Basement Garage: The Ultimate Guide

A basement garage can be defined as an area that has been built below ground level and contains a garage. It could also be a basement underneath the garage floors, or in reverse, a garage underneath the basement floor. Garage basements/basement garages are also used for living space as well as extra storage space for things such as gardening equipment, sports equipment, the garden buddha even but chiefly used in the conventional manner to store vehicles.

Thinking of Getting a Basement Garage?

If you already have a basement garage you probably wouldn’t be reading this, so let’s talk about how you can get a basement garage if you don’t currently have one. The first thing we need to do is decide whether it makes sense financially to build your own basement garage or not. If you’re going to spend money on building a new garage then there are some important factors to consider before making any decisions:

• How much does it cost to rent a parking spot at work?
• What size vehicle would I want to park inside my garage?
• Do I really need more than two cars?

A basement garage, if you truly need it, usually has a good return on investment because they provide additional usable square footage which means less wasted space. However, if you only plan on having 1-2 cars parked in your garage then it may make more financial sense to rent a parking spot. If you live in a city where parking spots are hard to come by then buying a second car might not even be feasible. In these cases, a basement garage isn’t necessarily worth the expense.

Is a Basement Garage Worth the Trouble?

So if you have decided that a basement garage is for you, let’s discuss if it is truly worth it

It is advised that you employ the services of a builder/construction company that has experience with this type of construction.  It’s going to be paramount that you keep health and safety in mind.  The weight that will be held by your garage floor is significant, so you want it The basement garage floor is going to be holding a significant amount of weight – it may hold the weight of your entire property. So you’re going to make sure the basement foundation and that the buildings foundations are structurally sound enough for your plans to go ahead. Depending on your location, the cost of putting a basement underneath a garage can vary. Having a basement under your garage will be a good decision if you live in an area where there isn’t enough space.

Is It Possible to Build Up or Out?

In more urban areas, there are strict building codes. However, before beginning such a grand project, you should examine the building codes to determine if you can build another floor above a garage or if part of your existing home can be extended.

If part of your existing home can be extended, you should check the building codes to see if you can add another floor above a garage.

Adding another floor or extending your property above ground are also major construction projects but will cost you less than building a basement garage.  So, they’re worth considering if the cost is an issue for you.

Is It Cheaper to Buy Additional Land to Expand Upon?

When planning to build a home with a basement under the garage, it would be wise to determine beforehand if there is other available land nearby that you could build on, which would allow you to build a detached garage.  There would be an upfront cost with the purchase of the property, but in the long term, it would more than likely save both your money and time.

 

Advantages of the Basement Garage

• One of the benefits of a basement garage is that it doesn’t count towards the total square footage of your home. This is important for two key reasons, the first being that it makes it much easier to build it in the first place – it will not be subject to any zoning issues, a basement garage generally requires less red tape than a traditional garage or detached garage.
• This square footage allows for a larger yard or another addition, and it doesn’t impede the rest of your property. There is also a psychological bonus to the basement garage’s separation from the rest of the home.
• This area can be considered a house in its own right, depending on how you decide to decorate it. Problems with a vertical gap in a new home can be fixed using this living space.
• Finally, when all is said and done a basement garage is a garage – it provides much needed protection against the elements for your vehicles along with being a utility for anything else you need.
• Expanding your home increases the property value.

Disadvantages of the Basement Garage

• There are disadvantages to garage basements. The amount of labor and technical work required to create one of these structures is the largest disadvantage. If the garage is attached it only requires three walls. The process of creating a traditional garage is fairly easy compared to a basement garage.
• Builders have to work around soil and make something that is strong enough to hold up the home above. You will also need to consider additional insulation, drainage, and the pit itself are some of the things that come with it.
• The driveway might need a large amount of area depending on the slope needed.
• Altogether this will be a structure that takes considerably longer to build and has more costs than a traditional floor garage is what leads to it.

What’s it Going to Cost me?

A basement garage for 2 or 3 cars can cost between $100K and $200K. The cost will be determined by the following factors: size and depth of the basement, soil type and conditions on the site.

Basement garages really are excellent areas but aren’t necessarily for everyone. Being an underground or partially underground structure means that building a new one isn’t easy  it requires significant planning and set up to pull off correctly. They have a tendency to cost more but make up for it as it is more of an out of the way space that won’t upset your home’s outside appearance – while also improving its value. Sadly it takes a lot of planning and set up to build a new underground structure, it isn’t easy. But if you have the time and money, absolutely go for it!