Planning to add a double garage? From concrete driveways to council consents, discover how Retro Construction delivers high-quality garage extensions in Auckland.

Adding a Double Garage with Concrete Driveway: The Ultimate Guide

For many Auckland homeowners, off-street parking is a luxury, and secure storage is a necessity. As families grow and assets accumulate, the need for a dedicated double garage becomes undeniable. Whether you need to protect your vehicles from the unpredictable New Zealand weather or create a workshop for your hobbies, an addition is one of the smartest investments you can make in your property.

At Retro Construction, based in East Tamaki, we specialize in transforming your property with high-quality additions. Drawing on our motto of “Traditional Experience/Modern Style”, we manage the entire process of building your new double garage, from the initial excavation to the final concrete pour.

Why Invest in a Double Garage?

A double garage offers more than just a place to park two cars. It transforms the functionality of your home.

1. Security: Keep your vehicles safe from theft and weather damage.
2. Storage (“Packing Space”): As our clients Tania and others have discovered during renovations, creating extra “packing space” is vital. A double garage provides ample room for tools, bikes, and laundry setups.
3. Property Value: In the Auckland market, a solid, legal double garage with a durable concrete driveway significantly boosts resale appeal.

Visualizing Your New Space

Before we break ground, it is crucial to visualize how a double garage will change the look of your home. At Retro Construction, we use immediate 3D visualization technology. We can take photos of your current driveway or front yard and overlay the double garage design. This allows you to see exactly how the rooflines and driveway access will look before you commit to the build.

The Construction Process: More Than Just a Shed

Building a double garage involves rigorous planning to ensure compliance with the Building Code.

1. Consents and Compliance: Because a double garage is a structural addition exceeding 30 square meters, it requires a building consent. Our team includes in-house architects and Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) who manage the entire consenting process for you. We handle the paperwork so you don’t have to.

2. The Concrete Driveway and Foundation: A double garage is only as good as its foundation. We specialize in site preparation and excavation to ensure a stable base. When pouring the concrete driveway, we ensure proper drainage to handle Auckland’s rain. To ensure you get the best price on these heavy materials, we utilize a competitive bidding process. We obtain multiple quotes for subcontractors like concrete layers and excavators. This ensures you get market-related rates and high-quality workmanship, avoiding the risk of relying on a single supplier.

3. Site Setup (Preliminaries): It is important to remember that building a double garage turns your driveway into a construction site. We manage the “Preliminaries”—the essential operating costs required to keep the site safe and legal. This includes temporary fencing to secure the site, waste management for excavation spoil, and health and safety supervision. These aren’t “extras”; they are the backbone of a successful double garage build.

Maximizing Your Double Garage Potential

Once the structure is up, how do you make the most of your double garage?

• Attic Storage: We can line the ceiling of your new double garage with plywood and install a Sellwood access ladder, instantly creating a massive attic storage area for Christmas decorations and camping gear.
• Laundry Integration: Many homeowners choose to move their laundry into the double garage. We can design a smart washing area with hidden pipelines and sliding shelves to keep the space tidy and functional.

Managing Risk: Insurance for Your Addition

Adding a double garage is a major renovation project. To protect your biggest asset, we recommend that the property owner arranges Contract Works Insurance as an extension of their existing home policy. While Retro Construction carries full Public Liability insurance, having your own Contract Works cover ensures that a single insurer covers both your existing home and the new double garage structure. This prevents disputes between insurers if an incident occurs, giving you total peace of mind.

Ready to Build Your Double Garage?

With over 30 years of industry experience, Retro Construction is your trusted partner for residential additions. Whether you need a standalone double garage or an internal access extension, we deliver quality building solutions on time and within budget.

Don’t leave your cars on the street another winter. Contact us today to discuss your double garage project.