How to Move a Detached Garage & Not Regret It Later

Ever look at your detached garage and wish it were somewhere else? Maybe you need more yard space, are planning an extension, or the current location is simply inconvenient. You’re not alone in this dilemma.

Moving an entire building sounds like a monumental, almost impossible task reserved for professionals with massive machinery. Many homeowners assume it’s easier and cheaper to demolish and rebuild, but that’s not always the case. The good news is that with careful planning, it is entirely possible to relocate your garage.

Why Would You Even Consider Moving a Garage?

The reasons for undertaking such a project are diverse. Often, it’s about optimizing your property’s layout. You might want to make room for a new patio, a garden, or a home addition.

In other cases, the garage’s position might be causing issues, like blocking natural light or being too close to a property line. Sometimes, it’s about improving accessibility or even protecting your property; for instance, repositioning it could be part of a larger strategy on how to protect a corner house from cars.

Assess Your Situation First

Before you get ahead of yourself, a thorough assessment is crucial. What is your garage made of? A lightweight, single-car wood-frame garage is a much simpler candidate for a move than a two-story cinder block structure. The latter is often too heavy and structurally complex to move economically.

You must also inspect the garage’s condition. If the structure has significant rot, termite damage, or a crumbling foundation, the cost and effort to move it might outweigh the benefits of starting fresh. A building must be sound to survive the stresses of lifting and relocation.

The Crucial Planning and Preparation Phase

Success in moving a detached garage lies almost entirely in the preparation. Rushing this stage is a recipe for disaster. This phase involves navigating regulations, preparing the structure, and planning the new site.

Permits and Regulations: Don’t Skip This Step

Your first call should be to your local building department. Moving a structure on your property almost always requires a permit. They will inform you about setback requirements, which dictate how close the garage can be to property lines, your house, and other structures.

Ignoring this step can lead to hefty fines and an order to move the garage back to its original location. It’s a bureaucratic hurdle, but a necessary one to ensure your project is legal and safe.

Understanding Your Garage’s Foundation

The type of foundation your garage sits on will significantly impact the moving process. A garage on a concrete slab is the most challenging, as the structure must be separated from the slab. This often involves drilling into the slab and using powerful jacks.

Garages on concrete piers or wooden skids are considerably easier to move. These are already partially elevated, simplifying the process of getting lifting equipment underneath. Knowing your foundation is key to getting an accurate quote from professional movers.

Emptying and Preparing the Garage

The garage must be completely empty. This means everything from cars and tools to shelves and workbenches must be removed. This is non-negotiable. The goal is to make the structure as light as possible and prevent items from shifting and causing damage during the move.

You may also need to do some minor deconstruction. Disconnecting any electrical wiring or plumbing is a must. Sometimes, attached porches or lean-tos must be removed. If you’re dealing with stubborn fixtures, you might find yourself wondering how to remove glued cabinet knobs and other seemingly small but challenging items.

Choosing Your Moving Method: DIY vs. Pro

Once you’ve planned and prepared, you face a major decision: attempt the move yourself or hire professionals. This choice depends on the garage’s size, the distance of the move, your budget, and your personal skill level.

The DIY Approach: For the Brave and Skilled

Moving a garage yourself is a massive undertaking suitable only for smaller, lighter structures over a short, level distance. The primary methods involve using pipes or rollers. This involves lifting the garage with heavy-duty jacks and placing steel pipes or rollers underneath to slowly push it to the new location.

This method is labor-intensive, slow, and carries a high risk of injury and damage to the structure if not done correctly. It requires precise coordination and a deep understanding of structural loads. It is absolutely not recommended for larger garages or complex moves.

Hiring Professional Structural Movers

For most situations, hiring a professional structural moving company is the safest and most effective solution. These experts have the specialized equipment, insurance, and experience to handle the job efficiently. They use unified hydraulic jacking systems, steel I-beams for support, and powerful dollies or trucks.

While more expensive upfront, the peace of mind and assurance of a job done right are invaluable. They will handle the entire process, from lifting and transport to placing the garage on its new foundation. This also avoids potential issues like a faulty garage door opener, which might present a Liftmaster error code 4-1 if the structure is twisted or damaged during a DIY move.

Moving Method	Best For	Pros	Cons
DIY with Rollers/Pipes	Small, light wood-frame garages on a flat, short distance.	Lowest cost.	High risk of damage and injury; extremely labor-intensive; not suitable for large structures.
Using Skids and a Tractor	Shed-sized or very small garages on soft ground.	Relatively simple for small buildings.	Can damage the ground; limited to very short distances; requires heavy machinery access.
Hiring Professional Movers	All garage sizes, especially medium to large, or moves over a distance.	Safe, efficient, insured, and handled by experts with proper equipment.	Highest cost.

The Step-by-Step Moving Process

Whether DIY or professional, the core steps of moving a garage are similar. The primary difference is the scale and sophistication of the equipment used.

Step 1: Lifting the Structure

This is the most critical phase. The garage must be lifted evenly to prevent twisting or cracking. Professionals use a unified jacking system that raises all points simultaneously. For a DIY move, you would use multiple heavy-duty hydraulic jacks, lifting incrementally and placing solid wood blocks, known as cribbing, to support the structure as it goes up.

The goal is to raise the garage high enough to slide steel support beams underneath. These beams will bear the entire weight of the structure during the move.

Step 2: Transporting the Garage

With the support beams in place, the mode of transport is next. For a short, on-property move, dollies or rollers are placed under the beams. The garage is then slowly pushed or winched across the prepared path.

For longer moves, the entire structure is loaded onto a specialized flatbed truck. This is a complex operation that only professionals should ever attempt.

Step 3: Preparing the New Foundation

While the garage is being prepared, the new site must be made ready. This involves excavating and pouring a new foundation. The new foundation must be perfectly level and cured before the garage arrives.

It is absolutely critical that the new foundation’s dimensions exactly match the garage’s footprint. Any mismatch will create significant problems when it’s time to lower the building.

Step 4: Lowering and Securing

Once the garage is positioned over the new foundation, the lowering process begins. This is essentially the lifting process in reverse. The structure is slowly lowered with jacks, and the cribbing is removed piece by piece.

After it’s resting on the new foundation, the garage must be securely anchored. This is typically done using anchor bolts set into the concrete, which are then fastened to the garage’s sill plates. This ensures the structure is stable and meets building codes.

After the Move: The Finishing Touches

The job isn’t over once the garage is in its new spot. You’ll need to reconnect any utilities, such as electricity. It’s also wise to inspect the entire structure for any cracks in the drywall or siding that may have occurred during the move and make necessary repairs.

Finally, you’ll need to handle the landscaping. The path the garage took will likely need to be regraded and reseeded. The old foundation will also need to be dealt with, which usually involves demolition and removal.

Is Moving Your Detached Garage Worth It?

Moving a detached garage is a major project, but it can be a fantastic solution for improving your property’s functionality and value. The key is to weigh the costs and complexities against the price of demolition and new construction.

For a structurally sound garage, relocation is often a more sustainable and cost-effective option. Do your research, get multiple quotes from professional movers, and have a clear plan. With the right approach, you can successfully give your garage a new home.