Quick And Easy Steps For Adding A New Space To Your Garage!

Have you ever wanted more space in your home but weren’t sure how to get it? These days, spending a lot of time at home can make you feel cramped. Maybe you would like to add some space for an entertainment room, a home gym, or a place for children to play. No matter what you need additional room for, you can turn your home into a place where you want to spend more time.

Most people who want additional space in their home consider moving. But if you love your house and your neighborhood, there’s no need to move just because you need a bit more living space. Plus, moving is expensive and a hassle, so why go through it if you don’t have to?

A traditional home gets a second floor over its garage. Great results!

Add Another Floor Above the Garage!

Whether your garage is attached or detached, you can build another floor over it to create additional space for whatever you need. Why build a 2nd floor over your garage?

  • Adding on to your current home can be much cheaper than going through the process of selling, buying and moving. It’s usually cheaper to just upgrade your current mortgage.
  • It’s an investment that will pay off when it does eventually come time to sell.
  • Additional space could have other financial benefits in the long run. For example, if you ever find yourself tight on money, you could rent it out as an apartment.

Still not convinced? Here are 6 reasons why you should add a studio apartment over your garage.

If you’re considering adding this additional space, first, consider these 5 things that shouldn’t be overlooked if you want your renovation project to be a success.

Step 1 – Follow the Rules

Before making plans and starting work, make sure to contact your local municipality to check the rules for building extensions and building code violations.

Different municipalities have varying regulations when it comes to building permits and home expansion. Moreover, depending on where you live, the costs of upgrading your home could vary greatly. Building rules might include laws regarding the height of buildings and rules about property lines and where exactly you can build. Some municipalities may even have rules about how your home can look externally.

Find paperwork boring and tedious? Check out this infographic, published in Michael McDermott's article on CRD Design Build:

Infographic - 6 Reasons why you should'nt  do home improvements without permits

Step 2 – Be Realistic

Before you get started, you should do a deep dive into finding out about your mortgage. It’s important to know what’s worth the investment and what might just end up costing you money you can’t get back in the long run.

Unless you’re a banker or a real estate agent, you might not understand the ins and outs of what goes into adding on to your current home. Don’t get too caught up in the excitement of the finished project without first doing your due diligence.

Making changes to your home is a big investment. It will likely pay off in the end, but it’s still a good idea to sit down with someone who can educate you on the entire process.

What to ask your bank’s credit specialist:

  • How much can you upgrade your mortgage by?
  • What will the total of your new monthly payments be?
  • How many more years will you be paying off your mortgage?
  • How long before you can expect to see a gain from your investment when you resell the home?

What to ask yourself:

  • What overall sacrifices will this entail? Will you still have the funds to do activities like going out to restaurants or traveling? How long will you see a financial impact for?
  • Is the resell value in your neighborhood or city worth the investment?
  • Renovations can be a stressful time for families, so ask, is your relationship strong? If unforeseen circumstances come up will it put undue strain on your family life and relationships?

Fixr.com states that adding a second story above your garage cost anywhere from $300 to $500 per square foot.

Split-level house where the carport is transformed into a closed garage. The sidings are changed too.

Planimage photo – The project: The owners of this split-level house not only changed the exterior, but also wanted to turn their carport into a closed garage above which there would be an additional bedroom and a music room.

Step 3 – Dream Big but Think Carefully

Still with us? Not feeling too discouraged? Here's another exciting step.

It’s time to start dreaming big! Sit down with your spouse or partner to a nice dinner or a bottle of wine and start planning your new home extension.

No holding back needed at this stage. This is the time to write down your biggest dreams and ideas for how you imagine your home.

A Few Practical Considerations

1. How will you access your new extension above your garage?

Attached garage

Traditional 2-storey grey brick house with master bedroom above the garage

Planimage photo – The Project: Adding a 2nd floor to the entire house allowed for a loft above the garage and the addition of a front-facing balcony.

Remember, how you access your new space will depend a lot on what it’s going to be used for.

For example, if you intend to turn your new space into a master suite, you’ll want easy access from inside the home, but also some peace and quiet.

Stone and wood traditional1-story home with a North Hatley LP, color Sand, and windows

You like the look of this garage door? It's a 9' x 7', North Hatley LP design, in Desert Sand, windows with Richmond Inserts.

But spaces you intend to turn into, say, a home gym, a yoga studio, or a den for teenagers, might be better off with exterior access. The same goes for a space you may one day want to rent out as a separate apartment.

Of course, access via an existing staircase is the most affordable option, if possible.

Detached garage

A charming traditional detached garage door with a second floor above the garage, a dormer.

Like this look? It’s Plan 69701 from Planimage

Would you prefer an interior or exterior staircase? Consider whether or not you are willing to sacrifice inside space to facilitate a staircase.

No matter if you prefer Contemporary or Traditional Style, get inspiration on Pinterest. And take some time to analyze the plans.

A traditional detached garage in wood and stones  with a second floor, dormers

Like this look? It’s Plan No G-28A from Planimage

2. Plumbing and electricity

Don’t forget to check the existing water outlets, plumbing and ventilation in the house with a plumber and a ventilation specialist. If your new space needs a bathroom, then not having easy access to the plumbing system could be an additional expense to be considered.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget electricity and internet! Will your new extension include a fridge or freezer? What about a stove?

If you can easily provide this information the designer or the architect you choose to hire, they’ll be better able to arrange your new space efficiently and exactly to your liking.

It’s important to hire a professional to come up with your plan. This can be a tricky job that requires expertise and knowledge.

3. Multifunctional or evolving space?

Consider how you want your space to evolve over the years. When kids are grown up and have left the nest, how do you want to utilize your extension then? What about as you age and may not want to climb up and down stairs to get to your bedroom?

Knowledge often means planning ahead. A professional will help you create a space that can change as your situation changes over the years. This will also help to make sure you’re maximizing your investment.

4. What about the exterior design?

If you have an attached garage, it can be very difficult to match the exterior of your new extension to the older extension of your existing home. Often, this just doesn’t end up looking right!

It’s common if you try to match a new exterior with an older one for it to be an eyesore. Not only does this mismatch look unattractive, but it makes it obvious that it’s an extension and can reduce the resale value of your home. To avoid this, it’s worth having a professional take a good look at the entire exterior as a whole to come up with solutions.

At the same time, talk to this expert about ceiling heights, dormers, roofing options, etc.

Rooves can take several different forms and shapes, both functionally and aesthetically. The interior living space can be highly affected by the chosen shape of the roof. Do you need full height rooves or do you want some areas with sloping ceilings and dormers?

High-end 2-storey house in stone

Planimage Photo – The Project: The garage was enlarged forward to make room for 4 cars plus the 2nd floor addition above the garage allowed the construction of an incredible suite featuring 2 walk-in closets and a full bathroom with shower and bath.

Many people think it’s a waste of space to have sloped ceilings, roof lines, and dormers. In fact, there are actually a number of built-in solutions to help you make use of that space, such as shelves and bookcases.

The ultimate goal here is to make an extension that looks like part of the house and is aesthetically pleasing from the outside as well as efficient and economic internally.

Step 4 – Find Inspiration That Works for You

Once you’ve thought of all the practical stuff, it's time for the fun part, decoration and styling! It’s an excellent idea to create a mood board to show your designer or architect the exact type of interior design and style aesthetic you want to achieve.

Remember, when you suggest "Scandinavian" or "cottage style decors" or "rustic but modern" or simply "blue", that doesn’t always bring the same image to mind for everyone.

Try visiting Pinterest or Instagram to get a good idea of exact styles and décor you love. You can even clip pictures from magazines or take pictures when you see something that inspires you.

Be smart about your aesthetic. For example, Better Homes & Gardens offers 25 solutions for unusual spaces.

With décor, it’s a good idea to think outside the box. Maybe you aren’t building a kitchen, but you were inspired by some cabinets you saw. Well, they can become the aesthetic guide for some storage cabinets or shelves.

Inspiration is exactly that; it’s meant to inspire!

Country style house with 2 single garage doors in Classic CC design, Ice White color, and 4 lite Orion windows

Like the look of these doors? They’re 9' x 7', Standard+ Classic CC, in Ice White, 4 lite Orion windows

Step 5 – Don’t Forget about the Garage Door!

Deciding what you want your space to be used for and how you want it designed is all fun and games, but don’t forget about the logistics!

Prestigious house with a double garage door in Eastman E-11 design, Black door and overlays, and panoramic windows

Is this look for you? It’s a 16’x8’, Eastman E-11, garage door, overlays and door in Black, 4 lite Panoramic windows.

Your garage door will become the all-important 4th wall underneath your new extension. So, when you're shopping, remember never to rely on just the R-value. It’s also a good idea to find out whether or not your garage door is really energy efficient. After all, it can have a big impact on your comfort and how much money you spend on bills!

Have you considered the importance of your garage door having windows? Natural light is something you really shouldn’t go without! Here's how to add windows to your garage door if it doesn't already have some.

Adding a 2nd floor to a garage means you need to include necessary elements that will make your new space comfortable and efficient.

Modern house with a two car garage door in the Shaker-Modern XL design and Iron Ore Walnut color

Love new products and colors that are “in”? Here are 2 of them! The Shaker-Modern XL design and the Iron Ore Walnut color.

Is It Time to Replace that Garage Door?

Then it’s time to contact a garage door specialist near you. Our experts are ready and willing to help you make sure your garage door reflects your style, while also meeting your necessary insulation requirements.

Already know the exact type of door you want?

Nordoors Sudbury Ltd., can email you a quotation promptly so you’re one step closer to the garage door you’ve always wanted.

Want to get advice from a real person? Call 1-888-361-9233.

Our experts are ready and waiting to answer your questions.

Want to try out a fun app?

Try the Design Centre to create your very own garage door in just a few clicks! Looking for some inspiration first? Browse our gallery.

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