Anyone Ever Build Their Own Garage?

[DanielDudley]

Some people can just get a few tools and a book and start building. Others find that there is a steep learning curve to just reading a tape measure, let alone picking up a tool and using it.

Generally, I would recommend having a friend with experience to help you, if this is your first project. I had a friend who spent all summer with another fellow putting down the deck and a few walls for a fairly large addition he was building. It had a complicated roof and tie ins. I built the roofs for him in a few days, and dried them in. Winter was coming.

You need backup, or at least a mentor.

[VincentVega]

Make it as square as possible to reduce the complicated cuts/angles. A few friends helped another build a garage, not hard but as said there were a few important steps you need to get right. There were a few moments we can laugh about now but at the time scared the $#@#$ out of us. It was much harder getting material on the rough for example, in the past I've worked on sites with cranes or where material was already lifted up there. Roof trusses. are . heavy. Back hurt for days.

You design looks cool. If you can make it 22' deep instead you'll appreciate it later.

[billybek]

If I had to build my garage over again, it would be bigger and have a ceiling height of at least 10.5 feet.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by billybek

If I had to build my garage over again, it would be bigger and have a ceiling height of at least 10.5 feet.

I'd go vaulted minimum of 12, maybe even 14. Think about how tall you are plus height of car, that's your minimum height for the lift, plus clearance for taller cars or lights. Nice to not be at risk of punching your car through the ceiling.

[David]

I didn't build my whole garage but I doubled the size. I made the drawings and pulled the permit. Then had a contractor pour the slab. With the help of some friends, we framed it, dried it in, and knocked out the back wall of the old garage to open it up.

I don't have the ambition to do it again but that was 15 years ago when I wasn't so lazy.

[gt350mike]

I’ve built two in the past 20 yrs and have a tremendous amount of gratification seeing the results of my work and as well as improving the basic skills (carpentry, electrical, drywall, etc.) I learned from my high school summer construction jobs. The most current project started back in the summer 2013 and was finished enough in October to store the cars inside. The first garage (20x20) I did almost all the work with the help of a buddy who was a great carpenter but the second project (24x30 w/2nd floor) required me to sub the concrete, framing (I helped but got in the way), sheetrock (really got in the way), brick, and roof. I recommend subcontracting the concrete simply because it can turn into a fubar quick. The framing/trusses isn’t too difficult but hiring a carpenter to assist will make the job go 2x faster. I did most of my electrical but hired a licensed guy to run my supply line underground and connect it to the main. Sheetrock and roofing isn’t too challenging unless you have a steep pitched roof. Since mine was 12x12, I decided whatever I’d save in labor cost wasn’t worth the risk. Tips: Bigger is better....my HOA limited me to 24x30 or I would have built a larger garage. You can’t have too many electrical outlets nor lighting. I have five T-5 fixtures controlled w/two switches. Not sure where you live but down here, the humidity can be tough so make provisions for some type of heating/cooling. Even though I finished the garage in 2013, the HVAC installed until two months ago. If you’re going to heat/cool the garage, consider going w/the highest R value insulation possible.

I don’t have any pics of my first garage but here are a few interior shots of mine in various stages.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Garages are fun to build.

30 hours of fun

[FPB111]

Make the access door open out not into the side of the truck and put 9" wide doors. Measure across the mirrors on your truck. Bet they are over 7' wide. Also if you ever want to put a car trailer in it you will have to turn it on it's side, @ 45 degree angle, to get it through an 8' wide door.
As mentioned put a couple extra rows of block to get more height and keep drywall/insulation away from the wet that will come in with the vehicles.

[MBAtarga]

I sub'd out concrete work for my 38x60 shop. I framed 10' height walls and my wife and MIL -yes - actually MIL - helped raise them upright. Hired a crew and boom crane to set trusses, roof sheathing and wall sheathing - took them about 12 hrs total. Decided to pay them labor to shingle roof instead of DIY. Everything else - installing windows, doors, garage door, electrical was DIY. My 86 YO neighbor came over several different weekends and helped me install the Nichiha (Hardiplank) siding. I painted the building and did all external trim as well. Started concrete pour labor day weekend, had final inspection around Mar (about 6 ms through winter and holidays)

[scottmandue]

My dad built our garage.
He had three sons (free labor) so yeah "many hands make a heavy load light" or something like that.
As said:
It is good... REAL good if you have friends who know about electrical/carpentry so you don't have to reinvent the wheel, lots of little tricks of the trade (and tools) that make the job easier/faster.
Pay to have the concrete done.
May want to have a set tub put in and that means planning for the plumbing.
Depending on how much money you want to spend may want to plan a loft for extra storage and/or a four post lift.

[Taz's Master]

Construction's Easy! Or it would be, if you could do it twice for the same time and money. The end of a project always seems to find me saying: "If I had it to do over, I think I would have..."

[1990C4S]

Heat the floor if it gets cold where you live.

[J P Stein]

I built a garage for a guy when I was in the business.
When I wanted a shop for myself, I contracted it done.

There is a large amount of work there, but if you have the time & tools, go for it.
The bill for the contracted stick frame 36 X 24 shop on a slopped lot including sheetrock, roof, driveway & substantial foundation was $20K, 15 years ago.

[MRM]

I've looked into it but these guys will deliver to you an all wood garage hand built by real life Mennonites named Jeb and Zeb for less than you can buy the materials alone. I have their brochure somewhere and I think it's about $5,000 for a double garage. I can find the brochure and double check if you'd like.

https://oldhickorybuildings.com/products/garage-package-ohb/

[pete3799]

Originally Posted by look 171

My advice, hire out the concrete work. Everything else DIY would be lots of fun.

That's what I did