Knock it down or add on?

[Rick Giles]

I didn't realize there appears not to be an attached garage on the house ?

If the septic is right near the current garage and water shouldn't be that hard to run, add a bathroom to the current garage or if the addition is tall enough to add a extra/bonus room upstairs. This would make doing some entertaining easier outside under that nice sized porch or if she comes out, you can make it comfortable to her.

Based on the rendering of what ZRX61 drew up. Two bays, one four post to store 2 vehicles and a future 2 post for work to be done. An addition that wide would allow a work space and plenty of room that you could give her one bay in the current garage.





No better than what I could have done, especially on my phone.

Actually there is a 25' x 25' attached garage that is converted to a rec room. My idea was to convert it back but the wife and kids said aw naw!

Like to have a carport between the garage and the house.

Also like to have a 2 post and 4 post. All this is pretty costly but seems to be worth it.

 

[Rick Giles]

Not really, depends on how picky you and your wife are, cost of labor/materials, how much $$$ you have. Can add on to the existing garage.

You never did answer what 4 cars are you going to have to put in a garage? Not that you have to answer -- might want to remain totally anoymous. I'd just leave the 2 cheapest under a carport if it were me. lol. If I built onto that space, it'd be for adding workshop space.

Knowing what part of the country you're in and what sort of vehicles you have would be good data to know to offer up advice.

I'm very picky but for her it just depends on what it is. I'm the detail nut.

I have a 67 SS/RS Camaro and a 66 twin turbo Chevelle. Also have some dirt bikes, 4 wheelers, and a tractor that I would rather keep than most of the other things. The Camaro is about half done and the Chevelle is at about 90%. Thought about selling all of it and buying a late model 911 Porsche. Love having a project to tinker with though. Even though these days it's hard to find time.

I really appreciate your input!

 

[Fix Until Broke]

What about adding on toward the treeline like this?

Just continue the existing roofline to make it taller and put a taller garage door on that end? Leave the doors/walls you have now - probably put a double man door inside from the new part to the old part?

Probably has the least amount of "messing with" the existing structure and gets you at least double the space and the height you need/want for a lift/storage.

 

[Rick Giles]

That would be cool if we can get it to look nice and do that. Seems less costly than some of the other options.
I guess we would have to remove the shed roof?

 

[Fix Until Broke]

I don't think you'd have to remove the existing shed roof. For the smoothest look, you'd need to pull the top couple feet of shingles/sheeting so you can tie in the new rafters, but then you can just continue the shingles up to the new peak. No need to tear it all off that I can see?

 

[johnnyradiant]

I would do an add on. Not a major modification to existing excepting to tie the add on into the old. I would be tempted to end up with the RV bay being perpendicular to the other doors.

 

[NUTTSGT]

That's what I was trying to get at. Just have not had time to get at the computer. Been using my phone the last couple of days.

Here's my quick (and poor) paint skills.

You have the black box of the outline of the new garage along with the roof line in black also. It shows the ridges and valleys.

Red box would be the door(s) area.

White box would all be actual shop space, big enough to put a project car on dollies and roll it around.

 

[Rick Giles]

Your paint skills look great! This is a cool idea and I like it a lot.
I’m still having a very hard time looking at the shed roof that’s on the house and garage that’s serves almost no purpose. [emoji57]


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[NUTTSGT]

If that shed roof went across the entire back section of the house, it would fit in better. It's kinda odd they didn't cover the single walk in door.

 

[ddawg16]

Do a variation of Nut's idea....but build a car port in front of the new section....and....add a door in the back so you can drive through the garage to access the back.

 

[Rick Giles]

I think we need to add the carport with trusses running the opposite direction from the house to garage to make everyone happy.
Still not sure what to do with the garage.

 

[Rick Giles]

Does anyone know an easy software program for doing simple house or garage design?

 

[ddawg16]

Google Sketchup.

Oh, wait....you said easy.............non of them are 'easy' in relative terms.

I prefer the student version of AutoDesk's Fusion 360

 

[ddawg16]

I think we need to add the carport with trusses running the opposite direction from the house to garage to make everyone happy.
Still not sure what to do with the garage.

That is actually easy to do and I think it would make for a pleasant looking garage.

 

[Rick Giles]

Thanks John I will give that a try!

 

[428PI]

Save your money, pay off the property and retire a year earlier and forget the project cars you don't have time with now. Work on them when you retire.

 

[Jackfre]

The very first mod I would work on is putting a smile on her face. Then, you sell the idea of the shop mods, whatever they are, whenever you can. Get a storage container for your excess stuff. I know it isn't excess but I think you follow me. At a time of big changes there is little to be gained by pushing a woman who is as you admit, "at wits end." The alternative, well you say you don't want a divorce over it, but I bet there are guys who can share those stories. Having to get visitation rights to the shop is about the worst option. I am a slow learner but I know that if Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

 

[Rick Giles]

Man you guys are very right! I just talked to a friend of mine today that his wife left him! Wasn't due to cars and he is pretty crazy but this is really getting me thinking.
I'm in a situation where I will be able to pay it off in the next several months. Would like to do a two car carport for her especially but the garage needs to be improved at the same time to make it all come out right.
This is driving me nuts...