Probably a stupid question considering the site name

[Aaron_W]

Partially inspired by another thread.

When building a home shop, why do so many add onto their existing garage vs adding an additional room? Yeah, yeah Garage Journal I get that. Garage space makes perfect sense to work on cars, but general shops for woodworking, metal work etc not so much. Who wants a bunch of saw dust all over their cars, laundry etc.

A garage addition adds much less value compared to an additional "bedroom".

Cost to build? I'd be surprised if it is much cheaper, but that is a possibility.

Noise, dirt? I don't think the house would be any less well protected from these things with a room vs a garage.

Location? A room doesn't have to worry about driveway access so a garage location is much more limited.

Big sliding doors are available for rooms, so the size of a door can't be it.


So (excluding vehicle repair which is an obvious reason) why is it so many add more garage space to build a shop?



Not judging, just curious.

I don't even have a garage.

 

[ishiboo]

For most shops I cannot imagine where a garage-style space would not be the most advantageous solution.

Noise, fumes, dust, materials, etc all can be kept out of the house. Bringing in materials from the outside is direct and doesnt involve pushing them through the house nor filling your furnace with their dust.

Woodworking in an additional bedroom? I'll pass on carrying sheet goods/boards through the house, trying to work on them in a bedroom space, etc.

For most applications a garage-style space is vastly cheaper than adding house space due to codes, foundation/flooring, etc.

 

[James-W]

I don't understand what the opening poster is trying to say. If someone wants a garage/shop so they can work on projects, why would they build a bedroom onto their house? I have a garage, but I don't park the cars in it. My garage is a workshop. If I need more space I would add on the garage, not the house. Why would I add on the house when I need more work space, not an extra bedroom. If I needed an extra bedroom, then I would add on the house.

 

[bad_idea]

The garage at my last house was attached to the house. Never again. Do a bunch of grinding and walk into the house, house reeks of it. Spray paint something and the wife is dizzy in the house. The best door between the house and garage is not 100% air tight. Do a bunch of drilling and you WILL drag in at least a couple drill shavings. Plays hell on the feet and worse for the floors.

I built a 30x40 detached garage at the new house for me. Not for resale. Don't care how it affects resale. I will get my use out of it and be happy. Not everything in life has to be a wise financial investment. A detached garage is also good for the marriage. The wife is so much happier when nothing garage related enters the house.

 

[cvairwerks]

Lots of reasons... Not every house has the laundry in, or right next to the garage. Add new living space and you may have to upgrade hvac at the same time. Might be quite expensive to add additional wiring, depending on location. Adding more living space may force additional remodeling and change room use to get access to the new room. Deed restrictions or covenants may prohibit additional living space, unless one wants to challenge them in court... Most people really don’t want to be running machine tools or welding rigs in their living space... And so on....Resale value should be way down the list of considerations, unless you are going to move within 4 years or less from completing the project.

 

[Aaron_W]

Ok, some further explanation. Based on questions I see posted here fairly frequently, it seems like many are concerned with resale value. An additional room seems like it would offer more to those people than tacking on an extra stall, or extending the length of the existing garage.


In response to some comments

If the garage is already used as a shop, adding on makes sense. I'm mostly thinking of those who do park in their garage, or want to add more garage so they can park and have room for their shop.

I put "bedroom" in quotes because a workshop is only an extra bedroom / lounge / den etc when you go to sell your house. Agree it would be stupid to complete it as a bedroom when you intend to use it as a shop.

There are plenty of options for large doors other than garage doors. Sliding doors, double doors etc. Bring the materials in from the outside just like you would a garage.

Not seeing how the typical interior garage door to the house is any more resistant to dirt and grime than any other interior door.


Totally agree that there is no comparison to a detached building. A detached shop building is ideal in my opinion. Not always an option and not really what I was thinking about when I posted.



I get that garages can be a good shop if you don't want to use them for parking. Basements are nice too (that is where my shop is).

I'm just not seeing why a spare room built to address the needs of a shop is less desirable than adding on / enlarging a garage.

 

[Aaron_W]

Lots of reasons... Not every house has the laundry in, or right next to the garage. Add new living space and you may have to upgrade hvac at the same time. Might be quite expensive to add additional wiring, depending on location. Adding more living space may force additional remodeling and change room use to get access to the new room. Deed restrictions or covenants may prohibit additional living space, unless one wants to challenge them in court... Most people really don’t want to be running machine tools or welding rigs in their living space... And so on....Resale value should be way down the list of considerations, unless you are going to move within 4 years or less from completing the project.

This makes sense to me, particularly the last bit.

I agree resale value should not be a major consideration when making a major change to a home, but it seems that it is a concern for many. That is why I'm wondering why it isn't more common.

 

[Stinger]

People add what they want/need more of and in most cases do it in the most economical way they can. That's all there is to it.

You also see more people do it here because that's what this place is for, people who covet garage space and therefore always want/need more of it. If you went to kitchnjournal.com you'd see that everyone adds on to their kitchen.

 

[slow]

I work on stuff in the garage that I would not bring into my house. My house is too big, (almost 3k sq feet), but the garage is too small (26.5 x 19.5 "3 car", lol) with 2 cars in there, not much room to work. I'm not concerned with resale, but also don't have space to make the garage larger

 

[ransil]

Who does laundry in the garage?

Maching ,cutting, grinding, painting and welding stink those are garage activates.

Why does everyone in California who has a garage live in it and what up with them "flip up" garge doors ? Never see them on the east coast.

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[JamesW84]

I think what the OP is trying to suggest is that adding a "room" on to the house (family room, we'll call it, you can segregate it from the house w/ a door or even a wall (enter it from the existing garage thru a door). That way, when time to sell, you have a large room that could be a bedroom (if you add a closet and window), craft room, whatever room the buyer wants it to be.

Similarly, I was looking for more bedrooms. The sellers of my house tried to sell me on turning the garage into a bedroom.

 

[vavet]

I think OP is proposing an addition to the house that would remain unfinished - exposed subfloor, drywall? Maybe. Certainly not carpet or hardwood floors.
This would allow the space to be finished as a bedroom when the time to sell comes for minimal cost. I think the presumption is that a finished bedroom would add more value than a garage to most potential buyers.
It's an interesting idea.
My previous house had a 24x32 detached garage with 8 foot ceiling. Realtors estimated the garage added $10k to the value. I had a similar sized garage built at my new house, but with 12.5 foot ceiling. It cost be over $40k. This is in the same county. That's a terrible return, but it's worth it to me because I plan to be in the current house for a long time.

 

[larry_g]

We all have different needs and wants. I'd love to set a small shop up in the house to do toys and stuff. However some of the smells and things are not conducive to clean living. Years ago we were in a 1600' 3 bedroom house with 5 children. As the kids got into high school we discussed adding on to the house. It would have been expensive and in a couple of years the kids would start leaving. I also wanted a shop at the time. The solution was a new shop with an upstairs room that we called the rec room. It was a party/play room for the kids and if still at home after graduation they have the area as their bedroom. It worked for us.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Homerr]

What JamesW84 said, I like the idea of the room segregated with future doorway option the best.

Aaron_W, also there are a couple of financing and other issues where GJ'ers may at:

1. House paid off and building/expanding a garage. If it's paid off then it's likely that the owner is staying put and not too concerned with resale value.

2. Owner in the house a couple of years after buying and building/expanding - finances might not be unlimited and 'garage' vs. 'room' space is cheaper. The cost of the structure may also be competing with the cost of what is going in the garage (car, woodshop, atv, etc.). There may be a loan involved.

3. A 'room' may have floor plan complications. Is there a space to access the new room? Through an existing room that is less than ideal? Is the room tacked on the back of the house covering up windows/natural light? Is an existing deck or patio in the way?

4. A 'room' needs to be heated. It might be best to have a separate heating system so fumes & dust won't be pulled in to the existing home. So probably baseboards or wall heaters, no super ideal with dust but doable.

5. There will be more inspections and fees for a room vs. garage.

6. Building mayhem and dust might be tough for a family to deal with during construction of a room being tied in to a home. Generally an attached garage or garage addition will be less burdensome.

7. Dirty, cold, smelly garage space is perfect for men. Women are less likely to put up with it. A room might be in jeopardy of being turned in to a quilting workshop or some such.

 

[Aaron_W]

I think what the OP is trying to suggest is that adding a "room" on to the house (family room, we'll call it, you can segregate it from the house w/ a door or even a wall (enter it from the existing garage thru a door). That way, when time to sell, you have a large room that could be a bedroom (if you add a closet and window), craft room, whatever room the buyer wants it to be.

Similarly, I was looking for more bedrooms. The sellers of my house tried to sell me on turning the garage into a bedroom.

I think OP is proposing an addition to the house that would remain unfinished - exposed subfloor, drywall? Maybe. Certainly not carpet or hardwood floors.
This would allow the space to be finished as a bedroom when the time to sell comes for minimal cost. I think the presumption is that a finished bedroom would add more value than a garage to most potential buyers.
It's an interesting idea.
My previous house had a 24x32 detached garage with 8 foot ceiling. Realtors estimated the garage added $10k to the value. I had a similar sized garage built at my new house, but with 12.5 foot ceiling. It cost be over $40k. This is in the same county. That's a terrible return, but it's worth it to me because I plan to be in the current house for a long time.

Sewing room is a standard request in our small experience.
Op wants a sewing room for men.
Seems reasonable to a point.
Not everyone welds and grinds.
Even on gj it's a small percentage who do it more than five times a year.
Modeling, Cad with enclosure, electronics, would all play well in a
'sewing room'.
Everything I've done this last year could have been done in a bedroom sized room with a seperate entrance and a patio(which we have built into most every bedroom in every house we've owned. Maybe not code worthy, I can battle it, or conform).
The extra living area the op suggests will without fail offer an added space that adds value on an appraisal. Still a small amount of the investment is all that will be recouped, and not everyone wants a 5 bedroom with only a bath and a half.
The op path is true, if not exactly paved well.

I get it.
Its a thoughtful idea.
People build on to a garage out of
Over enthusiastic goal...
Almost 100 percent of the times built.

I think reality lies within the op thought.
I think want trumps it.

Exactly, obviously not the solution for all and not too helpful for car stuff, but for those worried about getting some of their money back it seems a more optimal solution.

A large room, even unfinished will add more to the value than more room to park a car which often adds nothing to the value.

I agree with the opinion that fitting your needs around potential future home value is, well lets just say optimistic, but there are certainly some areas where it is more predictable than others. Extra rooms and extra bathrooms are more dependable improvements.


Not in my future plans, I only have room to go down. Really I was just wondering why it isn't seen more often.

 

[PugetDude]

I weld, grind, sand, paint, fart, belch and make quite a bit of noise in my garage. No way I'd do that in a "room" that is part of the house.

Sounds like you need a she-shed.

 

[ishiboo]

There are plenty of options for large doors other than garage doors. Sliding doors, double doors etc. Bring the materials in from the outside just like you would a garage.

Not seeing how the typical interior garage door to the house is any more resistant to dirt and grime than any other interior door.

Doors between garage and house are exterior doors with a full weather stripping and sill. Interior doors have no weather stripping and a large gap at the bottom. Night and day resistance to stuff passing between.

I get that garages can be a good shop if you don't want to use them for parking. Basements are nice too (that is where my shop is).

I'm just not seeing why a spare room built to address the needs of a shop is less desirable than adding on / enlarging a garage.

Welding, painting, making sawdust, varnishing, etc... it's just all better done outside the house envelope.

Certain "shops" are fine being on carpeting in your living room im sure. But not for most general purpose uses.

 

[slow]

Who does laundry in the garage?

Maching ,cutting, grinding, painting and welding stink those are garage activates.

Why does everyone in California who has a garage live in it and what up with them "flip up" garge doors ? Never see them on the east coast.

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Laundry is very common in the garage in smaller houses in the south. no freezing to worry about.

 

[slow]

A garage also adds minimal taxable cost compared to the high taxes of living space.

 

[Aaron_W]

A garage also adds minimal taxable cost compared to the high taxes of living space.

Another factor like the limits some areas put on allowable added living space I was not aware was a potential issue.