buying a new house, want to build up the garage

[X-Rated]

So we are moving to norfolk and have narrowed down our search area, and will be house hunting in a week or so. Must places we are looking at have a 2 car garage and I am pushing for one without a finished room over the garage. I dont think it is worth the money to build a complete shop since I am military and will have to move again, but I was thinking I could try to extend the 2 car garage to a 3 car, and raise the roof since a 7 foot door doesnt help me any. Figured I could go up 3-5 feet. Since most garage doors are 4 panels, 7 feet/4 would be something like 1.75 feet per panel or 21" I think. So if I just add another panel, my 7 foot door would then by a 8'9" door. should work out well. And keep the rafters higher so I can build a hoist of somekind....

any one have experiance on something like this, or help me guess at a cost to make a drive way wider, and raise the roof on a garage and build it wider?

[rocknbronco]

From the sounds of it your project might be better by putting a steel building in the back yard or building a shed.

[Arya Ebrahimi]

So we are moving to norfolk...

I'm sorry :laughing:

Seriously though, where in Norfolk?

(I grew up in VB)

[X-Rated]

I am from annandale, my wife from springfield. Both right outside of DC. We are looking at homes that are in the Great Bridge and Hickory school districts...

I think a steel building in the back will take a lot longer. I deploy kind of fast so I was looking for other options.... Thought raising a roof could be done in a week and moving a wall out and laying some concrete in another

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Ah, ok, Great Bridge and Hickory are not bad. I thought you were moving to Norfolk proper.

I think I would try and find a house with a detached garage. Would make ALL of the things you wanna do easier, and would isolate the late-night wrenching sessions from the house and wife ;)

[cybergeek23851]

Welcome to the area. Make sure you are not in a HOA controlled neighborhood also. Consider checking with the city's code office before you get too drastic.

Dang... the military members in the area keep growing. :)

[supervert]

i do constuction in ca. and i 2nd the steel building idea the cost of reframing the garage, permits and time. the steel should only take 2 or 3 guys a weekend. the last time i checked around a 20 x 30 was only about $5k and they take care of the permits.

good luck

[rocknbronco]

most newer homes couldnt take the weight as they are built to fast and cheaply