Northern Va garage help?

[spazegun2213]

Alright, so first, you all rock! I've been an envious lurker for a while and I figured I'd post up. I'm looking at houses in the Falls Church area, and if you know the area, you know finding a house with a garage in that area is like finding a ****** in a convent. So I'm thinking about seeing if one could be built, and I have about 11ty billion questions on the matter.

1) has anyone done this near/in the area?
2) any recomendations on contractors?
3) ballpark cost (I'm shooting for a 24x24ish garage)
4) problems?

I want to make 100% sure I can pull the trigger on a reasonable garage before I purchase a home in the area. No garage means no race car which means I'm going to be VERY unhappy.

 

[Krusty]

I have been told, more than once by contractors, that the permitting process in Fairfax County is a PITA. Also, building costs in the area ain't cheap, even in these days. So, if you can find one with a existing garage, you might be better off.

Krusty

 

[spazegun2213]

I have been told, more than once by contractors, that the permitting process in Fairfax County is a PITA. Also, building costs in the area ain't cheap, even in these days. So, if you can find one with a existing garage, you might be better off.

Krusty

Krusty,
Trust me, we are looking, but there are a few houses that are in the fixer upper range, that would allow me to build a nice garage for the cost of a house, with a garage. However, the houses I have seen with garages tend to be 1 car, which is useless for me, since I come with a LOT of baggage!

 

[Car54]

Buy an enclosed trailer and keep the car in it?

Why don't you expand your search out a little further? Haymarket? Winchester? Gainesville? Woodbridge?

 

[spazegun2213]

Car 54. I do have an enclosed trailer, but they are super easy to steal, and are not that ideal for storing things in long term.

As for the search, I work out on the dulles toll road, and my girlfriend (soon to be fiancee) works in DC. Falls Church seems to be the best place for a house, and we both love the area. The only thing its missing is a garage!

 

[JMURiz]

Is this Falls Church City (not part of FFX County) or Falls Church in FFX?

That's a biggie right there, as they will determine how many square feet you can cover with an outbuilding and how much coverage % you can have for the house, driveway, outbuildings.

In Arlington I was able to build 550 sq/ft but that was years ago, I think it's only 500 now...but check with the county zoning office first.

Do you want to go with something wild or standard?
If it's standard, you may be able to get a kit like they used to sell at 84 lumber.

I wish I had a contractor/framer recommendation, but I don't...mine sucked from all aspects and I ended up having to basically double-up the framing to make myself feel safe inside (even after the code morons signed off on it)! I think it's better to be the GC (general contractor) and sub out stuff like concrete/foundation work, roof, siding...then buy the tools and frame it yourself.

One more thing, do some research on the schools in the area you are looking at...I did and chose North Arlington

 

[pattenp]

Go to a local Lowes or Home Depot or building supply yard and go to the contractor desk and look for the bulletin board that contractors post their business cards on, or ask one of the contractor sales reps if they know of someone. You can also go to the building inspector office and ask for a listing of recent permits issued and completed just for garages and then contact those builders for estimates. You’ll also know where the garages were built to contact the owner so you can go look at a few.

 

[JMURiz]

Good idea, I've had luck with ABC lumber and Smoot in the Arlington area for materials they may know people.

 

[bill9860]

Excellent contractor is PR Construction & Development - Leesburg based. Did my garage in Fairfax Station and a friends Leesburg. Hard to say price. Depends on what you want. Mine is 26' wide x 28'deep. Mine was pretty pricey - done to match house - brick & all. But you won't do better quality wise

 

[Blue Gator Six]

Just transfer to Richmond. There are plenty of houses with garages attached and room for detached and construction is still at a stand still. So you could get some good prices on constuction. JS

 

[redsky49]

Falls Church eh??

It's a very diverse area, ranging considerably in price. Also, very densely developed, meaning that there are not a lot of affordable homes that have available lot space for a sizeable garage. Especially if you require a flat lot, driveway access, sight lines, etc.

Close in to Metro - way expensive. Now if you were to move further out the Dulles Toll Road... But you will curse that DC commute every day!

Permitting in Falls Church is not any worse than the surrounding counties, and in fact used to be one of the easier municipalities to deal with. Used to require only two sets, stamped and signed, of prints for permit applications (other than for restaurants). Last phone number I had Falls Church Public Works was 703.241.5080. As with any jurisdiction, if you approach this half- a**ed, you will pay the consequences. Any experienced Contractor should be able to walk through any permit drawings (simple structures). Note that this is not the same as zoning.

The difficulty will be meeting established lot setbacks, as well as building heights. And if there is any suspicion it will have commercial applications you will be denied.

There are several "design-build" firms that advertise regularly in that area. That would be one approach. There is a lot to be said for a turn key project. Another would be to hire an Architect for a set of plans, and then solicit bids from approved Contractors. Architect can furnish names of people he has had experience with.

As to a ball park cost, anywhere from $60-80/sq.ft. for a basic garage assuming that there are no extenuating circumstances in construction. Anything much less than that would have to be prefabricated (might be worth looking into - several firms out past Middleburg do that, or there are national companies you could try), or a really starving Contractor. Another approach might be to find a skilled carpenter that could serve as a working foreman for the job and supervise any sub-contractors. Any price that sounds too good to be true will be exactly that. Read some of the stories about garage construction on this very forum!

Don't automatically assume that you will be able to park your trailer in the driveway. You may have to store it inside or off site.

Any options will also raise the price so consider seriously how much you would require plumbing in the garage, or whether you will really need an epoxy floor.

Good luck with your search.

As always, offered only as opinion

 

[redsky49]

Is this Falls Church City (not part of FFX County) or Falls Church in FFX?

One more thing, do some research on the schools in the area you are looking at...I did and chose North Arlington

Just so you know, having a Falls Church mailing address does not necessarily make you within the Falls Church City limits. Much, if not most of Falls Church, is outside of the city and within Fairfax County.

As to public schools, most in Northern Virginia are top notch. Only in some areas should you be cautious, and a realtor will help you on that score.

Remember! Location, location, location. In No.Va. that means within the beltway, and close to metro.

 

[ket-tek]

Here in central/southern VA the going rate for a turnkey garage is about $35sf (detached, vinyl siding, unfinished inside, and basic electric), so easily double that in NOVA. So Redsky's $60-$80 range should be pretty close.

 

[CitadelBlue]

Car 54. I do have an enclosed trailer, but they are super easy to steal, and are not that ideal for storing things in long term.

As for the search, I work out on the Dulles toll road, and my girlfriend (soon to be fiancee) works in DC. Falls Church seems to be the best place for a house, and we both love the area. The only thing its missing is a garage!

Fairfax County is NOT trailer friendly ......

You might consider Manassas VA (South of Rt 28 and the Dulles Toll Rd) .... Your GF can then take the VRE (train) into DC from Manassas ...You can get more house and more garages for the money there ...... My $0.02

Ken in Burke Centre

 

[spazegun2213]

Guys,
Thanks for the suggestions! I live in ashburn right now, and love it as much as I hate it. I love it because I'm close to the toll road and the airport, but hate it because 90% of my friends live within the beltway and I travel there a lot! I also love having a garage currently, so I'm in a rough spot for sure. I've lived in the area for years, and will not under any circumstances move further out than I am already, or away from the toll road. While I hate paying to drive on something it beats living in a place that has 2x the commute time. I hate my commute now, and further out would make me want to eat a bullet. Right now, this is all pipe dreams, but a detached garage would rock! I'm still looking and trying to figure it out as I go, lol. I'm exploring what lies out there, and since I don't know jack about this stuff, I'm asking everyone I know (which includes you all). Thanks for the info and keep it coming!!!

oh yea, as for trailers, I've learned that no place in NoVa is trailer friendly... right now I keep mine at a friends, but its got to go somewhere eventually. I was thinking beside the garage, or in the driveway, but we'll see.

 

[Munich77]

Good luck with your garage hunt. I am on the MD side of DC and I had an insane time even finding a townhouse with a two car garage when I was looking. My tip would be to go for location, location, location. The traffic here ***** big time.