Adding a garage to a mobile home in land lease areas and on private property has been increasing in popularity.
More and more mobile homeowners look for the security and the same convenience that site-built homeowners enjoy.
However, the majority of the efforts made in combining site-built garages with mobile homes normally fall short of the integrations that are generally accepted.
There are normally two types of garages that we have in existence and they are the free-standing garage (which is also known as detached) or the attached garage.
The free-standing garage is quite easy to build and can complement a home quite easily. All that one has to do is to make sure that the home is aesthetically compatible with the home.
This can be done through the use of matching shingles, roof pitch, and the same color and materials.
Some of these free-standing garages can be built cheaply on thick edge slabs. The integrated garage or attached garage is designed to accommodate the anticipated stress and load of the garage.
The home and the garage also require a comparable foundation so that the two can function as a unit after the garage has been constructed.
Attaching a garage to your home can also pose some challenges to you both aesthetically and physically, especially in inland lease areas.
One such problem is the difference in elevation between the home floor and the garage floor. This can present about four other problems for you.
First of all, you will need about 5 steps before you can get from the garage into the home. This can lead to significant floor space being taken up in the garage.
Sufficient clearing between the ceiling of the garage and the top floor of the home will also be hard to attain.
When you solve this problem, it leads to the creation of a third one: which is the garage being built with tall sidewalls that match the garage eaves with the home eave line.
This can eventually lead to a large area on top of the garage door along with unusual proportions for the garage.
However, you should know that adding a garage to your mobile home during a renovation project is possible and can be done.
Homeowners can now customize their mobile homes easily due to the craftsmanship and quality that goes into the manufacturing of mobile homes.
There are several ways through which mobile homeowners can customize their homes, including the exterior and the interiors.
Can You Add A Garage To Your Mobile Home?
Of course, you can do that. garages have become one of the popular add-ons for mobile homes.
This is a great idea that can improve the convenience of your mobile home while providing some form of security for your vehicles and the tools that you will store in the garage.
Some types of garages can only be added to a home that was specifically designed for it. If you have been thinking about adding a garage to your mobile home and you do not know how to go about it, this article will show you just how you can get the job done.
Adding a garage to your home will add extra square footage to your mobile home. it also provides an avenue for you to protect your tools and vehicles from extreme weather conditions.
Mobile Home Garage Options
There are several options that you can choose from when adding a new garage to your mobile home as we saw earlier in this article. Let us take a look at them below.
Detached Garage
These are free-standing garages that can be constructed right next to your mobile home. They can be constructed easily since they are separate structures.
They do not require much planning upfront although you may need a permit from your local government before you can put them up.
This will depend on the state in which you live. The garage can also be added after you have already purchased the mobile home.
Adjacent Garage
These kinds of garages are attached to your mobile home with their own four separate walls.
This can of the garage provides an entrance to the mobile home, thereby making it more convenient and ideal for areas where the weather gets cold since drivers will be able to enter the home directly from the garage and not walk in the cold weather.
The attached garage is normally designed to blend into the entire mobile home. However, the type of garage will require some considerable planning, and sometimes, they are designed to blend with the home.
Integrated Garage
This can of garage is only installed on homes that have received approvable in supporting the load of a garage.
They are a type of attached garage that shares their foundation and their fourth wall with your home.
They can be quite complicated to build and should be added to only recently constructed mobile homes.
Irrespective of the kind of garage you are planning to add to your mobile home, you need to make sure that the contractor who will be getting the job done is someone of repute.
Some of these contractors will handle the necessary legwork on your behalf and this can be an advantage if you are someone who is always on a tight schedule.
How To Add a Garage To Your Mobile Home
After deciding on the kind of garage you would like to have added to your mobile home, you can view the process of getting the new garage added to your mobile home here.
Mobile homeowners normally look for the same convenience that traditional homeowners with garages enjoy.
Adding a new garage to your mobile home is not something that is all that hard. If you are someone who likes to get work on your mobile home done on your own, you can carry this one out as well. Check out the steps below to get your mobile home fixed with a new garage.
Check the Mobile Home
The first thing you will have to do is to check and see if your mobile home can sync with a garage.
You should make sure that the mobile home is quite sturdy enough to accommodate a garage load.
Through this, you will be able to ensure that the appropriate structural integrity is maintained, especially when you plan to add an integrated garage.
If you are purchasing a new mobile home, you should consider informing the mobile home manufacturers that you have plans to install a garage in the home so that they can design and make it suitable for that purpose.
Getting A Permit
After that, the next step to take is to get a permit for the new garage that you are about to add to your mobile home.
You will need a permit before you can get anything started, especially if you live in such an area.
Make sure to check with the local government of your area and get a permit so you can avoid any legal complications later on.
Check For Any Restrictions
While getting your permit, you should also check with the local building department and see if there are any restrictions to what you intend to do.
Some states have some regulations for structures that need to be followed. So you should make sure to check with the local building department.
Choosing The Garage Type
If you discover that your home cannot sync with another structure, it would be advisable to build a detached garage.
With this kind of garage, you can always leave a breezeway between the garage and the mobile home.
Preparing The Foundation For The Garage
Garages are normally under a lot of abuse and they bear a load as well. To make sure that the garage you are about to build will last longer, it is always a good idea to make the foundation a permanent one.
It is also advisable to get the floor of your garage made on the same level as that of your mobile home.
This is because the mobile home and the garage have different elevations, you will have to build steps inside the garage when you need to enter the mobile home.
Installing The Mobile Home
In some cases, the makers of your mobile home will help you out with the installation of the garage after it has been delivered.
However, you will still need the services of a professional contractor.
Roofing
When you are roofing the garage, you should make sure that the roofline of the garage is in line with the roofline of the mobile house.
This will give you an easy time when it comes to matching other aspects that will relate to the overall look and aesthetics of the mobile home. This will help you to continue enhancing the appearance of your mobile home.
So that is how you get a garage added to your mobile home. As you can see, it is something that can be done quite easily.
No matter the kind of garage you choose to add to your mobile home, it is always advisable to choose the one that will not interfere with the integrity of the mobile home’s structure.
You should also bear in mind that adding a garage to your home may increase your taxes. You will be paying more tax than you were doing when you had no garage in your home.
Conclusion
I am sure that this article has been helpful. You now know the steps to take when thinking about adding a garage to your mobile home.
This is quite a good idea but you should always make sure to follow all the due processes such as seeking a permit and checking out the local building department to make sure that you have all the legal requirements sorted out. If you are also looking for mobile home lenders, then this article is for you.
