I own a vintage home with a 2.5 car garage that's over 100 years old. Unfortunately, due to neglect by the previous owners, the garage is now in pretty rough shape—its roof is caving in and the siding is shot. I haven't used it since I purchased the property, and the city is pushing me to repair it since it's become an eyesore. The quotes for repairs are about $17,000, which is a lot more than I can handle financially right now. I'm toying with the idea of demolishing it altogether, but I'm worried that doing so might hurt my property value. What do you think I should do?
3 Answers
Honestly, if the frame is still solid and you don't see termites, I'd consider renovating it. Old wood can be way better than the cheap stuff out there now. Strip it down and just replace the siding and roof. You might find a decent roofer who can do it for a lot less than the quotes you're getting.
You might want to check with your local city council first. If you're in a historical district, there might be rules about tearing it down, especially if you need to rebuild it to current codes. It could be worth keeping the structure if it’s allowed. If you find out you can demolish it without issues, there's always the option to build something new later
I can share what I did! I had a similar situation, found just a bit of rot, and instead of tearing it down, I propped it up, replaced some key components, patched the concrete, and ended up with a functional shop. Start with a solid assessment of the frame, and if you aren't confident, a structural engineer can help. You could save some money and keep the charm of that old garage.
That's a good point! I've been through this process, and sometimes codes can change. Just because the old garage was fine, it doesn't mean a new one can be in the same place.