Building a garage is not a suitable project for beginners. It is a project that requires at least an intermediate level of handiness skills. However, for those with experience in construction, building a garage should only be a matter of obtaining the right materials and carefully following instructions.
Materials
- Nails
- Bolts
- Screws
- Wood boards
- Shingles
- Concrete mix
Tools
- Paper
- Pencil
- Measuring tape
- Saw
- Hammer
Instructions
- Establish the layout for your garage and create a blueprint. This will determine how many materials you need, their dimensions, and the time that must be invested in constructing the garage. Work will be easier if the garage is an extension of an existing area, but will take much more effort if it is being built independently from the ground up.
- Clear the area of any dirt or debris; measure and mark out the floor dimensions. Excavate a hole and pour in the concrete mix. Leave it to dry and harden completely.
- Measure and cut out support beams, making as much as you need. The distance between each support beam should be no more than 20 inches when assembled.
- Saw the walls for each section; use assistance when nailing them into place and ensure each wall is set in the correct spot–use the blueprint as a reference as you construct the garage structure.
- Saw wooden boards into the desired shape and size for the roof. If you’re using plywood, a layer of sheathing material is a necessary addition. Set in the insulation and put the shingles in place as the final roofing step. The shingles will prevent the roof from leaking.
- Add the windows and doors to the garage structure last. Saw them from wood boards in the correct dimensions as you did the previous components. Attach the door with hinges, and fit it with a knob.
- To add paint to your garage structure, it can be done in more than one way. First, you can paint each element of the structure before fitting them into place. Second, you can paint the structure as a whole once the construction of the entire garage has been completed.
- Wear a protective mask when painting, especially if you suffer from allergies, and ensure to use only non-toxic paint that is suitable for wood and is weather resistant.
Tips and warnings
- Do not work in a cluttered space. Assigning different sections to the blueprint of the garage will help you to be more organized while building the physical structure.
- Keep in mind that although the largest part of the garage is to house a car or other vehicle, other sections can be delineated within a garage. Once the structure has been built, you can add shelves and storage areas to the garage’s interior and use those areas to your liking.
- Ensure your garage plan is as practical for your needs as possible. If you cannot draw a blueprint effectively, enlist the help of a professional to get it done for you.