The lights on my Sears 1/2 HP garage door opener (installed in 2005) recently failed. They will not come on in any mode. A few years ago also lost the feature of lights coming on when walking through the safety "beam," while re-entering an long-time opened door. Suspect these are board level component failures. Any other possibilities ? Hewbie

Design Doula - thanks for your creativity and ideas. There are some things I can't do because of lot coverage rules. You have to keep a certain amount of your property uncovered to support stormwater recovery and the environment. I have a feeling the design you proposed might not be allowed because it is extensive. Additionally, we have to be a certain distance from our neighbor/property line and I think the version you drew would not be allowed for that reason. but there are some ideas I could incorporate. I like your overall attempt to get more yard space though! that is a goal we have too. Just to clarify the actual site plan for the house is this with the expected additions. So this is the house today and the room on the left is just a covered patio. There is no garage there next to covered patio now. Our current garage is entered from the back where the terrace and addition are now. Right now there is just a patio there and it is not as deep. So we are proposing a change from our current basement garage. The current idea is to build a garage addition which matches our sloped property. The garage is expected to be a basement level and the roof would be at the height of the current brick patio. which will become an office at the ground/1st level. With the garage to the left of this room, you would enter from the basement and have a mudroom in the basement which would allow you to get into the house. I live in the suburbs of NY and winters can be harsh so we greatly favor an attached garage. Your idea about squaring away the brick patio area which will become an office may make sense and help them make the garage recessed if we keep this idea. We would have wanted to try to enter the garage from that new office too but there is a fireplace on that house wall which makes it structurally hard, but your idea of squaring away that side may make things a little better there. hmm. so that would mean no addition if we did that. If we keep the addition, squaring it off may allow more options for recessing it a bit. hmm. Any other thoughts after these details? thx

That would be strange, to add a side entry to that configuration of front entry. Impervious surface limitations? Even stranger to put a false overhead door on the front facade. Note an 18' deep (out-to-out) garage is pretty useless. Better to add a single tandem stall right next to the garage and utilize the existing driveway.

PPF yeah sorry I was a bit vague. The entryway looks weird to me and I need ideas for the treatment of the roof connecting the two masses. Was hoping for a mid century vibe and I feel like it could be improved. The other main concern is the long dark hallway leading into our house. It also seems weird but I see no way around it. Hoping for ideas. Finally hoping for some input as far as the siding - any recommendations for materials. Is the waterline of stone out of place and is there a way to tie the addition in architecturally so it doesn’t look like we just whacked a garage on. Thanks