If you’ve ever wondered how to build a garage, or imagined how you might do it yourself, this is a great place to start. This Ultimate Guide to Building a Garage is my way of sharing everything I learn as I build my own.
While I don’t claim to be an expert, I do claim to be an enthusiast who isn’t afraid to fail in public. Learning by doing has always been my motto in life.
Wondering, waiting, worrying and never actually doing anything leads you down a slow path to death. Don’t go down that path.
How To Build a Garage
Building your own garage can be terrifying and rewarding. The terrifying part is in considering that you might not get it right. That you might build something too small or a garage that will not meet your needs.
The rewarding part is in knowing you spent adequate time determining your needs, talking to others, researching plans, consulting with designers, and finally deciding what to build.
With all of your research and up-front work, you can be more comfortable that what you build will meet your needs. Planning will also help you ensure that your new garage will add to rather than subtract from the overall value of your home.
The Ultimate Guide to Building a Garage
If calling this the “Ultimate Guide” seems a bit egotistical, it really isn’t. Think of this as an ongoing experiment that you get to witness without the fear of failure.
While I am trying, failing, and trying again, you get to learn from my mistakes, and from my successes. That makes me a bit like a crash test dummy and you like the smartest one in the room.
The best part is you don’t need to read everything. Just look for a link to what you need right now and come back later when you need to.
[thrive_text_block color=”blue” headline=””] This Ultimate Guide page will be home base for everything I learn and do. It will have links to every article, image, video and tool in my tool belt to help you find anything you need for your project.[/thrive_text_block]
Building The Garage of Your Dreams
If you want to build a garage, the first step is Dreaming. Following is a list of steps as I see them right now. Just click any of the links to learn more.
- Pre-Design (Dreaming) – Brainstorming phase Watch the Pre-Design Video Part 1 Watch the Pre-Design Video Part 2
Free download:
Pre-Design / Dreaming Phase: Tips, Brainstorming Questions and Resources Guide
2. Government Planning
- Zoning
- Site Plan – This page includes a video, example garage site plan and links to other site plan examples.
- Other Stuff
- Permits
- Costs
3. Personal Planning
- Design (foundation types, roof pitch, siding, eave overhangs, windows and doors, wall thickness
- Placement / Location
- My personal site plan and large tree removal, with Video and costs
- Proper Garage Sizing
- Height (walls, ceilings, roof)
- Purpose
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Garage Doors
- Service Doors Windows (size, placement – think about where shelving, etc., will be going inside), purpose (exterior design, ventilation, light, security, i.e., seeing someone when they are outside)
- Cost How to Pay For It
4. Construction Plans & Documents
- Stock
- Custom
- Free vs Paid
- DIY
5. DIY, DFY or Hybrid – Who’s going to build it?
6. Start Building
- Foundation & slab
- Framing
- Electrical
- Plumbing
- Final
7. What’s Inside
- Shelving
- Workbench
- Cabinets
This is definitely not an exhaustive list. As my build progresses, I will add steps and information when it becomes necessary.
If you decide to build a garage, please share your progress in the comments below. Or get in touch – I’d love to hear from you.