally installed with opener), uses a electric weed-eater (green), exercises w. bicycle (healthy, unlike mine w. layers of dust), has 65,543 miles on odometer (just kidding, seeing if you are reading it all) and he shouldn't store material on the rafter ties as they are sagging.

Gary
 
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· Retired Moderator
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It might be cheaper to simply remove that structure ans build new---

all that will remain of that is one and a half walls---that are sitting on to small of a slab---

Start your price search with a garage building service if you have one in your area---

They can give you a starting price very quickly so you can decide if your project fits the budget--

Saving part of that structure would cost more than tearing it down if I were doing that job--
 

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In NH where I'm org. from we had companys that would deliver panelized homes and garages.
The walls were all prebuilt. They came in with a crane and could have all 4 walls up, trusses set and the sheating on in one day. The next day they shingled the roof and did all the trim out.
 

· Roofmaster
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I have no idea how much property you have, but assuming you dont have too much, it is my opinion that what you have there is not worth saving. If you have a couple of acres I'd keep that one and build another.

Why?

The floor is seriously cracked.
The roof sheathing is spaced
The Framing is kind of suspect
The height is not very useful for a Handyman.

It is MUCH easier to start out fresh with a properly designed structure.
 

· Registered
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1,802 Posts
Just a thought if this is workable.

Rather than going wider - go tandem. One car in front of the other. This way you just add on and make the existing garage deeper. Retains most all of existing structure.
 
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