How to Add a Lean-To onto a Garage

If you have outgrown your current garage but you don’t want to add a new standalone structure to your property, a lean-to could be the perfect solution. With a metal lean-to, you’ll add covered space for a modest price, and that space can be used for a variety of purposes. Let’s take a look at the basics of how to add a lean-to onto a garage.

At Carport Kingdom, you can build a custom structure to fit your exact needs with our Build & Price tool. Create a brand new garage complete with a lean-to to better maximize your space!

How Carport Kingdom Can Assist

If your existing garage was built by Carport Kingdom and is less than three years old, we can attach a lean-to onto the structure. We do this by building a free-standing lean-to and butting it next to the existing building. Contact us today for assistance!

However, if your current garage was not built by Carport Kingdom, read on to learn how to install a lean-to on your own.

Start with a Solid Structure

You only want to add a lean-to to your existing garage if that garage is in good structural condition. If it is an old building that is starting to fail on its own, it would not be a good idea to attach a lean-to and put even more pressure on the structure. If necessary, consider bringing in a building inspector to check out the overall condition of your garage and offer advice on whether the addition of a lean-to would be a smart move.

Consider Water Management

One of the most important points to handle in this project is how the water will be moved away from your structures. Currently, your garage has some way of getting water off the roof and safely to the ground away from the foundation. You don’t want to do anything with your new lean-to that is going to cause problems for that drainage plan.

A good option here is to place your lean-to under the overhang of your garage’s roof. That way, you will be able to let the water coming off the garage roof flow right onto the lean-to, and it can then make its way to the ground. If your lean-to is too tall, you might create a spot for water to pool during heavy rains, and that could mean big trouble. Spend some time thinking about how water will behave when it hits your garage and lean-to to make sure everything will drain properly once installed.

Prepare the Site

You will want to do your site prep well in advance of actually installing the lean-to, just to make sure there are no surprises when building day arrives. Site prep is an important part of this process, although you don’t necessarily have to pour a concrete foundation for the lean-to. While that is one option, you could also just clear the area of debris and vegetation, and maybe put down a layer of crushed rock for a base that will drain well.

The right kind of site prep for the job will depend on what you plan to do with the space once the lean-to is completed. If you are going to use it for extra parking, for instance, it might be nice to have a solid concrete floor as a parking space. However, if it will just be covered outdoor storage for things like landscaping tools, there may be no need for a formal foundation.

Check the Codes

As is always the case when you plan to build anything new on your property, it’s wise to check building codes and local regulations to make sure you won’t run into any trouble. You may need to get a permit for your addition of a lean-to, and it’s never too early to get started on the paperwork side of things. Rather than being caught off-guard down the road with a fine or a demand to take the lean-to down, get ahead of this issue and check in with the local authorities right away.

Maximize Available Space

For the dimensions of your new lean-to, you’ll be somewhat limited by the existing size of your garage. With that said, do what you can to make the most of the space available and give yourself the biggest practical lean-to to work with moving forward.

It’s a common mistake for people to build additional structures like this that only meet their needs at the moment, forgetting that those needs are sure to change down the road. If you have extra space available near the side of your garage, opt for a lean-to that is slightly bigger than what you need today. After a few years have passed and your space requirements have expanded, you’ll be glad you had the foresight to “overbuild” and give yourself room to grow.

Order a Metal Garage from Carport Kingdom

Now that you know how to add a lean-to onto a garage, if you’d rather purchase a new structure that meets all of your needs, order from Carport Kingdom! Whether you want a garage with a small lean-to to keep an entryway dry or something much larger, you can create a structure exactly how you’d like it. Design your ideal garage with our Build & Price tool now! Or, if your current garage was built by Carport Kingdom and is less than three years old, contact us for assistance adding a lean-to.