Anything bigger than a shed and smaller than a house, generally. Common examples:
- Detached garages and carports
- Workshops, studios and storage buildings
- Pergolas, gazebos and covered patios
- Screen and pool enclosures
- Fences, walls and other outdoor structures
Structures attached to the house, like an enclosed porch or a carport tied into the roofline, need extra planning so the house isn't damaged. Your contractor or engineer should say where the cut line is, and you should check with your city's building department about permit requirements before work starts.
For freestanding structures, the main questions are what the structure is built from, whether the slab or footings come out, and how close it sits to fences, trees and other buildings. Send photos from all sides, including the roof and the base, and the path to the street. For larger buildings, a walkthrough lets us see access and conditions in person before quoting.