Considering attached garage

[ace23]

I had planned earlier this year on a detached garage but due to space limitation and also that it's my first home I decided against. I think it's a much better idea to build a smaller attached garage so that I could keep the majority of my yard and keep
Cost down. The actual part of the home that it would be attached to has two existing walls. If you imagine looking into the garage the north wall and east wall are already existing brick....the west wall would be the only side that would need to be build and obviously a garage door. My home is built on a conventional foundation and has traditional 8ft ceilings.....so the add on would have plenty of height even for a lift. I had an interesting conversation with a contractor today and he wanted more for the attached than to build a detached. Does this sound accurate to you guys? Seems to me my material list would be significantly less when building this specific attached unit and I don't have and crazy roof action or unlevel ground that would need addressing. Also due to the property line this attached unit would only be about 18ft wide and 20ft long....just a nice size for a single car and a lift and some room for my streetbike and 4 wheeler. What do you guys think would be a reasonable cost not including the slab? I will do the electrical and sheet rock work, all I need is the framing, roof and garage door hung. Considered building the detached myself but the attached scares me. Located in memphis TN Thanks guys

 

[Colonial Cobra]

You should be able to build the attached garage cheaper. Less structure to build...You can save big $$$ by building it yourself. Just don't slimp on the size. Go with the max allowable, you will regret it later if you don't. Check out the link to our build below.

 

[ddawg16]

First Question....how big is your lot?

18' x 20'? Not big enough.....I tore down an 18'x20' detached....replaced it with a 20'x25' 2-story garage....still not big enough.....

An 18' width you can live with....but 20' depth? With a car in there....you will basically have just enough room for a bench and you 'might' be able to squeeze by it....

You would think your saving by using 2 walls of your house....but.....there is a bit more to it than that....especially when you start talking about tieing into your existing roof and other issues. You might consider a car port where your talking about....but I would go detached....put it as far back in the corner you can and enjoy....

For an idea....hit the link in my signature....note: I was able to build my garage right up to the property line....

 

[Stilwell]

I agree with ddawg, there is a lot more that goes into the consideration of attaching to your house. I looked into this before settling on a detached because the additional costs of adding support to the existing foundation so the ground could be dug out for a lower garage floor, roof reconfiguration so the addition didn't look like a sore thumb, the additional work for the difference in codes in my area for a dwelling vs. a detached accessory structure, etc. etc. etc..

You will get a lot of people telling you how little you really HAVE to do and how cheap you can do it if you just do it all yourself. Depending on your situation, that may be true but if you are like me lots of codes, want the addition to look like it belongs yet still accommodate your needs, don't have the experience necessary to pour concrete, frame, roof, etc. and lastly DON'T HAVE THE TIME to do it all, a contractor is the best way to go.

Good luck and have fun.

 

[LocoCoco]

...Just don't slimp on the size. Go with the max allowable, you will regret it later if you don't....

Agreed. And keep in mind that the bigger it is the higher your home value will be.

First Question....how big is your lot?

18' x 20'? Not big enough.....I tore down an 18'x20' detached....replaced it with a 20'x25' 2-story garage....still not big enough.....

An 18' width you can live with....but 20' depth? With a car in there....you will basically have just enough room for a bench and you 'might' be able to squeeze by it....

Agreed again. A full-size pickup can be 20'. Even if you don't have one, you may someday. And even if you never have one, the next potential buyer might. Heck, my Jeep TJ is about 13' long and it's notably shorter than most cars.

For residential lots in my city, I believe the maximum lot coverage allowed is 40%.

Lastly, I prefer detached for a few reasons... The noise, smells and exhaust stay out of the house keeping the wife happy, you get fewer interuptions from said wife poking her head in, and I like the idea that if one building burns down the other might not. I believe insurance is also cheaper for that reason.



LC.

 

[thammel]

I attached a 32' x 28' x 12' to my house (already with a 20 x 20) which I think is what I need. I wouldn't want to have gone any smaller. You will always wish you had gone larger unless you go at least 28 x 28, in my opinion.

 

[BEAVO]

i built a 24x30 few yrs ago and the depth was 24 and i have enough room for bench and barley to walk around if you plan on parking a full size truck in it you might want to rethink it. i wish i would have went bigger on mine but oh well the house is up for sale now so dont matter anymore. mines detatched and i like it that way for said reasons above but on think i would like if it was attached is i would be able to work in garage at nights i cant now cause i have a 18month old and my garage is 300ft from house lol!!no wifes poking there heads in there!! before anyone ask why its that far is because of the leach bed comes out behind the house so i had to build it that far to avoid them which ***** i wish it could have been closer but oh well good luck on the garage

 

[kbs2244]

The biggest difference between an attached and a detached is in the foundation.
A detached can be built on a floating slab.
But an attached has to have a house style foundation tied into the existing house foundation so the frost heave will crack them apart.
That is a big cost difference.

Personally, I love an attached as a place to park the daily driver every night.
But they are less then ideal for shop use.
A shop just has too much noise, smell, dirt, etc to be just a 1 ¾ inch door away from where you live.

 

[sizzler90]

Lastly, I prefer detached for a few reasons... The noise, smells and exhaust stay out of the house keeping the wife happy, you get fewer interuptions from said wife poking her head in, and I like the idea that if one building burns down the other might not. I believe insurance is also cheaper for that reason.

LC.

And 1 more reason, The more inconvieniant it is for the wife to put her stuff in it the better. Mine (ours) ok (hers) is attached and I have to move her stuff around just so I can work on my projects. Takes me an hour sometimes just to start something after rearranging. Can't wait to get my shop built out back.

 

[ace23]

Thanks for all the replies. Yes the combination of having to tie in the roof line and make it look correct are probably more than I would need to tackle. The home was built in the 50's so it's only about 1580sqft, my idea size would be 30x30 but even a 25x25 would leave me with a lot full of concrete and shop and I just don't think I would enjoy not having any yard leftover. I completely understand that the addition limits me to a smaller space but my needs are to be able to store atleast a single car or two with a lift...and then some side room for my motorcycle. I wouldn't be using it as a machine or wood shop just strictly to store toys. The 18x20 isn't a for sure size....I might be able to stretch it a bit more just depends on code. I'm also single so no female wants/needs or opinions go into this. Like I said earlier it's first home and who knows if I will be here for 5 years or 30......most of the surrounding houses have a small attached or detached garage so just one more reason I wouldn't want to build something over the top. Not to sound like a homo but the yard is just awesome filled with massive azaleas, Japanese maples.....just great to have when your in the city. As far as the carport idea....I would rather have nothing then have an open carport as it would serve nothing of what I want.

 

[toolmiser]

Here is a little personal experience. My house was built (by previous owner), and they built a detached garage on slab. Then put a breezeway between the two. We wanted to build an addition to the garage and the city made us put a foundation below frost because it was attached to the house. Technically it was attached to a garage on a slab, but to make them happy we did it their way. 11 years later having the two tied together hasn't been a problem.

 

[bill9860]

Had a 26w x28L 2 bay detached built last year. Even if I knew how to do the stuff, and I don't, getting the permits, inspections and everything coordinated so that it arrives when needed is best left to a pro if you want it done in fairly short order. These guys, assuming you hire local experienced folks know what is needed to pass the inspections in your jurisdiction. I would have built it more like 36w x30w deep if I had the room, but I am really happy with the thing as it is. Have a 2 post asymetric lift on one side and would even have room for a four poster on the other if I get another car ..... which isn't likely