How to Build a Detached Garage

A detached garage may be a bit old school. But they have never really been less classy. You can always use the garage space for anything else other than parking your car. For anyone with hobbies like car welding, this space is the best place to enjoy your free time.

But that is not all. Most people want to build this kind of garage in an attempt to avoid detracting their home size. It certainly goes a long way to increase your storage space and expand your property. And not to mention the value it adds to your property.

But how do you start and how long does it take to build one? What steps do you follow? Well, below, we give a detailed step-by-step procedure to make your building process swifter.

What Is The Timeline For Building A Detached Garage?

Although the construction process itself does not take much time, other factors can extend the timeline. For a start, you require a building permit. It would be best if you processed for one as soon as you finish signing the contract for the building process.

Applying for a permit may take anywhere between 2 and 4 weeks. But if the municipality you live in requires a zoning variation, the process may take even longer. What happens in cases where you want a specific design for your garage. As soon as you get the permit, your garage’s construction process breaks down to 5 steps.

Step 1. Demolishing The Existing Garage

If you have an already existing garage, you need to tear it down. Demolition of a garage may take at least two days. If the garage is smaller, even one day is enough for the demolition process. The timeline for tearing down the existing structure largely depends on the size and construction.

Step 2. Preparing The Concrete Foundation

For your new garage to last for many years, the foundation has to be perfect. It is an essential part of the building process. In this step, you do the preparation and installation of the slab and concrete foundation.

The process includes suitable forming, prep work, and pouring the concrete. Depending on the size of the garage, this process may take at least 2 or 3 days.

Step 3. Constructing The Structure Of The Garage

This step may take between 3 and 5 days. It largely depends on how complex the garage is. Here, you do the structuring of the siding, framing, roofing, and trimming. You also structure the windows and doors. By the time you finish, your garage takes form.

Step 4. Installing The Electricity

There are numerous options for electrical installation in your detached garage. The choice you choose may affect the time it takes to finish this step. But the average wiring and installation may take between 1 and 2 days.

The timeline for installation is also affected by how far the garage is from the main electrical panel. The farther it is, the longer it takes. The number of outlets and lights also affects the time it will take the electrician to finish the process.

Step 5. The Finishing

Now that the structure is up and the electricity is installed, it is time for the finishing works. The finishing touches typically involve installing all the little comforts and clearing up the construction site.

It may take as long as four days or even as little as one day. It all depends on the work that needs completion. Finishing touches for your new garage includes putting gutters, drop downstairs, and epoxy floors. Landscape restoration is also part of the finishing.

Now, adding up all the time it takes for each step to finish building an entirely new detached garage, the time it takes is anywhere between 6 and 8 weeks. That is the time between signing the contract, getting the permit, and the actual build. But the construction process may also delay due to unavoidable circumstances that are out of your contractors’ control. That includes the pandemic, weather, and a shortage of workforce. But all in all, the process doesn’t take as much time.

But instead of building your garage from scratch, you should consider getting a prefabricated one. That means that it is not made on site but in a factory and delivered. You can choose between getting a delivery of steel buildings or metal buildings. You can then assemble it where you want your garage built.

A pre-engineered building is not difficult to assemble. The same goes for both steel buildings and metal buildings. If you have enough workforce to assist, then you are good to go. But you can still consider hiring a subcontractor to help you. A professional being around may be more helpful than you can anticipate.

For a start, they can help you with the first step of getting a permit. And if a building inspector is asking you to make changes to the building blueprint, the contractor can help you handle it. Even more important is the peace of mind that comes with knowing that a professional is around to help whenever necessary.

But before starting the process of assembling the kit, or even buying it in the first place, there are factors you should consider. These include:

The Number Of Cars You Want To Fit In The Garage

For garages, it is always better to go bigger. For one, if you consider getting more cars, a bigger garage space will come in handy. You will certainly need the space for other things a well. You can use it as a storage for things you only need a couple of times a year, like Christmas decorations. Or you can store other items you have no more use for or as a workshop.

It would be best to consider that the exterior of a prefab building has more significant dimensions than the interior. So measure your car using a measuring tape and then measure the space you want to leave for other things. The exterior dimensions of the building you pick need to be larger than the dimensions you come up with after measuring.

Your Garage’s Exterior Finish

When designing your building, this is one aspect you should not ignore. If the garage’s exterior finish is not complimenting the house, it reduces your home’s resale value. It would be best if you considered applying the same type of finishing touches as the house. The style of your home and garage should be the same. The last thing you want is to make the garage unfitting for your home.

Why Metals Buildings For Your Garage Are The New Best Thing

There are so many excellent benefits of building a metal garage. One of the advantages is the space it takes. Wooden garages need support beams, therefore not as spacious. That implies that metal garages are more spacious as compared to the others.

Most of these pre-engineered buildings use recycled materials. And metal garages are no different. That means that they are not only eco-friendly but also cost-effective. But even more importantly, you use building kits, and you only pay for the material you will use.

Getting a prefab building also saves you lots of time you would otherwise use in construction from scratch. The fact that the design requires very little on-site construction will reduce waste and save time on the cleanup. Plus, you only need a little on-site preparation before construction.

The joy of getting the job done yourself with little or no outside help is thrilling. A DIY garage is what you need. And you will also save on the cost of hiring contractors. All you have to do is figure out the type of garage you want, the traditional straight wall or a Quonset.

Well, if you are having trouble differentiating the two, here is an explanation:

A straight wall garage is the typical traditional design for a garage. You get enough storage space with this design, but it is not cost-effective. The extra space often means more costs. As a result, these garages are costlier. If you have a tight budget, you should consider getting a Quonset garage.

Quonset garages differ from straight wall garages completely. For one, the shape makes it sturdier in protecting your car from the elements, mostly rain and snow. These garages are also way cheaper. The only downside to this design is the storage space. Space is smaller near the walls because of the style. Straight wall garages offer better storage spaces because of the type in comparison to Quonset.

Final Word

Well, building a garage has its perks. The glorious space to add more playroom to you is incredible. But you still have to consider other aspects of constructing this garage. The design is the first in the list. It would be best to check the roof’s slope, the exterior finish, and the garage style. It is worthwhile eventually to increase the resale value of your home. If the type is different from the house, then the value goes down. It would be best to consider whether you want to build your garage from scratch or get a prefab one. And if you go for a prefab, you should tell whether the garage’s cost is more important than space. A Quonset is cheaper but with limited space, while a straight wall is costlier with glorious storage space. Make your choice.