Old(er) Garage Addition

[WentworthMotorsports21]

Alright, I am always posting questions on here so I'll ask another opinion question.

I've been planning to build a pole barn next Fall, I got some quotes, etc. and am financially able to do it. The catch is my wife and I plan to be at this house for another 5-10 years max. It is an hour commute one way to work and we would like to move closer to work and get a lot more land (currently have .5 acres, want 2-3 acres). The quote for a pole barn (32w/28d/12h) was right around $15k with the foundation. I have garage currently (24x/20d/9h) that is pretty solid but is quite old.

Since I'm planning to move everyone keeps telling me that I should add on to the current garage. I think that would be a lot of work and (im sure) a good chunk of change too. I wouldn't want to spend $7-8k adding onto the garage when I could get a brand new one put up for twice that.

Here is a quick list of what I'm thinking would need to be done.

• Garage would need to be widened from 24w to 28w
• Garage would need to be expanded from 20ft deep to 24ft deep (this is the direction the garage slopes down to)
• Foundation would need to be added onto to cover the increased sides
• insulation would need to be added throughout
• Would need to wire for 220 electrical (that would need to be done with the pole barn too) it would probably require a seperate box
• I would need to pull out the loft storage area that is currently in there and add some structural support
• I would like to remove the swing out doors and add a wide overhead door.
• One last issue is that there is a condensation issue (a big one) inside the garage right now. On certain mornings I could fill several cups of water from the moisture on the roof/hood of my race car

I've attached a picture, I can get more later but for now this is all I had on my phone.

I did ask a similar question about a year ago (before I had considered a pole barn) but there was only one response (probably because I didn't really know what I wanted to do). I can't find that post (I lost my login info for my old username) or else I would link to it.

Thanks,
Jeff.

 

[matt_i]

I think its a mistake. Save up, make the move sooner if the plan is solidified. There are no guarantees you can get your money out of a pole barn at the time of sale. And, add that to the fact you might have to build another one at your new property...Finance rates are low now with respect to mortgages and this may not last 5-10 years.

In the meantime, you could try to do some things to tighten up the envelope of your existing garage, insulate, heat, add roll-up doors, etc.

 

[WentworthMotorsports21]

I think its a mistake. Save up, make the move sooner if the plan is solidified. There are no guarantees you can get your money out of a pole barn at the time of sale. And, add that to the fact you might have to build another one at your new property...Finance rates are low now with respect to mortgages and this may not last 5-10 years.

In the meantime, you could try to do some things to tighten up the envelope of your existing garage, insulate, heat, add roll-up doors, etc.

I would LOVE to do that. Unfortunately at this point with our current finances it would just lead to another temporary situation. My wife is on a career plan at her place of employment where she is guaranteed pay raises over the next few years (Its a really cool plan, she was only able to get on it because she was recruited after graduating with her Masters). Anyway, we currently make significantly more than the Median income in the town we live in, our mortgage is about $1000/mo on a $150k property. In order to move 20 minutes closer to work and get the additional land we want we would be looking at a $3-400k property (and the accompanying $2500+ monthly payment). In a few years my wife will be making about $25k more per year than she makes now and that will definitely help us get where we want to be. For now I can afford the extra $2-$300/mo to build a pole barn, or to pay to make some changes to this garage in cash but don't think we could afford to make a big move like that (yet).

That would be ideal though!

Thanks,
Jeff.

 

[DeadSock]

I would:
Upgrade the electrical and insulate/seal up the existing garage.
Add a 10x12 shed to hold misc items (useful also when rehabbing the garage)
From the looks, an overhead door might not be feasible

Your existing 20x24 can be plenty of space WHEN it is only used for workspace.

If you're set on adding on, think about adding a gable end above the existing doors so that you gain a taller single door entry and increased footprint (e.g. A T shape with the existing building the top of the T, and a new gable end 16' wide with a 12' wide single overhead opening)

 

[Bluedodge]

"...My wife is on a career plan at her place of employment where she is guaranteed pay raises over the next few years..."

There is no such thing as "guaranteed pay raises".

Heck, there's no such thing as guaranteed employment.

Be careful.

Also: an additional $25k per year equates to approx $17k per year after taxes. Divide that by 12 months and you're only adding $1400 a month to your budget.

Disclaimer: unless her Daddy owns the company and would refuse to ever sell it

 

[WentworthMotorsports21]

I would:
Upgrade the electrical and insulate/seal up the existing garage.
Add a 10x12 shed to hold misc items (useful also when rehabbing the garage)
From the looks, an overhead door might not be feasible

Your existing 20x24 can be plenty of space WHEN it is only used for workspace.

If you're set on adding on, think about adding a gable end above the existing doors so that you gain a taller single door entry and increased footprint (e.g. A T shape with the existing building the top of the T, and a new gable end 16' wide with a 12' wide single overhead opening)

I do think that I could get by with 20x24 were it specifically for my uses. My brother is looking at also getting a race car as well and we had planned to keep it at my place. Two race cars in that garage would be pretty tight along with the workbench, etc. Even if I just had a kick out somewhere to put the toolboxes and workbench that would be a huge help. I'll get some pictures of the inside later to give an idea -- maybe there are some space saving ideas I'm overlooking. I've definitely considered getting a shed which would move the pressure washer, lawn mower, and garden implements out to the shed -- and if it were big enough I could probably keep the blasting cabinet and other stuff out there as well - of course that would need to be a pretty big shed. I'll look into that though - all of the above mentioned stuff does take up a lot of space!

Thanks,
Jeff.

 

[WentworthMotorsports21]

"...My wife is on a career plan at her place of employment where she is guaranteed pay raises over the next few years..."

There is no such thing as "guaranteed pay raises".

Heck, there's no such thing as guaranteed employment.

Be careful.

Also: an additional $25k per year equates to approx $17k per year after taxes. Divide that by 12 months and you're only adding $1400 a month to your budget.

Disclaimer: unless her Daddy owns the company and would refuse to ever sell it

She is on a career ladder program (which was a part of the offer letter she signed when offered the position). Employment with this particular employer is pretty bulletproof - I don't think that she has a coworker with less than 20 years of service.

There are some other financial situations that will free up some more money in our current budget over the next few years as well (student loans will be paid off for instance - almost $700/mo!). Right now though my concern is with the current house we are in and how I will get by with this garage for 5-10 more years if I have to.

Thanks,
Jeff.

 

[Olinrj]

My take on your situation mirrors some of the comments above. You'll never get the money back that you put into a pole barn. If I were in your shoes, the first step would be to build or buy a shed, preferably 10x12 or larger. They are cheap and if organized can make a huge difference in what space you have in the garage. The second step would be to add to the back of the garage, 4 to 8 feet, assuming your lot has the room. This would give you room across the entire back of the garage for storage, tools, etc. If structure is a concern, add headers to support the back wall and create 2 or three openings to the addition. If placed properly, you could pull the cars all the way to the back if needed.
Just my thoughts on this. Good luck with the decision.

Bob

 

[Jazz1]

I would add 10' or more to rear of garage. Lengthening and widening???...my neighbour considered that idea on his 2 car garage,,in the end he knocked the whole garage down, added some cement pad and set up a 30'x50

 

[finn]

Bump out the back and spend a little money on insulation, doors and curb appeal.


Five years isn't very long and curb appeal added to your old building will bring a better return than a generic pole barn will.