Whether you’ve moved into a new home or you are just looking to expand your space to allow for that home gym you’ve wanted for so long, a garage has a million uses. And if you’re entertaining the thought of building one, it is feasible, but if you don’t have an idea of where to begin, let’s break it down.
Starting Off…
First, you need to plan. Look at the space you have to play with, and take the appropriate measurements. Take into account where you want to have the garage, and research the ordinances. You need to work out exactly how big you want your garage to be, and based on where you live in the world, it could mean having a small garage that will fit one little car, or you may have loads of space to play with. If you live in the sticks, you could make a huge garage, or if you live in a restrictive area with a restrictive municipality, you may need to build it in the backyard if you really want to have a big garage.
The Fine Details…
Filing permits for building on your land makes you the contractor, and if you decide to go down the route of hiring subcontractors to help this will make life somewhat easier for you. So pick a service that has some experience because even if you go for a cheap contractor, there is a reason they're cheap based on my experience! If you look at a site like FSConstructionServices.com, they, much like many other building companies, have a decent amount of customer service experience. Believe it or not, this will make life much easier for you. Working with builders for any length of time can be a testing experience. So if you can, go with seasoned professionals. Once you have decided on the right contractors for you based on your budget (after obtaining quotes), sign the contract and schedule the work. This will depend on what parts of the garage you’ve subcontracted, so if someone else is doing the foundation, then you will be waiting on them.
The Materials…
The bill of materials (BOM) comes next, which is the whole list of what you need and how much you require. But while this can be daunting, a little trick is to get to a building supply store, and there is usually a little kiosk that lets you enter a rough design and then will churn out a list of the essential materials. Be sure to decide what framing system to use, because different materials, such as 2 x 4 framing might not be enough to keep the garage well-insulated.
The Building…
It can be a long process, but as long as you have a sturdy foundation (literally and metaphorically), you won't find yourself losing your mind in the process. You will likely find that you need to get more materials than you budgeted for, but once the framework is in place, the rest follows on naturally.
No matter which way you decide to go having a plan and following it will make everything easier. If you have a few suggestions of your own, be sure to share them with us.
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