The Garage Plan Shop Blog

If you’ve found yourself asking, “I want to build a garage, but where do I start?” You’ve come to the right place. There is a wide range of resources available to help you get started on your garage building project. Most are easy-to-access and will offer insight and knowledge about the construction project you are about to tackle. Below are just a few of the resources available to you.

• Contact local building professionals that have experience with residential construction and ask lots of questions. Some of these people include builders, contractors, residential designers, carpenters, electricians and the like.
• Check with your local building department or building inspector to find out what your city/town/municipality will require in order to start and finish the project. Ask about building codes and requirements specific to your geographic location as well as local building codes. Find out if there are any restrictions for your neighborhood.
• Take some time to talk with family members and friends who have completed a residential construction project recently whether they built a garage, home, shed, barn or outbuilding. Ask them to share any information they can. These people will speak from experience and have a wealth of knowledge to share. Ask them what pitfalls they encountered during construction, what went well, what could have gone better and what they’d do differently next time.
• If you need to get a loan, check with various mortgage lenders. Find out what steps you need to take to qualify for a loan and what the lender expects throughout the lifetime of the construction loan.
• Spend some time at the lumberyard. The professionals at the lumberyard are especially knowledgeable about building materials.
• Search the Internet. There are all kinds of helpful websites offering construction information for all phases of the building process.
• Don’t forget about us. We have an extensive resources page with many articles and tips to help you through building process. You can also follow us on Twitter and check out our Facebook page for current postings about garage construction and related information.

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

If you are planning to build a detached garage, it is important to realize it is not a simple project. It is necessary to have an understanding of the overall project and the main points of the construction process. This list will help you familiarize yourself with the main steps of the building process.

1.    Clear and excavate the lot removing trees, shrubbery, grass and top soil.

2.    Prepare the excavated site for the foundation by digging a hole to pour the foundation.

3.    Build the form for the footings and concrete.

4.    Pour the concrete footings and floor.

5.    Frame the walls.

6.    Construct the roof and finish with shingles or preferred roofing material.

7.    Install garage door(s), service doors(s) and windows.

8.    Add exterior finish such as siding.

9.    Install ventilation, electricity and plumbing.

10.  Install vapor barrier and insulation.

11.  Install drywall.

12.  Prime and paint interior if desired.

13.  Seal the concrete floor and/or install floor covering if desired

14.  Add organizational features such as shelving units and cabinets.

15.  Landscape lot.

Please note: Some of the steps listed above may happen simultaneously instead of separately.

Reviewing and understanding the primary steps of the construction process will help you get started building your new garage. For more information about building a detached garage, check out The Garage Plan Shop’s resource page.

Tags: buidling a garage, construction process, Detached Garage Plans, garage building, garage construction