Many homes have a carport rather than a full garage. If you have a carport and want to turn it into a garage, you can do it for about 20% less than what it would cost to build it from the ground up. The team here at 1st Rate Garage Doors has a few suggestions for you when considering this upgrade.
How Much Does a Carport Conversion Cost?
You can have a one car carport turned into a full garage for anywhere from $25,000-$60,000 depending on the selections you make. If you are the kind of person that likes to DIY, you can always hirer someone to do parts of the work you can’t manage. Then you can do the areas you know how to do.
Here are the things you must consider when making this upgrade:
Building Regulations For Your City
Check with your local town hall to find out what permits you need to manage the construction. Also, you need to find out if there are any zoning laws that would prohibit you from making this upgrade. If you are part of an HOA, you’ll need to submit something to the board to find out if you can be approved to make the change.
Consider the Condition of Your Carport
Look at your carport and determine its structural integrity. There may be parts of the carport that need to be reinforced during construction. At the very least, knowing what these weaknesses are will prepare you for the additional cost you will incur with the project.
You will need to determine whether or not the beams can support the walls and garage door. If there is damage to the supports, you will need to replace them.
How Big is Your Slab?
In order to turn your carport into a garage, you’ll need the structure to be 20 feet long and 10 feet wide. If you have a 2 car carport, the width needs to be 18 ½ feet. If your slab is not big enough for you to build out this much, you will need to expand the slab.
Do You Have Enough Headroom For The Garage Door?
In order to install a garage door, you will need to have enough headroom in the garage. A standard garage door needs an opening that is at least 8 feet high. If your carport doesn’t have this clearance, then you’ll have to raise the roof to accommodate the garage door.
How Will You Power The Garage?
You’ll need to find out if your existing power box will be enough to support the additional room. This will require an electrician to come out and evaluate the potential drain on the system. They will be able to determine if you need another power box or to expand what you have.
Call Us When You Need a Garage Door
The team here at 1st Rate Garage Doors specializes in garage doors. When you are ready to build out your carport, you’ll need to pick a door. Call us so we can help you decide on the right size and style for your home. We can have a custom door made to work with your new garage.
We look forward to working with you!
