We are buying an old house with an old one-car garage that is basically crumbling. The wood is very decayed and the whole thing is leaning. I would like to replace it with a little workshop/art studio, but the garage is in violation of the setbacks so the only way to rebuild it is to call it a "conservative restoration" and basically rebuild it from the inside out without ever tearing it completely down to the foundation. Has anyone else ever done this? If so, can you give me a sense of the major steps and expenses?

Thanks!

-Melissa