Cost of Converting a Carport to a Garage? (conversion, insulation, light)

[brightyellowhaha]

Hi Everyone,

I am starting to look at homes online with the hopes of buying in Spring 2013. The homes in the area of interest are primarily small capes or ranches built in the 1940's - 1950's. Some of these homes do have 1 car garages but some of them also just have carports. I would be perhaps interested in looking at homes with carports if the property was a good price and the cost of converting into a garage is reasonable.

Does anyone have any experience with converting a carport into a garage? What would be the average cost for such a project?

I wouldn't be converting a 1 car carport to a 2 car garage but I would just want to enclose the space so I could store property safe from the elements.

Thanks!

[TyroneBiggums]

I would first find out if your local zoning ordinances would allow for a conversion from carport to garage for the property or properties in question.

Some carports on older homes are right up on the property line, or extremely close to it. Current zoning ordinances in your municipality may preclude a conversion due to encroachment in setbacks.

[chet everett]

The key is understanding local code requirements. If they will not allow to enclose the space w/o bringing up the insulation and such to current standards you may end up with a space so tiny as to be unable to park any normal sized (camry/accord/taurus) type car in the space let alone some big Chevy Suburban or other popular SUV. Then, no matter what the cost is, you've gone from having at least a covered space to being forced to park out in the open.

If the space big enough the skill level to do this kind of job is VERY minimal, materials are generally not going to exceed a couple a grand even with insulation and so long there is no excessive fees for permits I would be surprised if the whole project was over $5K assuming any existing concrete / masonry/ framing are in good shape... If any of those items are in need of repairs then you need to be "hand-on" to assess what has to be torn vs what can be patched and those kind of things can drive the costs sky high...

[brightyellowhaha]

Great thanks for the responses! I think the zoning would probably be okay because I have seen other home owners in the area convert to even 2 car garages. But I will definitely check on any particular properties I am interested in before even putting in an offer.

$5k for the entire job would definitely be do-able. If the cost would go upwards of $10k or more I would probably not consider making the conversion and only look at homes that already have enclosed garages.

thanks again!

[South Jersey Styx]

Sounds like it's doable seeing that you have neighbors who have already done this. Be sure to check with your zoning/historic dept though as far as your finishing materials (i.e., type of roof, siding, garage door, etc.) as many older towns/regions have rules on this.

Also, when you are looking at properties, see if there are things like electricity, light boxes, etc. already available/running to the carport.

We bought a 1930s Arts & Crafts with a carriage house (already enclosed) and it is detached. It already has electricity in it and framed for insulation in case we ever want to finish it more (like separate quarters).

Good luck with your project!

[Idlewile]

We have friends in historic Denver who did this. It took two weeks and it was $5000. Matched the house and had some architectural elements but other than that, it is your standard garage.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Originally Posted by South Jersey Styx

...and framed for insulation ...

Right! And I'm the Tooth Fairy.

[chet everett]

...was not so much "insulation ready" as simply luckily framed on 16" centers. An awful lot of older older "accessory structures" were framed kinda haphazardly and it no fun cutting insulation to stuff into 18" or 20" (or 14" or 12" or whatever the drunken framing crew felt looked close enough) stud bays...

Originally Posted by K'ledgeBldr

Right! And I'm the Tooth Fairy.