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Developing a Garage Addition Building
Plan and Estimating Garage Addition Costs
Tips on Planning a Garage Addition and
Estimating Garage Addition Costs
By: Mark J. Donovan
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The decision to build a garage
addition onto a home is one of the best home improvement projects a homeowner
can make. Building a garage addition provides great utility and can significantly
increase the value of a home. Prior to actually breaking ground, however, a
garage addition plan and garage addition costs estimates should be developed.
Garage
Addition Building Plan
A garage addition plan starts with
making initial sketches of the garage addition concept and evaluating how it
will tie in with the existing home structure.
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Though most homeowners prefer a large
garage, it is very important during this phase to consider proportions between
the existing home and the new garage addition.
To aesthetically look appealing from
the road the garage addition length should not exceed two-thirds the length of
the existing home. Otherwise the garage addition could overwhelm the existing
home structure. The depth or width of the garage addition is less critical
from an aesthetic standpoint, as it is usually less visible from the road.
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Garage
Addition Drawings / Sketches
Once the initial sketches have been
completed, detailed garage addition building plans should be generated.
Depending on the complexity of the garage addition either the homeowner or an
architect can develop the actual garage addition building plans. In either
case, the plans will need to include scaled drawings with dimensions, and
cross-sectional construction views with constructional materials specified.
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The cross-sectional views should
include from the concrete footings all the way to the peak of the roof. Each
new transition from the footings up should be carefully drawn.
Examples include: the
footing/foundation transition, the foundation/sill plate transition, and the
wall/roof rafter transition. The plans should also include a
comprehensive bill of materials for the project. In addition, all property
lines and appropriate setbacks should be clearly shown in the drawings.
Estimating Garage Addition Costs
Estimating the garage addition
costs depends on who is building the addition. If the homeowner plans on
acting as his or her own general contractor and performing some of the work
(e.g. the framing) then costs will need to be calculated starting with the
bill of materials generated during the garage addition planning phase. With a
comprehensive bill of materials a homeowner can provide much of the list to
any home improvement store where they can fill out the pricing information for
the specific items for the garage addition project.
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For specialty items such as garage
doors, garage door openers, and in some cases lighting and plumbing fixtures
(if required for the garage addition) the homeowner may need to contact
specialty stores for pricing. The subcontractors may also be able to provide
some unit pricing (e.g. garage doors).
Hiring a Garage Addition Contractor
If the homeowner is acting as his
or her own general contractor and will require subcontractors, then it is
important that they identify early the subcontractors and review with them the
garage addition plans and development schedule. Each subcontractor should provide a firm
fixed estimate for the garage addition plan based on the drawings / sketches,
and bill of materials. In addition their bid should also include
start/complete dates for the garage addition project.
With garage addition plans and
costs estimates in place the homeowner can then proceed with pulling permits
and developing a fairly accurate garage addition building schedule.
Once permits have been approved,
construction of the garage addition can begin. It is important to note,
however, that even with the best plans in place things happen and schedules
slip. To mitigate schedule slips a homeowner acting as his or her own general
contractor should factor in some buffer to the schedule and always be looking
ahead several weeks during the entire project. They should regularly check
with suppliers to ensure building material will arrive when required and
should occasionally check with subcontractors to ensure that their schedules
are still in line with your garage addition project.
With these simple planning,
budgeting and scheduling issues addressed prior to the start of the project,
building a garage addition can be a positive experience both pre and post
construction phase.
For more information on building a
garage addition see the
Garage Addition Bid Sheet from HomeAdditionPlus.com.
The Garage Addition Bid Sheet includes an extensive questionnaire (Request for
Quote) that a homeowner can provide to prospective general contractors and
subcontractors for bidding the garage addition. In addition, the
Garage
Addition Bid sheet also includes estimated costs and time intervals
for constructing a garage addition as well as a list of key home material
manufacturers. Finally, the
Garage
Addition Bid sheet includes an extensive
set of helpful tips and advice on making sure the garage addition is built
properly and on time and budget.
How to Finance your Home Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related Garage Addition and Home Addition Information
Additional Garage Addition and Home Remodeling
Resources from Amazon.com
Free Garage Addition
Price Quotes with No Obligation!
Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote
on a garage addition from one of our prescreened and licensed garage addition
contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to continue once
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