Running out of room for your cars and tools? Add onto your existing garage to upgrade your storage space and clear away clutter. In this helpful guide, nosotros'll teach you how to build a garage bump-out in seven steps.

What is a Garage Bump-Out?

A "bump-out" is essentially a home addition for your garage. In basic terms, you're calculation onto your existing garage for more storage or to make room for a 3rd car. In that location are many perks to having a garage crash-land-out improver, but you should only tackle this project if you're an experienced DIYer. If any of the higher-level steps exceed your skillset, consider calling a professional contractor. That said, yous tin can nonetheless cutting costs past siding and roofing the extension yourself.

Make Garage Extension Plans

Before adding onto your existing garage, you should declutter the space. Get rid of any unnecessary tools, decorations and old toys to give yourself a fresh start. If you're tossing lots of clutter and household junk, rent a dumpster for an easier cleanup. One time your garage has been cleared out, y'all can build the bump-out addition. Considering the complexity of this project, we recommend setting bated at least 3 weekends to finish the chore. Come across if friends and family unit members will assistance out – many hands lighten the load!

"Be realistic near cost, the time commitment and your skill levels. You should exist prepared to bring in others for additional help, or consider working with a professional."

Jon Alexander | Sunshine Construction

Calculate Your Garage Expansion Cost

To estimate your total cost, you should start institute why you're edifice the garage extension. Depending on what you need the extra space for, y'all could add another car port for around $6,250. Looking to add storage space or room for an boosted machine with your garage bump-out? You'll pay anywhere from $x,000 to $25,000, depending on whether you work with a contractor or not. You should also programme for finishing costs, as y'all'll need to install new floors, siding and covering in your garage bump-out addition.

Worker With Tool Belt Using Tape Measure

Gather Your Tools and Materials

Before starting your DIY garage addition, make sure you have the right tools and materials for the job. Along with solid carpentry tools, you'll need some heavy-duty equipment to complete this project.

Tools Needed to Build a Garage Bump-Out:

  • Hammer drill: A powerful hammer made for hard-faced surfaces. Y'all'll need this tool to create a sturdy foundation for your garage crash-land-out.
  • Concrete anchors: Large, thick screws that secure wooden beams to physical.
  • Tie plates: Argent plates needed to support your bump-out.
  • Reciprocating saw: A automobile-powered saw that cuts wooden beams to size.
  • Level: Used to continue your walls straight and even.
  • Ladder: Needed to install roof shingles, gutters and high storage shelves.
  • Safety goggles: Recommended to protect your eyes from dust and debris.
  • Gloves: Recommended to protect your hands from woods and sharp tools while you're working.

Materials Needed to Build a Garage Bump-Out:

  • Wooden beams: Required to build the outline and walls of your extension.
  • Wall studs: Wooden, vertical framing that will help you outline the add-on.
  • Double trimmers: Metallic beams that support the walls and header of your bump-out.
  • Plywood: Needed to make the roof and foundation of your extension.
  • Wood preservation treatment: To ensure your outline endures the exam of fourth dimension (and termites).
  • Concrete: Required to make the flooring and foundation of your garage bump-out add-on.
  • Covering felt: A thin underlayment that protects your roof from excess moisture.
  • Vinyl siding: Needed to finish the outside of your extension. Make sure to buy the aforementioned siding as the balance of your garage!

How to Build Onto a Garage

Not certain where your crash-land-out should go? Selection a wall that isn't too shut to your patio or surrounded past outdoor fencing. Family Handyman recommends building a 5 past 12-pes garage bump-out so you accept ample room for lawn equipment, tools or another car.

1. Build a Header

Outline the bump-out wall using wooden beams and double trimmers. This ensures your roof will be supported afterwards you remove the wall. If yous accept a 2-story garage, have a general contractor install the header to go along the building intact. When you're set up to move forward, outline your DIY garage addition by post-obit these iii steps.

Detect a suitable spot. Pick a spot for your garage bump-out addition and mark it appropriately.

Mark the opening. Brand two 3-inch marks across the indoor bump-out opening. Ensure the within opening will be 7 inches narrower than the width of your extension.

Cut the header. Using your reciprocating saw, cutting two ten-inch headers to length and smash them together. Then, nail a 2-by-four to the lesser of each header. We'll help you attach it to your garage in Footstep 3.

Hole in Garage Wall With Exposed Bricks and Beam

2. Remove Your Existing Garage Wall

Once y'all've outlined your DIY garage add-on, accept out the existing wall. Considering the of import utilities a garage contains, make sure you don't remove a load-begetting wall. Nosotros recommend having a professional inspector determine if the wall is structural. If it is, choose another spot for your bump-out. Learn how to properly knock down a wall before starting this phase of the project.

three. Brand a Base

Using your hammer drill and concrete anchors, build the foundation of your garage crash-land-out by following these steps:

Mark the spot. Take a 12-foot piece of plywood and nail information technology to the existing wall, xviii inches above your garage flooring.

Brand holes. Dig two i-human foot-deep holes for the posts of your extension, keeping them 12 feet autonomously.

Fill the holes. Cascade eight inches of concrete into both holes.

Install the posts. Later the concrete sets, install 2 treated four-by-four posts into each ground pigsty.

Secure the foundation. Pack soil effectually each post, beingness conscientious to keep dirt from getting under the joists.

Frame the floor. Connect the posts together with a 12-foot wooden beam and hurricane ties. Measure from the beam to your existing garage flooring and cut iv pieces of plywood according to this length. Secure each piece of wood to your garage and the axle, spacing them 3 feet apart.

Fill the gaps. Pour physical into the gap between your existing garage flooring and crash-land-out flooring. Y'all can level it with a two-by-four you don't programme on using.

Attach the header. Secure the header to your existing garage wall and bump-out flooring with hurricane ties.

four. Build the Walls of Your Crash-land-Out Addition

To create sturdy walls for your DIY garage improver, follow these steps:

Observe a house surface. Get-go building the walls of your garage crash-land-out on a flat surface.

Build the taller wall. To make the 12-foot wall, accept the length and width of your crash-land-out opening. Add together 3 inches to the length and seven inches to the width. Cut four wooden beams according to these measurements – two for the length of the wall and two for the width. Mark stud locations on the ends of each longer beam.

Stand it up. Utilize these stud locations to nail your short and long beams together. Then, you can stand the wall up and nail it into your bump-out floor.

Build the ii shorter walls. For the two five-foot walls, mensurate from the forepart of your extension to your existing garage wall. Cutting four wooden beams using this measurement and the top of the taller wall to build your short walls.

Connect the walls together. Cutting tie plates according to the measurements of your 12 and 5-foot walls to ensure they fit together.

Reinforce the walls. Screw your short walls into the bottom plate of your garage floor.

Finish the walls. Utilize tie plates to complete both walls, making sure they don't touch on or overlap.

Secure the outline. Adhere the outline to your garage using your level and concrete anchors.

five. Add a Roof

After edifice the walls of your DIY garage improver, you tin add a roof and cutting the rafters. This is the about important part of the job, as you don't want to betrayal your tools or stored belongings to the elements!

Draw a line. Use your chalk line to mark the middle of the bump-out addition, ensuring it'south parallel with your roof.

Pick a spot for your rafters. Make two boosted marks on your roof's overhang and the end of your bump-out. Employ this length to cut your rafters to size.

Install the rafters. Boom the start rafter to the left side of your garage wall, installing information technology from the center marker to the overhang marking. Repeat this step on the correct side of your garage.

Reinforce the rafters. Y'all can do this with metal hurricane ties.

Connect them together. Install a 2-by-six piece of wood (a ridge) where your rafters meet, nailing it into identify.

Install gable trusses. Add gable trusses, the wooden beams that support your roof, installing them from the header to the end of each rafter. Yous should install iii on each side.

Lay down plywood and covering felt. Cover the gable trusses with plywood sheathing and roofing felt.

Shingle the roof. Install shingles with a staple gun, ensuring the blueprint matches the rest of your roof.

Man Installing Vinyl Siding

6. Install Vinyl Siding

When your walls accept been built and are sturdy, y'all tin add vinyl siding. We recommend using the same color and finish as the rest of your garage to ensure the extension blends in.

Install one row of siding. Starting from the foundation of your garage bump-out addition, install your commencement row of vinyl siding and nail it into identify. Make certain each slice overlaps by four inches.

Continue the pattern straight. Mark the elevation of the row using a chalk line, keeping the pattern aligned.

Add onto the offset row. Using the top lip of the outset row, kickoff edifice the second row of siding. It should snap right into place.

Embrace the entire wall. Continue this process until the wall is completely covered in vinyl siding.

Finish siding your extension. To secure the corners, install end channels where your siding stops.

vii. Customize the Indoor Space

One time you've installed your garage crash-land-out, clear the inside of any grit and debris. Then, you can add together shelves, hanging storage or cubbies for your holding. Not sure where to kickoff? While not exactly the aforementioned, these tips for organizing a shed could be useful. If you spend extended periods of time in your garage, yous may consider heating it for twelvemonth-round apply.

"I would install floor-to-ceiling shelves in a garage bump-out. This is a great storage pick, and you can even employ old apple boxes for shelves."

Jon Alexander | Sunshine Construction

Organized Garage With Storage Shelves

Start Using Your Garage Bump-Out Addition

Afterwards building your extension and designing the inside, you can organize your things. With a fresh DIY garage improver, you'll park your cars without running over your bikes, tools or holiday decorations. It'll be a nice change of space, to say the least.

Projects to Tackle Later on Building a Garage Extension

Now that yous finally have enough room in your garage, don't allow the rest of your house take FOMO. Whether you're looking to expand your kitchen or increase storage in your modest bath, we accept y'all covered.

  • Tips to Maximize Space in a Minor House
  • eleven Space Saving Ideas for Your Small Bathroom
  • Converting Your Shed Into a Living Space Y'all'll Love