I'm looking to add a garage to my house in Virginia, but I'm not sure about the regulations here compared to my home state of Mississippi, where I could just build without much hassle. I know I probably need permits and maybe even a contractor. I have some construction experience and could do the work myself. My specific questions are: 1. Am I allowed to build this garage myself in Virginia? 2. Regarding the garage foundation, the area slopes down from about 4 inches to about 10 inches, so do I need to remove the existing asphalt, or can I just pour concrete over it? 3. I'm also debating between building a fixed structure attached to the house with shingles or a simpler metal structure under the fascia. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
Just a side note, my general contractor quoted me around $50,000 for a detached garage with a small apartment on top, not including permits, which are roughly $1,000 here in Georgia. It might give you a ballpark for budgeting if you’re thinking about a more complex setup.
Definitely check in with your local municipal office. They can provide you with all the details about permits and whether you need a contractor or not. Better to be safe and ask first!
Yeah, a call is definitely in order! They'll guide you through the specifics.
You can't really build directly on asphalt since it can sink and lead to issues later. Trust me, the way you're thinking about it won't get approved. You’ll need to ensure the foundation is solid, and I recommend involving a professional for this. Safety is key!
Good point about the asphalt! I can handle regular building tasks, but this foundation stuff is a bit tricky. Appreciate the heads up.
Thanks for sharing that! We're probably just looking at storage space above, but that cost definitely helps set expectations.