Do I need a permit to build a garage in Dearborn, MI?

Yes. A garage is a structure, so Michigan municipalities require a building permit along with zoning review for setbacks, lot coverage, and height. Electrical work requires its own permit. NorthWest Construction pulls all necessary permits on behalf of our customers.

How long does it take to build a garage?

A standard detached two-car garage typically takes three to six weeks of construction, though permitting and concrete cure time extend the overall schedule. Weather is a real factor in Michigan, particularly around the foundation work.

Can my existing garage be repaired instead of replaced?

Often, yes. If the slab is sound and the framing is square and plumb, re-siding, re-roofing, replacing the overhead door, and repairing rotted framing is far more economical than a rebuild. If the slab has heaved or cracked through, or the walls are leaning, replacement is usually the better investment. We will tell you honestly which one your garage needs.

Can you match a new garage to my house?

Yes, and it matters more than most homeowners expect. Because we also handle roofing, siding, gutters, and trim, we can match the new garage to your existing shingles and siding, or update both together so the property reads as one finished exterior.

Garage Builders in Dearborn, MI | NorthWest Construction

New Garage Construction

NorthWest Construction builds new garages across Dearborn and the Detroit Metro area — designed around what your lot allows, what you park, and what you need to store. We manage the project from permit through final inspection, so you are dealing with one company rather than coordinating trades yourself.

Built to Your Lot, Your Vehicles, and Michigan Weather

Zoning and Permits Come First

Before any design work begins, we review what your property actually allows: setbacks from side and rear lines, municipal lot-coverage limits, height restrictions, and any utility easements you cannot build over. A garage quoted over the phone without that review is a number, not a project. We pull all required permits on your behalf and coordinate the inspections.

A Foundation Built for Freeze-Thaw

Everything above the slab can be repaired later. The foundation cannot, at least not economically. Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycle demands footings below the frost line, a properly prepared and compacted base, correct slab thickness with reinforcement, and grading that carries water away from the structure rather than toward it.

Framing, Roofing, and Siding as One System

Walls, headers, and roof structure are sized for Michigan snow loads. We roof the garage the way we roof a house — full roofing system with proper underlayment, flashing, and ventilation — and side and trim it to match your home rather than leaving it looking like an afterthought.

Garage Repairs and Restoration

Many garages in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and the surrounding communities were built alongside the houses in the 1940s through 1960s, and a good number of them are structurally fine underneath tired siding and a failing roof. We will assess yours honestly and tell you when a repair is the smarter spend.

Not Every Aging Garage Needs Replacing

When Repair Is the Right Call

If the slab is level and uncracked and the framing is square and plumb, the problems are usually surface-level: worn shingles, failing siding, a rotted service door, or a sagging overhead door. Each of those is fixable at a fraction of the cost of a rebuild.

What We Repair

Garage re-roofing and roof repairs, siding and trim replacement, rotted framing and sill plate repair, service doors and windows, overhead door replacement, soffit and fascia, and gutter installation so roof runoff stops undermining the slab.

When Replacement Makes More Sense

If the slab has heaved or cracked through, the walls are out of plumb, or the sill plate has rotted from ground contact, repairs stop being economical. Putting real money into a failing structure rarely pays off, and we will say so rather than sell you the larger invoice twice.

Garage Additions and Expansions

If your garage is sound but simply too small, an addition is often the better route than starting over. We expand existing garages and build additions that tie into the structure and the roofline you already have.

More Room for Vehicles, Tools, and Storage

Expanding an Existing Garage

Adding depth or width to a garage that is otherwise in good condition preserves the foundation and framing you already paid for. The critical details are tying the new roofline into the old one correctly and flashing that transition so it does not leak — the same work we do every day on roofing projects.

Storage, Lofts, and Workspace

Overhead storage lofts, built-in shelving, and workbench space turn a garage from vehicle parking into usable square footage. Roof pitch and height limits determine what is possible overhead, which is another reason zoning review comes before design.

Electrical and Finishing

Additional outlets, better lighting, and dedicated circuits for power tools, a freezer, or an EV charger all require their own permit and a licensed electrician. Insulation and interior finishing are available where you want the space usable through a Michigan winter.

Garage Builders in Dearborn, MI