Your Garage Addition or Remodel questions, answered
Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
How much does it cost to build a garage?
The cost to build a garage ranges from $35 to $60 per square foot on average, or $19,600 to $28,200 total for a 2-car garage. Most 2-car garages are 400 to 576 square feet in size.
A 2-car detached garage costs$20,000 to $57,600, depending on the material quality and finishes. A detached garage usually costs more than an attached garage because it has one more wall and is further from the home's electrical and plumbing connections.
Prefab or modular garage prices are $7,200 to $26,000 on average for a 2-car garage kit alone or $11,000 to $37,500 including installation and a concrete slab foundation. However, many HOAs don't allow prefab garages because some basic kits can be unsightly, which may lower property values.
Building a garage with an apartment costs$200 to $350 per square foot or $80,000 to $300,000 total on average, depending on the size. Adding an apartment to a prefab detached garage costs quite a bit less than a custom attached build.
How long does it take to build a garage?
Building a garage takes 6 to 8 weeks on average, depending on the size of the garage and whether the space will be finished or used as an apartment. Delays with the following factors will extend your timeline:
Shipping
Availability
Backorders
Permits
Do garages add value to a home?
Garages add value to a home, giving homeowners a 60% to 80% return on investment (ROI) on average. Garages protect cars from bad weather, increase home security, add curb appeal, and give you more storage space. If your garage has a finished living space, you can generate income by renting it out.
Do you need a permit to build a garage?
Yes, you need a permit to build a garage. A permit for a garage costs $150 to $500, depending on local pricing. Structural work, electrical wiring, and adding plumbing may require multiple permits.
How close can you build a garage to the property line?
Most cities require a setback of 5 to 15 feet from the property line for garages and sheds, although local regulations differ. Setback requirements may be different if you're building a garage in your backyard or in front of a house. Double check local building codes to confirm before starting any projects.
How do I choose a garage builder?
While hiring garage builders, remember these steps:
Get multiple estimates from builders.
Look for professionals with experience installing garages.
Explore reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Choose a licensed, insured, bonded, and reputable builder.
Avoid the lowest bids, which usually indicate low-quality work.
Get a detailed estimate before they start.
Never pay in full before the job is complete.
Ask if they'll provide a warranty on the labor or materials.
What questions should I ask garage builders?
Ask these questions to find the best possible garage builder:
How long have you been building or installing garages?
Do you have any applicable certifications?
Will you be using any subcontractors for this job?
Do you recommend a detached or attached garage?
How long will the garage take to build?
Are you insured, licensed, and bonded?
How will you handle any damage that might happen to my home?
What does your warranty cover?
Reviews for Seattle garage builders
Recent success stories from people in the Seattle area.
Chris S.
Kevin Dale presented himself well and seemed to have the experience to do our job. The scope of work was fairly large as we were renovating a 1948 house, including vaulting the ceiling. We were on a time deadline and needed the project completed in a timely manner. The beginning went well with the demo. We had an architect involved for sizing the beam needed for the vault. The day that the beam was to go in, we found out that there was an old oil furnace directly where the support needed to be. We had to rush to find someone who could remove the furnace. After that, the framing seemed to go well. That's where things fell apart. We were to have the house rewired and apparently the electrician that Kevin had hired took another job and because building was in high gear, he had trouble finding someone to do the job. Several weeks went by with no work done. The wiring was finally done, but at present, when you use a waffle iron in the kitchen, it blows a circuit. (We had even had the service upgraded to 200 amp, so there is plenty of available power.) We had to have the main water shutoff in the house moved and now the shutoff doesn't shut off the water. The date for completion was supposed to be July 31 and since notice needed to be given to a current landlord, I asked Kevin about a completion date and he said that to be on the safe side Aug. 15 would probably be better. Our arrangement was to install all of the trim and do the painting. Since we were flying out to do this, we needed prior notice of when this would be available to be done. The date that was given ended up being about a month earlier than it was ready. Because the ticket had been bought, Kevin agreed to install the trim in compensation. Sounds good, but he used his framing carpenters to do it. Not the same skill set. He also used them and new workers for the drywall taping and mudding. It took weeks and many call-backs to get most of it in at-least presentable condition. There were so many other annoying things involved. In mid September, when he was given a day and time to correct a list of things or forfeit a (small) amount of the last payment, He and his crew showed up at 4 PM that day and then was miffed that he was going to lose that money because he couldn't get everything done that day. We tried to work with Kevin, but he often would not respond to emails and just seemed to ignore criticism. There were weeks in the last month (a month and a half after the original completion date) when his crew would be there for 4 hours out of the entire week. This turned out to be a very stressful remodel and I would advise people to avoid Estate Renovations.
Estate Renovations llc
Nathania K.
I needed help to replace a kitchen faucet, Joseph was one of the first that responded to my inquiry. He gave me a set price that cost much less than other companies’ estimates.
Very professional, punctual and respectful. I will definitely be using his service in the future
JJ Handyman”s service
Kathie F.
These guys were awesome did a great job got it fixed and did an inspection to show me where we may have other issues that may need attention. I will be calling them when we are ready to tackle other issues in our home. The home is 122 years old so yes we are going to have issues
Evergeeen Construction Group
Jonathan S.
John did an amazing job remodeling my kitchen, finished in time, full of kindness and respect to us. Highly recommended. Looking forward to hire him again
Lux Finishing LLC
Franz L.
TBH Sterling is the best contractor I've hired in the past 20+ years. Dave and his team provided excellent customer service: maintaining the project on time, communicating effectively, taking responsibility when issues arose, and producing an exemplary remodel for our home at a reasonable price point.
TBH Sterling Inc.
Norman P.
We had a Excellent experience in dealing with Clr construction inc The process from start to finish was a pleasant experience and we have recommended to multiple friends!
CLR construction Inc
Mandy P.
We worked with John and the J&C team on a major renovation throughout 2023-2024, adding a 1,000 sq ft second-story addition to our 1909 craftsman home. They managed to preserve the character and architectural integrity of our original house, which was extremely important to us, while extending it upward. The new level blends perfectly, so unless you saw the house under construction, I truly believe you’d never guess it wasn’t part of the original design.
The addition J&C led includes three bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs, and the team also reconfigured the main floor by opening up a bedroom to create a cozy family nook off the kitchen. They completed essential structural work as well, including full earthquake retrofitting.
Throughout the project, John and his team were very professional. Their attention to detail, thoughtful recommendations, clear communication, and commitment to staying on budget were fantastic. They worked hard every day and kept us informed throughout the project.
We SO LOVE how the house turned out, as this was a huge project, and J&C exceeded our expectations. We definitely plan to work with John again in the future. Highly recommend!
J&C CONTRACTORS, LLC
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