The Garage Plan Shop Blog

When building a new garage, one of the most important things you can do is control your building budget. With careful planning, you’ll be able to stay on budget. But be aware, there are many things that may cause you to overspend such as beginning without a budget, making changes during construction, and poor craftsmanship.

1. Often, homeowners who are planning to build a new detached garage need to obtain a loan from a financial institution. This requires careful planning of the building budget up front. Start by estimating how much things are going to cost. Visit a few local lumberyards to find out what materials are available in your area and which ones will best satisfy your needs for your building project. Begin planning your budget by starting with the essential construction elements first such as lumber, roofing elements and foundation materials. Ask about buying materials in bulk as many lumberyards will offer nice discounts when materials for the entire project are bought at one time. This tactic can save quite a bit of money. While at the lumberyards, compare budget and luxury items. For example, compare a name brand light fixture with a budget fixture. If both are visually appealing, come with a good warranty, and serve the same purpose, choose the budget item. This is another easy way to slash your material costs tremendously. Using methods like those mentioned above will help you save money, and following your established building budget will help you complete the project without overspending.

2. Next, review your garage plans carefully and discuss the entire design your contractor before construction begins. This includes the floor plan, fixtures, special elements, etc. Be sure your builder understands how you plan to use the garage as the purpose of the garage may influence some of the construction details or finished elements that are included. It is important to have every detail worked out with the builder or subcontractors ahead of time. Once construction begins, making changes to the garage (either inside or out), can become very costly in a hurry. When changes are made during construction, it often requires the builder to redo or tear down some portion of the structure that was already complete or near completion causing a waste of time, materials, labor and money.  

3. Lastly, while you cannot be control the local labor costs, you can control who you choose to do build your new garage. Interview potential builders, visit jobsites where the builder has worked in the past, ask to see the builder’s credentials, and ask for references from past clients. Researching the builder you hire (and the subcontractors) will help you choose the most qualified and skilled builder you can afford. Your new garage is a major investment that will complement your home or property. You don’t want to ruin the experience of building a new garage with poor craftsmanship. If you end up hiring an inexperienced builder or subcontractors, it is likely you’ll run it to problems quickly. Poor craftsmanship means you’ll be spending more later to repair things that were not properly built, constructed or installed during the construction of your garage.

Following these tips will help you control your building costs when building a new garage plan.

Tags: Building A Garage, Building Budget, controlling building costs

The garage plans published by The Garage Plan Shop are pre-drawn blueprints designed to meet the national building codes in place at the time each was created. They do not necessarily meet any state, city or county building codes. Furthermore, stock garage plans do not include detailed electrical, plumbing and HVAC information. Many pre-drawn garage plans include a simple electrical plan indicating the suggested locations of fixtures, switches and outlets. However, it will be up to your builder or local electrician to follow all local electrical codes during installation ensuring all local codes are met. Be sure to review the electrical details with your electrician or contractor. Stock garage plans will include plumbing fixtures on the blueprints (i.e. toilets, sinks, bathtubs, showers, etc.), but they will not reflect a plumbing schematic. The sewer system and flow of water lines are site specific and must be determined by local professionals. Take time to discuss plumbing details with your plumber or contractor. Finally, information about the HVAC will be determined locally. The HVAC system will depend on the types of unit(s) you use and the size/amount of finished living space to be heated and cooled. The type of heating and cooling system selected and local building codes will determine the necessary ductwork. Talk with your contractor or HVAC professional to review all HVAC information.

Tags: Building A Garage, electrical plans, garage blueprints, garage plan, garage plans, HVAC, plumbing details

Building a garage apartment plan is a practical home addition, and garage apartments are becoming more and more popular given the conditions of the present economy. Discover some of the top reasons Americans are building garage apartment plans.

1. Families need more parking space, especially those with up teenage drivers.
2. Families are outgrowing their homes and need more living space.
3. Families love their neighborhoods and don’t want to move but need extra room.
4. Growing families do not have the finances to upgrade to a lager home or build a brand new home, but can afford a smaller construction project that will provide much needed living area.
5. Some homeowners need extra storage space.
6. The family handyman needs a workshop.
7. The work-at-home parent desires a home office that provides peace and quiet and the ability to visit with clients without disturbing the rest of the home.
8. Home-base business owners want a private place to work without actually leaving home.
9. Homeowner’s desire a guest suite that provides all the comforts and privacy of home for frequent weekend visitors.
10. Homeowners want to add a hobby room, craft area, or exercise area, but don’t have a basement or enough room in the basement to add one.
11. Some homeowner’s need a place for aging relatives to have the privacy of their own home with the opportunity to seek immediate assistance if necessary.
12. Grandparents are looking for a place for grandkids to stay when visiting for the holidays without having to listen to loud music or be disturbed when the grandkids come home in the wee hours of the morning.
13. Parents need additional housing for college students who require privacy and independence, but still need parental guidance from time to time.
14. Parents are looking for a place for boomerang children to stay until they get back on their feet.
15. Families need room to relax and often use the apartment for a playroom, home theater or game room for everyone to enjoy.
16. Growing families are looking for an additional source of income and rent the living quarters to tenants.
17. Owners of large estates may wish to provide living quarters for the maid, groundskeeper, etc.
18. Families may need living quarters for the nanny.
19. Outdoor adventurists and nature enthusiasts may not build a garage apartment in the backyard at all, but rather near their favorite lake or in the woods using it as a vacation home or weekend retreat.
20. Garage apartments make nice temporary living quarters while the main home is being constructed and easily convert to a guest house when it is time to move into the main home.

Interested in viewing garage apartment floor plans? Check out The Garage Plan Shop’s extensive collection from North America’s top rated designers.

Tags: Building A Garage, Detached Garage Plans, Garage Apartment Plans, garage apartments, garage plans

Building a garage takes lots of planning and forethought. This list of garage building tips from The Garage Plan Shop will help you get started on your building project and carry you through to completion of the project. Review these tips before you get started:

1. Before you buy a garage plan, consider the purpose of your new garage. How many cars do you plan to store? Do you need a workshop? Extra storage space? Do you need living space? What are the dimensions of your lot or the space you have on which to build? What architectural style do you prefer? Answering these questions will help narrow down garage plan choices allowing you to selecting the right one for your needs.
2. Hire a builder that has plenty of experience in residential construction. Word of mouth is a good way to find an experienced builder. Check with family members and friends who have built. Ask for recommendations from lumberyards and building supply retailers or your building inspector.
3. Once you’ve hired a builder/general contractor, go over your entire project. Ask if the builder has any suggestions or sees any immediate problems that must be addressed before construction begins.
4. Meet with everyone involved in the construction of your new garage including the electrician, framers, roofer, builder/general contractor, etc. Outline all the details of the garage building project from the foundation and plumbing, electrical and HVAC needs (if applicable), to exterior finish and trim and any other details pertinent to the project. Thoroughly planning ahead of time will help you avoid change orders during construction. Not only can these be expensive, but they can extend the construction timeline.
5. Be sure to think about future uses of the garage, such as converting it to a guest house, or adding a home office at a later time. These possibilities for additional living space will influence installation of HVAC, plumbing and electric.
6. Take advantage of the opportunity to add a workbench, shelving, cabinets or storage closets during construction. If you think you might add them later, you might as well add them now while you have professionals on the scene who can handle these additions with ease.
7. Avoid paying for the entire garage building project up front. Make arrangements with the builder or general contractor to pay off the final balance after you’ve had an opportunity to have the final project inspected by your local building inspector.  

If you are planning to build a garage, use these handy garage building tips to help you throughout the construction process. For more garage building information check out our resources page.

Tags: Building A Garage, building tips, garage building tips, garage plans

Are you considering purchasing a garage plan from The Garage Plan Shop? Often our customers want to know what is included in our garage blueprints before they purchase plans. Below is a listing of the elements typically included in the pre-drawn garage plans we published:

1. Cover sheet
2. Foundation Plan
3. Floor Plan(s)
4. Exterior Elevations
5. Interior Elevations
6. Sections
7. Details 
8. Simple Plumbing
9. Basic Electric

For a detailed description of each element listed here plan review our FAQs.

Note: Not all stock garage plans incorporate every element listed here. Blueprint pages vary by designer.

Tags: blueprints, Building A Garage, Detached Garage Plans, garage blueprints, Garage Plan Information, garage plans