If your home doesn't have a garage, then you might want to consider having one built. Though most commonly used for storing cars, a garage can be used as a workroom, an exercise room, or any other purpose you can think of. Since building a garage is such a major project, it is best to hire professionals to take care of every step, rather than trying to tackle the whole thing yourself.
Some Considerations
Before you decide up on building a garage or not, you'll want to think about the costs and other factors involved. For instance, you'll definitely want electricity in the garage, and possible even plumbing or climate control. Not only will these services cost money to install, but the extra room can increase your utility bills. You'll also need to have the plans for your garage approved by your municipality's building authority. Thus, you can work with an architect or a construction professional to create plans for your new garage.
Once you have taken care of all the details, the construction can start on your new garage. The process will be very similar to the construction of any other type of addition to your home. The first step is to lay the foundation. This will entail the following steps: outlining the perimeter, digging a hole for the foundation, compacting the underlying soil, and putting gravel over it. Once these steps have been completed, form boards will be put into place, which form the framework of the foundation. Next, a vapor barrier and rebar framework will be installed. After all of these elements are in place, it will be time to pour on the concrete.
TIP: Make sure the professionals putting in the foundation pitch it slightly to allow water to run off to the main opening and not toward your home.
Now that the foundation is laid, the next step is to put in the walls. Firstly, sill plates, which are pieces of pressure-treated wood, will be installed onto the foundation. Once these are in place, the vertical wooden studs can be attached to the sill plates. Before nailing the studs into place, use a level to make sure all the components are level. Any openings for windows and doors will also be created at the this stage. Just remember, there are local regulations for such things, so make sure your contractors design these features in accordance with such laws.
By now, your garage should have a foundation and walls. However, it will also need a roof. Though you could have these built according to your specifications, a simpler option is to buy pre-fabricated roofing trusses. These are relatively inexpensive options that can easily be installed.
At this point, the basic framework of the garage will be up. The next step is to add sheathes to the walls, which cover up the wooden framework. The sheathes, which are typically made of plywood, should be attached to the studs and joints of the garage. Then, it will be time for the finishing touches, like roofing tiles and siding.
Though it might not be cheap, hiring professionals to build your garage is a smart thing to do. Not only will you have a well-built, versatile room, but you can also have a say in exactly how it is built.