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garage widening or new

eeprete

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Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
192
I currently have a 17 (w) x 21 (d) garage, that is a nice car and a half garage. My size cap with the town, is 20x30 with a 14 foot height.

Is adding a left side slab and widening the cinderblock garage viable? Ideally if I go 7-8 feet wider, I'll have plenty of room for what I need.

Local contractor quoted me 26 without new slab which I suspect may run about 5-6.
 
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ClearWaterMS

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Mar 7, 2017
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Location
Lombard, IL
i am confused, what is the ask?

Did a local contractor quote you $26k for a new garage or the addition?

As for adding on to the garage;

What does your roof look like?
What are you planning to do with the existing wall? Are you looking to completely remove the existing wall or just add 3 walls and tie it to the existing wall. A structural engineer would probably need to tell you what it would take to shore up the existing building, tie the two structures together.


What is the condition of the rest of the building? Is the existing concrete pad in good condition?
 

James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
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Southeastern Wisconsin
In my opinion, it makes no sense at all to add on both width and depth. It makes more sense to tear down what you have and build a new garage. Here is why I say that.

To add on width and depth to the existing garage, all four walls need to be moved and rebuilt, and the trusses/rafters need to be replaced. For example, let's say you leave the wall standing on the left side of the garage. It is 21 feet long so you need to add on another 9 feet to it, but first you need to pour more concrete for the floor since it will be bigger when the garage is completed. Once the floor addition has been poured and cured, you need to add on the extra 9 feet to the wall that is still standing. The wall with the overhead door will need to be revamped totally because it will be too short and you will most likely want the overhead door in the center. That means the wall will need to be pretty much totally rebuilt. The left wall and the rear wall will need several feet added on and depending on whether you want windows or a side door or whatever else you may want, both walls will likely need some revamping as well. Then you need all new trusses/rafters to fit the larger size garage.

Long story short, in my opinion, it is much simpler, and most likely less expensive, to start from scratch and build the garage the way you want it to be built instead of trying to screw around using the materials from the old garage.

Personally, I would take a very close look at the old concrete. If the old concrete has any problems with it, tear it out and pour new concrete. No matter how you do it, you will be spending a large chunk of change on this garage project. Do yourself a favor and spend a few thousand more and get something that will last for many years and will be exactly what you want it to be.
 

Stuart in MN

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Sep 8, 2005
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23,135
Location
Minneapolis
Pictures would help also.


Location will help as well. Building practices will depend on what part of the country or the planet you live in.


You mention a slab, is that the same construction as the existing garage or does it have a foundation? Typically you would need to use the same thing as whatever is in place now for the addition.
 

slidehammer

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Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
169
Location
California Central Coast
I currently have a 17 (w) x 21 (d) garage, that is a nice car and a half garage. My size cap with the town, is 20x30 with a 14 foot height.

Is adding a left side slab and widening the cinderblock garage viable? Ideally if I go 7-8 feet wider, I'll have plenty of room for what I need.
Are you proposing to make your garage 7'-8' wider and 1' shallower?
 
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James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
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Southeastern Wisconsin
Are you proposing to make your garage 7'-8' wider and 1' shallower?
No, he can go 3 feet wider and 9 feet deeper as well as taller. I am not sure how high the ceiling is in his current garage because he didn't say. I would assume it is 8 feet high now, but he could go as high as 14 feet which would be plenty high for a lift.
 

slidehammer

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Feb 4, 2010
Messages
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Location
California Central Coast
No, he can go 3 feet wider and 9 feet deeper as well as taller. I am not sure how high the ceiling is in his current garage because he didn't say. I would assume it is 8 feet high now, but he could go as high as 14 feet which would be plenty high for a lift.
I also interpret the OP's description of his town's rules as allowing 3' more width and 9' more depth, but he wrote about going 7'-8' wider. Maybe he wants 8' more slab but only 3' more garage, but that's just my guess. Instead of guessing, I asked him to clarify what he's proposing.
 

NUTTSGT

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Sep 14, 2009
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Northern Central Ohio
I'd seriously do as James mentions, a complete tear down and start fresh.

I think we need more information as to what the OP has, wants and some pics to boot.
 

ddurrett896

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Joined
Mar 29, 2015
Messages
995
Location
VA
I currently have a 17 (w) x 21 (d) garage, that is a nice car and a half garage. My size cap with the town, is 20x30 with a 14 foot height.

Is adding a left side slab and widening the cinderblock garage viable? Ideally if I go 7-8 feet wider, I'll have plenty of room for what I need.

I debated the same, saving a 14x24 and connecting to house and ultimately I'm going to rip it down and rebuild new. It's old and while I could probably salvage it, by the time I add the new the costs are close. I'd rather start fresh knowing it's 100% good to go.

For example, with just adding a slab you might get hit with a short load fee. A new slab should put you over the limit, making the cost the same.
 
OP
E

eeprete

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Joined
Jun 1, 2010
Messages
192
I do apologize for never posting back. My primary goal was widening only. Town will allow for UP TO 20x30. However long story short, like many other spouses my wife wasn’t/isn’t supportive of any of it..... yes standard 8 foot height. I have four fox body mustangs I want to keep, but may ultimately sell bc some are too nice to keep outdoors.
 
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