When you have your entire family parking their cars on the street, the neighbors may start to complain. If you have the property space, a garage addition is a smart way to protect your vehicle investments while adding square footage for prime real estate values. However, adding a garage addition isn’t just like setting up a camping tent. You must figure in many costs to complete a safe and attractive space.
Starting at the ground
When you hire a garage contractor, they may include the initial ground work or hire a subcontractor for a separate fee. Your garage addition typically rests on untouched yard soil. The area must be excavated, leveled and inspected for stability before even starting the building project. A foundation must be poured into this excavated area, requiring a hired concrete truck for at least a morning or entire day. Every project has an extremely wide cost factor, making it crucial to have several contractor quotes before hiring a team.
Materials make a difference
If you want to build a simple wood garage for one vehicle, basic materials may run around $4,000. However, you’re looking at around $10,000 to $14,000 when you want prefabricated materials in steel or specialized wood. Homeowners with visions of multiple windows and wood accents in the garage will pay more for the materials. Everyone has a different goal for their garage. It’s critical to work with your contractor to ensure they understand your garage’s vision.
Simplicity costs less
A basic garage with little buildout for the interior, such as insulated walls, commonly costs between $35 and $45 a square foot. If you only want a space to hold your cars and increase property values, this design type is ideal. Once the contractors complete the project, you can add DIY details. Add hooks to a wall for tools or personally add a small work light over your bench. A garage of any size and type is valuable when selling time arrives.
Garage addition dreamers
There are always those garage dreamers who see a tiled floor and finished walls as their perfect project. With a dream garage costing nearly $50,000, it’s possible to have almost all the comforts of home in one area. Contractors will need to factor in electrical design, plumbing, insulation, drywall, painting and a host of other details. It’s up to you to approve or decline certain project ideas to lower the addition cost. Four windows may be ideal, but two could be just perfect to reduce installation costs.
Return on investment
Depending on the region, it’s possible to have nearly a 70 percent return on your garage addition project when completed properly. Homebuyers look for amenities that make a property stand out. If they’re deciding between your home and another without a garage, your property could win out on that one detail. Consider this sale concept when designing the garage. Even a basic, freestanding garage is valuable during open houses.
Whether your garage addition is freestanding or attached to the home, considerable cost and thought goes into this vehicle haven. Choose materials that stand the test of time, from concrete floors to metal flashing, to protect your new property addition. Being able to park cars or work on a messy project in private is what garages were built for.