Practical Considerations before Homeowners Add 2 Story Garages

Garages are usually an afterthought tacked onto a house, because they're a necessity. They don't often receive the same respect and enthusiasm the inside of the house gets. They are rather plain and boringly functional. Garages are handy for a lot of things: getting out of the car dry when it’s stormy outside, storing the lawn furniture in winter and the snow tires in summer, chucking the half-used cans of paint into a corner, storing the camping equipment, sports equipment and extra Girl Scout cookies you got stuck with after the sale ended. However, there are many homes not possessing such a great storage area. These homeowners have a couple tough choices to make, but first they need to know a few things before they think about adding 2 story garages to their homes.

How They Could Use the Garages

People see a gable or a small deck on a two story garage and think what a great place to rent to college students, singles or family members in need of digs. On the other hand, there are other just as great uses for such an apartment:

• Live in the apartment yourself while you save up to build your own home
• Use it as a vacation property if you own the land
• If you live in the snowbelt and own property in warmer climes, use the two story garage as a snowbird retreat
• Rent it out when you return home in the spring or summer
• Place your quilting frames, sewing apparatus and display cases in it
• Securely lock away your gun collection there when you’re not hunting
• Home offices, workshops, man-caves and she-sheds could use a place as well

Now that homeowners’ imaginations have been whetted, we’ll go a little farther and sketch a picture for them. Imagine a detached two story garage erected directly behind or a little kitty-cornered to the house. Now imagine a covered walkway between the garage and the house. Not only does it look a little Gone With the Wind-ish, but it will keep you dry as you leave the car for the house. Beside the house where the attached garage would have been had you chosen that option, picture an outdoor room. A stone fireplace holds a barbecue rack, while homemade bread rises on the hearth. The bar is next to it, while your choice of outdoor furniture holds friends whose mouths are drooling at the amazing aroma of the barbecue or the steaks. Next to the outdoor room, the kids, who are awaiting their burgers, are splashing in the pool.

Practical Considerations

Of course, to bring all these lovely pictures of two story garages off, homeowners will need to check with their county building offices. Permits, property restrictions and zoning rules might apply. Homeowners should also check with their Homeowners Associations to discover their rules and restrictions, too. Other things to check out include:

• Some towns and communities have height restrictions
• In historical districts, especially, there could be restrictions governing the appearance of the garage (it should look “colonial”, “southern plantation”, you get the idea)
• There is usually a rule concerning the percentage of a property covered with concrete patios, for instance, or asphalt driveways

When you contact us for more information, we can discuss designing the garage to look like the homeowners’ home or perhaps a style to complement the house. We think you’ll be impressed.