When to Tear Down Instead of Convert a Garage

Part of helping clients is telling them when a plan doesn't make sense.

A real example

From my architectural experience: a client had an old building, I believe a garage built around 1970, and wanted to convert it into an ADU. We consulted an engineer, who said they might as well tear it down and build new. The building wasn't built to code, and bringing it up to code would take a lot more work, including the structural and shear wall work.

The better path was to take it down rather than convert it.

The takeaway

If you're thinking about converting an older structure, get an engineer's opinion early, before you invest in design.

Wondering whether your building is worth converting? Start with a feasibility study. Our services