Adding a room above a garage can be a smart move for expanding your abode. It's also a home improvement project that could boost the value of your property.
For example, adding a second story above the garage can be perfect if you want to add a guest room or if you want to start a new hobby, like pottery, but don't have enough space. Depending on the size of your garage, you can also build an entirely separate apartment that you can later rent out.
Cost to Add a Room Above the Garage
Adding a bonus room above the garage costs around $115 per square foot, with the average project amounting to about $45,000. However, the cost varies based on factors like whether you need to build a staircase or change the structure of your existing garage.
A first floor extension above the original garage will require planning permission. Your local authority will consider how close the extension above the garage is to the boundary to avoid a terracing effect with your neighbours - they would be looking for around 1 metre to the boundary.
Building an addition above the garage is an excellent way to expand your home's living space without encroaching on your yard. In this guide, we'll cover the benefits, planning and design considerations, structural requirements, safety codes, and the construction process of adding on above the garage.
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a small dwelling on the same grounds as, or attached to, a single-family house. For example, it could be an apartment over the garage, a basement apartment, or a stand-alone house in the backyard. An ADU can be used to house a family member or for additional income through rent.
As a rough estimate, basic apartment garage plans can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 or more, depending on the location and cost of materials and labor. Larger or more luxurious garage apartments can cost well over $100,000 or even up to $500,000 or more.
You'll need a building permit to add a room above your garage. Your local city or municipality requires you to comply with zoning laws and construction ordinances, which is why obtaining the correct permits is so important.
If you're building a completely new loft above your garage, you'll need to ensure that basic utilities are in order. This will most likely be the most expensive part of building the apartment above your garage. An attached garage will have a little bit of an advantage when it comes to electric wiring and plumbing.
As for having an extension built over a garage with an ensuite bedroom, a budget-friendly build would cost about £20,000 to £26,000 with the cost reaching an average of £27,000 to £33,000 for a mid-range project, or around £28,000 to £34,000 should you want a high-end extension with ensuite bedroom built over a garage.
Garages with living quarters are called ADUs or garage apartments.
Yes! In fact, converting your garage into an ADU is one of the only ways to LEGALLY turn it into a long-term living space. In California, Washington, Portland, Austin, Denver, Boulder, and other places across the United States converting an existing permitted structure, like a garage, has never been easier.
The cost to build an above-garage ADU is typically $200,000 to $350,000 for 350-500 square feet, varying by contractor rates, materials, and other factors. Reduce construction costs by simplifying the design, using an outdoor stairway, and placing the ADU directly above the garage corners.
Avoid floorspace above the garage
The most tempting space to exploit in a house and also the most dangerous. The stack effect is a powerful force, and conventional framing makes this ceiling to floor location very difficult to air-seal.
For instance, in some states, bonus rooms are also known as FROGs when they are located directly above the home's garage — hence the acronym, which stands (aptly) for “finished room over garage.” These rooms might be longer and narrower than a typical bedroom due to the shape of the garage below.
Converting a Garage, Basement, or Attic
Converting a garage or basement is often ideal for an in-law suite since it already has framing and foundation. Expect to spend $20,000 to $60,000 to convert a garage and $10,000 to $30,000 to finish a basement.
Above Garage Apartments Explained
ADUs have exploded in popularity in just the last few years thanks to recent legislation changes in cities all throughout the country. California, especially, has made history with its ultra-lax statewide regulations that have made building an ADU easier than ever.
Since California has passed the new ADU laws this year, usable rooms like garage conversions can be used as a source of passive income. Even if you're only planning on converting the garage to an additional bedroom or home office, permits will be needed for residential construction.
Typically, the cheapest type of garage conversion will just involve blocking up the garage doors and finishing out the walls, floors, and ceiling with insulation, drywall, carpet, or other flooring material.
At Lamont Bros., we have guided hundreds of homeowners through the process of adding space to their homes. From our experience, we can confidently tell you that, yes, you can indeed put an addition over your garage.
One of the primary reasons for the extreme temperatures in a room above a garage is insufficient insulation. Insulation is what helps protect the temperature inside from the outside elements. Garages are typically not built with the same level of insulation as the main living areas of a home, and with good reason.
Building a room over the garage requires careful planning to ensure the structure can support the additional weight. Key points to consider: Load-Bearing Capacity: The garage ceiling must be able to handle the added load of a room above.
Garage apartments are a favorite among the many ways to add value to a home. They can increase the principal value of a home more than other addition. Garage apartments are living spaces built above or beside a garage. It can be a separate unit with its entrance or attached to the main house.