Building a Home Addition Over the Garage: A Quick Overview

You already love the look and feel of your home, but sometimes, you just want even more of it. Every home, after all, has great potential, and you can bring that out with a home addition. The space above an existing garage is a prime location for this investment, but there are a few essentials you’ll need to take into account before you get started. 

What to Consider in an Over-the-Garage Addition

Building an addition on top of an existing garage can be a bit tricky. For starters, you’ll need to do the following:

• Make it seamless with your home’s architectural style. You don’t want your addition to look out of place with your home – not only because it will be unsightly, but also because your local homeowner’s association (HOA) will have something to say about it. If you’ve dealt with the HOA before, then you already have a clear idea about how rigid the board can be. 

• Check building codes. Every home addition should be done up to code. To ensure the safety of yourself and your family, the bottom level of the addition (the garage) should be reinforced to support the new space. Working with local new addition contractors can make this aspect of your project easier. They’ll check against safety codes and make sure the necessary building permits will be in place.

• Consider the access point. If your home has a second story that extends over the garage, you should be able to access the new space through the existing second story. When that’s not the case, you’ll need to think of another entry point – this usually involves having a staircase built on the side of the structure.

What Makes This Particular Addition Worth It?

There are plenty of things to love about an over-the-garage addition. This upgrade:

• Allows you to keep the size of your outdoor living space because you’re building up instead of building out. If you want to landscape your backyard or have a pool built in the near future, the addition won’t negatively affect your building plans.

• Can help you save money. The cost of remodeling an existing space while adding new structural elements is usually minimal as compared to building an addition from the ground up.

• Adds to the overall value of your home, which should be advantageous if you’re looking to put your property on the market.

• Gives you an extra space to use however you like. The addition can serve as a home office, a crafts room, an entertainment center, or a bedroom suite for guests. You can even rent it out for passive income if you’re so inclined.

Schedule a Design Consultation

Aside from quality kitchen remodeling, Design Build Remodeling Group of Maryland also specializes in different types of home additions. Expect only a smooth and worry-free experience when you turn to us for your upgrade. Call us today at (443) 300-2268, or fill out this contact form to schedule a consultation. We proudly serve homeowners in and around Washington, DC.