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I have a client who wants to build a connection between his house and garage. I assume that the addition will need footings, that the house has footings and the garage does not. I don’t believe that I can connect the house and garage with a footed or non footed addition. Has anybody got any creative ideas on how to build this without having to foot the garage? This project is in Minnesota and we need 42″ frost footings or better on any structure.
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If you are connecting to a gable end of the garage, don't actually tie them together structurally.
Use a footing under the addition and just butt the addition against the garage. Don't nail the last truss or rafter (or anything else) against the garage, just let it float, with step flashing (and a deep counter flashing)as the only connection.
This will only work if butting against a wall with no valley connection.
Terry
*What does your client want the space for? Will they condition it, or do they simply want protection from the elements? If all they want is to keep the rain/snow off, they might be best served by a simple roof structure supported by a few columns and a concrete slab to walk on.Confirm the construction of the garage foundation, as I've seen both monolithic slab (above frost line) and stemwall/slab (below frost line) techniques used in the midwest. It may be that your concern is moot.Personally, I think attached garages are a bad idea. Largely for aesthetic reasons, but there is also an important security concern. Thieves like to enter a home through the garage. Generally, the doors (both vehicular and man-doors) on a garage are less sturdy than the front door. All it takes is one or two kicks and they're in. The thief then has all day to work on the interior door. All in the comfort and privacy of your own garage.