Anyone move a brick garage?

[TechieTechie]

Hi all...

I know moving a stick built garage can be done. I want to put an offer on a house with a detached 2 car c. 1920 brick garage. Garage in good shape. I wan to move it maybe 20 feet (10 feet nearer the house/10 feet closer to edge of drive).

Can you move a brick garage like you can a stick one? I would assume mortar wouldn't survive (and it would be too heavy), but maybe I'm wrong.

Thanks

 

[wayout]

Although anything can be moved with enough money, I don't think it is practical.
I highly doubt it has a solid foundation given the age.
It's possible to rebuild it in a new location brick by brick if there is a compelling reason for the expense.

 

[justanengineer]

Plenty of masonry structures have been moved, it’s just a matter of careful labor, most of which is the lifting/lowering, not the actual horizontal distance hauling. JMO but wood framed structures are enough of a PITA (BTDT) that id love to a see a DIY attempt. I’d wager a professional mover would charge ~$30k to move the OP. It’s prob make more sense just to add the 20’ onto the structure and either have a bigger structure or just remove a proportional amount.


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[The Cobbler]

not easily or economically .how tight the mortar is to the old brick will have to be determined as well . it might be real loose or real tight.
best probably to figure out another plan .

 

[mepstein]

We were in NC and I saw them moving a lighthouse so I assume a garage can be done.

 

[b-boy]

We were in NC and I saw them moving a lighthouse so I assume a garage can be done.

True, but the lighthouse cost $12,000,000 to move.

 

[TechieTechie]

Actually, there is a semi local company that is a member of International Association of Structural Movers...and they moved a brick Indiana schoolhouse. So it can be done. The question will be which is cheaper? Move or rebuild.

Thx

 

[loganb]

It can be done, see below how they literally raised up ever building in downtown Chicago in the 1800's...many of which are still there today

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rai... and 1860s,property owners and public funds.

Question is if there is a compelling reason to do it financially...for example historic association, covenants or deed restrictions involving the property. If not, I expect the costs to be rather astronomical compared to building new where desired. It may also trigger code updates as the local authority's could consider it a "new build" forcing any electric or other systems be upgraded to current codes and requiring a bunch of otherwise not required retrofit.

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[TechieTechie]

Thanks all...

The other option that popped into my head today is to extend the garage towards the driveway by 8 feet (which will allow for today's larger cars and does not expand upon any existing setbacks) and build a connection between the two. The kitchen window facing the garage/turnaround was previously a doorway (has newer brick, window header and cement pad) so it would be fairly easy to revert back to a door...then I can add a sunroom connecting the garage and house. If the sunroom has heat, in this jurisdiction, it's legal living space (money better spent than on the move).

I think that's probably the better approach. The garage roof needs done anyways, so I could do the garage addition at that point.

Even better, I can use the extra garage space to store my small sportscar (gotta love the car storage rollers) in addition to my DDs.

 

[zippyslug31]

A town I used to live in moved a historic 2-story brick "feed store" a couple dozen feet to make room for an expanding road.

 

[justanengineer]

I would urge caution extending the garage to the right in that pic. Like many city driveways, it looks like you don’t have much room to make the turn into the garage as it is.


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[Renegade1LI]

One brick at a time! sorry had to say it.

 

[ZRX61]

Yes, but a wheelbarrow played a major role..

 

[rburke65]

I would think that it would be cost prohibitive

 

[Wrench97]

Why not just build a "breezeway" from the house to the garage?

 

[Gutman]

Yes you can. Anything can be done, it's always just a matter of time and $$$ (or $$$$$$$).

It's done all of the time to raise, reposition, and relocate houses, even with attached garages. Pretty big here in Eastern NC, especially following big hurricanes. Impressive actually.

Your issue will be cost.