New guy looking for input on a carport...

[Ole_Red]

I did a quick search and didnt find what I was looking for. If I did, then I cruised right on over it without noticing. I know that search can be your friend.

My wife and I are currently looking to buy a house and have come across one that has a carport:

Not looking for anything fancy here, but I would want to close it off.. thus turning it in to a garage. So that I could trust leaving tools and Studebaker out there. Any rough ideas on what this would take/cost? We would keep the deck off the back/we would be closing off only the area of the concrete pad) My Father In Law is a general contractor and we would be doing all of the work. I am going back tonight to get a better idea/better pictures.

 

[apexit1]

Know almost nothing on cost and seeing how you are doing all the labor it should be just materials. I'd imagine 5-10k assuming wood, drywall, insulation, siding, electrical, and possibly a door/window. If your FIL is a GC why not ask him? I'd trust someone local who deals with this over some guys on a forum, no offense to anyone on here.

 

[Ole_Red]

Know almost nothing on cost and seeing how you are doing all the labor it should be just materials. I'd imagine 5-10k assuming wood, drywall, insulation, siding, electrical, and possibly a door/window. If your FIL is a GC why not ask him? I'd trust someone local who deals with this over some guys on a forum, no offense to anyone on here.

I plan to ask him tonight once he looks at the property. I was mostly just looking for a rough estimate from random over the net type people haha.

I was also looking for ideas on what would be needed... IE windows, electrical Etc. By what would be needed, I mean what would you do if it was your "garage" to build. I apparently forgot to add that to my original post, but I sure meant to!

 

[930dreamer]

No expert here on remodeling a carport into a garage. I'd talk to a couple of contractors and find out their thoughts on it. If I knew for sure I wanted a garage, I look at houses that had one already.

Maybe you can get a great deal because the house only has a carport, maybe not.

Keep us posted on how this turns out.

 

[apexit1]

Well if you're asking our opinion.

I'd put in water service for a service sink, at least 1 220 line for welding or anything else needing the juice. Electrical outlet every 6-10 feet, plenty of light, since you're building the walls you can add a room for the air compressor to keep the noise down. Maybe cable and ethernet and in wall air lines for the compressor. maybe an outlet near the ceiling for a TV.

 

[bczygan]

Your first step should be to see if you CAN close it in. Zoning and building regs govern. If it doesn't have a footing you may not be allowed to. Call anonymously. Ask lots of questions.

 

[Zeke]

I'd frame up an opening even with the front of the house with a level header and install a roll up door. The one side could be a lot of things. Light gauge steel studs with T1-11 siding would be cheap and secure.

I'd probably get creative on the back wall, so that's a personal decision. I would shy away from just a wall, though. I mean I could see a dual use workstation and bbq bench with the structure being basically a cabinet and a lockable pass thru.

 

[Zeke]

The more I look at that house, the more I like it. Lots of big trees, some elevation changes, batt and board siding. It would look good in some sort of cabin like color. So don't put some cheap steel white door on the port, OK?

Neat place. Where is it?

 

[930dreamer]

Pnw?