If you want to expand your home but don’t have any space or land to build on, then the space above your garage could be a great option. Read on for a quick guide on deciding whether this is the right choice for your home and how to go about it.
The biggest advantage of building above a garage is that you don’t need any additional land to build on. This means that you can make an extension without increasing your home’s footprint, which can open up opportunities for homeowners who are limited on space.
Typically, building over a garage is also cheaper than expanding your home’s footprint, too, because the foundations are already there to build on. An extra room above your garage can have a big impact on curb appeal, which is a big bonus if you plan on selling your home.
There are some downsides, however. A home’s garage is usually unheated, which can have an impact on any rooms that share a wall or ceiling with it. This could make the space above the garage more difficult to heat. You should properly insulate the ceiling between the garage and the extension to help combat this. Insulating the walls and garage door at the same time can help to improve the energy efficiency of your garage and home.
Garages can also be noisy when the door opens and closes and if someone spends time in the garage working on their car or DIY projects. So, this might not be the best place for a bedroom depending on the daily routine of the people using it. For example, if one person gets up much earlier than the other for work, the sound of the garage door opening and the car starting beneath them is likely to disturb their sleep.
Can you build above your garage?
Once you’ve decided this is the right move for your home, you’ll have to confirm that it is possible before going ahead with the planning and construction. You should hire a contractor to check the structure and foundations of your garage to ensure that they are structurally sound enough to build on. If it isn’t fit for building on, then some additional construction may bring it up to scratch, but this will mean additional costs.
If you are interested in building above your garage, the best thing to do is contact a contractor to discuss the process with them and verify the structural integrity of your garage. Garage extensions are a great excuse to upgrade your garage door, so contact Carolina Garage Door for our support with this process in Winston Salem, Greensboro, Kernersville, and High Point, NC.