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It’s much less expensive to build your own garage shelves, and you’ll still get stable, long-lasting, and sharp-looking shelves. Garage storage systems cost between $615 and $2,635, with the national average of about $1,455. Building DIY garage shelves typically costs less than $500, and the quality of a DIY garage shelving unit will almost always be higher than what you could buy premade for the equivalent price.

Due to space restrictions, some homeowners choose to build an above-garage extension. This second-floor area can be used for storage or living space, but it’s more involved than your standard garage extension project. For example, you might need to pay for foundational or structural reinforcement if your current garage can’t handle the extra load. Expect to pay $25,000 to $100,000 to add a room above the garage. 

You can’t add home addition costs to an existing mortgage, but you can include them in a new mortgage if you take out a rehab loan. Rehab loans—FHA-backed 203k loans and conventional rehab loans—are for more than the value of a property, and the excess is meant to cover the cost of a renovation or home addition.

Wood, steel, fiberglass, and aluminum are among the top building materials for a garage. Wood is highly customizable, naturally insulative, and durable in mild climates but can be expensive. Steel is lightweight, low-maintenance, and cost-effective, but it’s susceptible to rust. Fiberglass is low-maintenance and doesn’t shrink or expand in changing temperatures, but it can become brittle and crack from prolonged high winds and sun exposure.

Unlike steel, aluminum isn’t susceptible to rust and is low-maintenance, but its ultra-light weight makes it less durable than some materials, and it’s susceptible to saltwater damage, making it a poor choice for coastal homes.