Adding a garage onto this house?

[jserr68594]

I am looking to add an additional garage onto the side of this house. I would like to attach it, but I cannot come up with any good ideas that will not destroy the symmetry/look of the house, so I may have to do unattached. Does anyone have input? Thanks in advance!

 

[Pennsylvania 39]

Why not attach it to the rear of your garage and you will barely be able to see it from the street

 

[jserr68594]

Why not attach it to the rear of your garage and you will barely be able to see it from the street

I added some arial photos. There is a large hill right off the rear of the house, so attaching at the rear in not possible

 

[FordTruckWench]

Perpendicular and in front of the house with a small gap between the structure corners? In other words, with the doors at a right angle to the house. You already have the approach driveway to get into such a garage.

 

[racecougar]

You'll likely have a more difficult time gaining approval to build right up to your property line than dealing with the slope at the rear of the property.

 

[CraigStu]

Perpendicular and in front of the house with a small gap between the structure corners? In other words, with the doors at a right angle to the house. You already have the approach driveway to get into such a garage.

That's what I would do.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Check on set backs from the property line. Most places you need a minimum of X' unless you get a variance from the zoning board. I agree with the thought on the placement being perpendicular to the house/drive.

 

[jives]

Building where you marked, or perpendicular like FordTruckWrench said, would seem to limit access to the back yard. Perhaps perpendicular, but move toward the front of the property.

The photos of the front of the house show a body of water in the back. How close is that? The water does not appear on the aerial photos (or my eyesight is poor). When you said a hill in the back, are you referring to a slope dropping away from the house? That can be easily (not cheaply) dealt with.

BTW, is this a true garage -- for cars -- and not simply a workshop?

 

[6869704X4]

Build a room onto the other side of the house

 

[u2slow]

IMHO, the perfect mirror-symmetry is gone anyway with a detached garage positioned so close. With setbacks, you're losing the walkway's-width of square footage too. I would do attached and copy the roofline of the taller center-section of the house.

Also double-check your bylaws. I could have a bigger garage if it was attached. Detached was capped at 750sqft.

 

[Joe Reed]

If the suggestion of perpendicular to the house doesn't work for you, I'd move the new garage addition back several feet from where you have it drawn. That would be less intrusive to the symmetry of the existing house.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Sell the house, buy something that suits better your needs?

 

[billconner]

Build detached in rear corner of lot as close to lot lines as zoning allows, and extend driveway along side. Also makes it easier to change style if desired.

First step should be a good site plan with zoning required set backs drawn in. Then, if in an HOA, add those restrictions.

 

[FordTruckWench]

Build detached in rear corner of lot as close to lot lines as zoning allows, and extend driveway along side. Also makes it easier to change style if desired.

The OP can't build in back: There's a lake back there. You can see it in the second and third pictures.

 

[Stuart in MN]

You'll likely have a more difficult time gaining approval to build right up to your property line than dealing with the slope at the rear of the property.

This is most likely the case - it doesn't look like there's enough room to add on a garage bay before you run into setback requirements, but of course that depends on local regulations.

 

[LOW1]

The center part of your home with the shed roof may make it difficult aesthetically. The services of an architect would help.

What about tearing off the existing garage and replacing it with a side entry 4 car garage?

 

[billconner]

The OP can't build in back: There's a lake back there. You can see it in the second and third pictures.

Boat house below garage. Maybe a little deck if back of garage. Could be very nice if zoning allows it.

It's a tight lot. Need the site plan and all regs affecting it.

 

[CTyankee]

I'm not familiar with brick homes do I don't know how much work it would entail. I'd try to add a single 2 car deep garage to the existing garage. You'd have to alter the side of the existing, but it would also allow you to have the 2 spaces open to each other if desired. Symmetry wise I think you're SOOL.

 

[andyvh1959]

If you go attached, depending on your location, it means a full below frost depth foundation is required. If you go detached you can likely do a slab. Also, like said before a detached garage may be built larger depending on set back requirements.

When I built the 7-car garage at my previous house, the city would limit me to 900 sq ft for a detached garage. I asked, "would an attached covered walkway from the garage to the house define it as "attached"?" They agreed. I designed a covered walkway from the back door of the house to the side door of the garage, with a connection to the garage wall that allowed for vertical deflection. City approved it and I built a 1350 sq ft "attached" garage. Still wish I was in that house.