Need more room for cars, storage, or a workshop — or want to add living space on top while you are at it? Sun Shore Construction builds attached and detached garage additions across Greater Boston. Plans are drawn by a licensed architect or designer (you are welcome to bring your own); we build to those plans and handle the permitting, with a bilingual (English / 中文) team. Licensed and fully insured; proof available on request.

What kind of garage addition fits your home?

• Attached garage addition — built onto the side of the house, with a direct entry. Usually the most practical choice when the lot allows it.
• Detached garage — a separate building, often used when the house sits close to the side lot line or when you want a workshop away from the house.
• Garage addition with a suite above — a popular option: a one- or two-car garage on the ground floor with a bedroom, master suite, home office, or in-law space above it. You get the garage and the living space from one foundation and one roof. (See our master suite additions and in-law suites.)
• Expanding an existing garage — going from one bay to two, or adding depth for storage.

Will my town allow it? Zoning comes first

Before any design work, we check the things that decide what you can build on your lot:

• Setbacks — how close a new structure can be to your property lines.
• Lot coverage and height limits — how much of the lot can be built on, and how tall the addition can be (this matters most for a garage with a suite above).
• Special permits — if a design does not fit the zoning rules as written, some towns allow it with a special permit or variance from the town’s zoning board. That adds steps, so we tell you early.

Permits and inspections — we handle them

A garage addition needs a building permit, and the work is inspected at each stage. We pull the building permit and coordinate inspections with your town. Electrical and plumbing permits are pulled by the licensed electricians and plumbers we hire for your project — and because we manage the whole job, every permit is our responsibility, not yours.

What affects the cost of a garage addition?

Every project is different, so we never quote a price sight-unseen. The main things that move the number:

• One bay or two, and attached or detached
• Living space above or not — a suite above adds heating, cooling, insulation, and usually a bathroom
• Foundation and site work: slope, ledge, drainage, and how the new structure ties into the house
• Doors, windows, siding, and roofing chosen to match your existing home
• Electrical needs: EV charger, workshop circuits, heat

We give you a free written estimate after an on-site visit, itemized so you can see what is included.

How a garage addition project runs

1. On-site visit — we look at the lot, the house, and how you want to use the space.
2. Plans and zoning check — a licensed architect or designer draws the plans (or you bring your own), and we check them against your lot and town rules.
3. Permits — we pull the building permit; the licensed electricians and plumbers we hire pull theirs; we follow every one through.
4. Build — foundation, framing, roof, exterior, then systems and finishes.
5. Final inspection and walkthrough.

You get a written project plan before work starts and regular progress updates along the way.

Questions homeowners ask about garage additions

Can I add a bedroom or suite above a new garage?

Often, yes — it is one of the most efficient ways to add living space, because the garage foundation and roof do double duty. Height limits and setbacks in your town decide how big it can be, so we check zoning first.

Attached or detached — which is better?

Attached is usually more convenient and ties into the house; detached gives more flexibility on placement. Your lot lines and the house layout usually make the choice for you, and we walk through both on the site visit.

Do I need to move out during a garage addition?

Usually not, since most of the work happens outside the existing house. The day the new structure is opened into the house is planned in advance.

Do you handle the permits?

Yes. See “Permits and inspections” above.

Serving Greater Boston

Needham, Newton, Wellesley, Brookline, Dedham, Westwood, Dover, and nearby communities.

Call (857) 858-2600 or request a free estimate. 中文服务 / Bilingual team.