Wednesday, September 17, 2025

You buy a home for your current needs, but over time, those needs can change. Families are constantly evolving, and as the family makeup and dynamic changes, what they need from the house changes as well. While some homeowners will decide to sell and upgrade when they need more space, other homeowners find that they can renovate the home they love to get the additional space they need. If you are considering adding space to your home, don’t think of adding on, think of adding up. Adding an over-the-garage space has many advantages that will give you the space you need while being a wise investment for the future.

Exterior of a modern home.

Adding Space to Your Home Can Be Life Changing for Your Family

Let’s say you bought your home when you were newly married with two young children, commuting to an office most weekdays. You chose a home with a primary bedroom, and two or three additional rooms for your kids, with maybe even an extra room to use as a guest room or playroom.

Five or ten years later, your family’s needs have changed. Maybe you have additional children and not enough bedrooms, and nowhere for the kids to play. Maybe your career has transitioned, and you are now working remotely and need a home office. Maybe you’ve taken in aging parents and need a space for them to feel at home. Maybe you’ve developed a hobby and want a room for sewing, crafting, or exercise. There are many different reasons that you can feel like you’ve outgrown the home you originally bought, but that doesn’t always mean you have to move.  You can create a home office, in-law room, teen suite, playroom, home gym, hobby room, or anything else you need without needing to go through the process of selling and trying to find the perfect unicorn of a house that has everything you want. Adapting your home by adding space can be just the solution you need.

Over-the-Garage Additions Maximize Your Footprint Without Compromising Your Yard

The problem most homeowners encounter when planning additions is the yard space it will consume. Even if the room doesn’t feel big on the inside, you’ll notice a difference in the function of your yard when you add an addition. For some homeowners, adding an addition means losing their current patio, deck, or entertaining space. Unless you are working with acres of free space, you likely don’t want to cut too far into your yard. This is where adding up is the perfect solution. Planning your addition on top of the current footprint of your home will get you the space you need without losing any yard space. You can get a room – or even a suite of rooms – with the same square footage of your garage while keeping the footprint of your home the same, and you won’t need to worry about moving any current outdoor landscaping.

Building Up is Far More Cost-Effective Than Building Out

Additions are an investment, and adding on to your current home, while great for resale value, can be expensive. However, when you choose to add a room over the garage rather than an addition to the main level of your home, the savings are significant. You have an existing foundation, so you won’t need to pay for groundwork. You have a structure in place, so labor and logistics are reduced compared to a main floor addition. For many homeowners, adding a second story to their garage can be done for a fraction of the price of an addition. Second-story additions significantly boost resale value, making the ROI one of the best when compared to other home improvements.

Adding Living Space Above Your Garage Can Have Far-Reaching Benefits

Something that all homeowners learn is that their family’s needs will change over time. Adding a space over your garage gives you a very versatile option. If you build on an exterior entrance, you can utilize this space without affecting the flow of your home. You can use it for:

  • Teen Suite

More kids are moving home after college to save money and prepare for full adulthood. With a teen suite, these young adults can have a taste of independence as they grow. Once the kids have flown the nest, this space can be converted into a rental to bring in additional income or repurposed as a hobby room or office.

  • Home Office

The pandemic changed what both employees and employers expect from office work. More adults are working from home than ever before. While any space in your home can be converted into a home office, the advantage of using the space over your garage is that you won’t be taking any current living space away from your family. Not only that, but having your home office as a separate space can give you the delineation between “home” and “work” that can be difficult to find.

  • Recreation Space

Playroom. Home cinema. Home gym. Home sauna. Photography studio. Music room. Craft room. Library. Picture what your ideal space would be, and an over-the-garage room can provide it. With a separate entrance, you don’t even need to be concerned with disturbing the rest of the family. And the real beauty of this kind of space is that it can be flexible, adjusting to your needs.

A Quality Contractor Can Give You All the Options

There are several considerations to consider when adding a second story to your garage. First, you need to make sure that the current foundation and structure can support the addition. Your contractor should always begin with an inspection. Your contractor will also be familiar with the zoning laws in your neighborhood, as some additions, even those that don’t add to the footprint of the house, may require specific permits. Your contractor can also help you look at different architectural features and styles that will make your home look good from the outside.

Whether you need the additional space right now or are planning for the future, adding living space over your garage is a great investment that will enhance the value of your home, increase your resale appeal to buyers, and provide the space you need for your family. There are many different advantages to adding up, and your contractor can help you find the perfect way to make it happen.

Need more space without losing your yard? Contact Total Quality Construction to explore smart, over-the-garage additions that add value and function.