As of the present time, many standard households in the US own, at least, one vehicle for everyday use, that’s why it is typical for a house to have a garage where they securely keep their cars on their property. While a lot of houses keep their garage as it is, there are many homeowners who want to extend their existing garage to have more parking space for their cars or have more room for storage purposes.
If you have thought of extending your garage, knowing the garage extension cost is important to make sure that can prepare enough budget for this big home project. In that regard, how much does it cost to expand a garage these days? And what do these costs usually cover?
Average Cost to Extend a Garage
When it comes to the costs of adding onto existing garage, you are looking at an approximate cost of $1,250 per square meter.
The total expenses will be, at least, $13,000, depending on the length of 
the extension, the materials used, the labor costs, and your current location. If you live in states where the cost of living is relatively high, like New York and Los Angeles, expect to pay costly projects. But if you choose to have a simple garage extension, then the costs may not go beyond $20,000.
But to give you a more detailed cost, let us take a look at the garage extension budget in the United Kingdom. According to online home-related sources, most extension projects start at £1,000 per square meter, excluding the value added tax (VAT). And just like the previous figures, the factors that can affect the costs are the location, the size of the extension, and the labor, and the materials used in the overall construction.
Another important factor to consider is the current condition of the existing garage. Is it attached to your house or not? If yes, then a building permit may be necessary, hence, additional expenses to cover. However, if the garage is detached or separated from the house, then permits may not be required. You have the liberty to construct the extension but always remember not to go over the territories of your neighbors or a public road.
Although the investment of a garage extension can seem high, many people don’t realize the increase in their property’s equity value from the addition of a garage. According to Accelerate Homes, adding a garage extension can increase your homes’ value by 10-15% and help you sell your house faster.
One-Story Garage Extension
One of the most common methods of extending the garage is building a one-story or upper floor extension. In the UK, this is a better choice because it’s more budget-friendly than extending the ground floor. Apparently, choosing the latter needs the expertise of an engineer or a surveyor who can set the extension’s foundation accurately, and this means incurring additional service fees.
An upper garage extension with an area of 17 square meters can run from £900 to £1,500 per square meter, having an outlay of £15,300 to £25,500. But you may have to spend around £165 for a planning permission, which you can acquire from the local planning department.
“…it depends on the individual situation and what you want to do,” wrote Albert Smith in his article published in House Extension. “To be on the safe side, while many garages don’t need permission, it is best to seek advice before you start.”
Additionally, may need to consult a designer in cases when you can’t come up with the design on your own. If you can picture out the look of the extension yourself, then you don’t have to hire a designer. Aside from being cost-effective, one of the best things in constructing a one-story extension is that you will not have to worry about consuming or completely destroying your garden space. You can save your garden and its beautiful blossoms that you have been taking care of.
Other Factors to Consider in Garage Extension
A few factors have been mentioned in the earlier parts of this article. In that regard, here are other common considerations that you need to weigh in as you extend your existing garage.
Zoning Restrictions
– Apparently, this is the first thing you need to look into. Find out if your property is feasible enough for a garage extension. You need to go to a local planning department to help you look into the feasibility of your area. You may also know about special restrictions on garage constructions.
Driveway and Traffic Flow
– When you extend your garage on the ground, make sure that you still have space for the driveway, otherwise, it would take time for the car to get into the garage from the main road. You may cause traffic, especially if you live near a busy street.
Notes to Remember
According to House Extensions & Garages Design Guide, a garage is considered as an outbuilding, which means it’s not typically a major part of the house. When the garage is extended, it should be constructed in a way that it is less visible. This is to retain the beauty of your main house.
“In exceptional circumstances, a setback may be omitted – if the building is to be “re-ordered”, or if materials are used which match exactly those of the original house and the extended building retains architectural integrity,” as stated in the article.
Moreover, garages should not be built in front of your domestic properties, but exemptions count, especially when there is an irregular building arrangement in the area. As much as possible, all types of outbuildings should not be more dominant than the existing residential properties.
“Outbuildings should reflect the style, shape and architectural features of the original house and be of matching or complementary materials.”
Just like garages, garage doors should also be set back to make it less visible, reducing its visual impact. This concept helps when you are residing in areas with almost similarly looking houses. Keep in mind that the structures and placements of an outbuilding should not be too exposed to the point that they already overshadow your residential abode.
“Outbuildings should not impact detrimentally on the space about buildings, neither should they result in the loss of trees or other features that are important to the area,” wrote in House Extensions & Garages Design Guide. “An outbuilding must be smaller in scale and clearly ancillary to the house.”