Are you at that stage where you need extra space in your home? We’ve all been there before; the number one solution is to build a garage. The statistics speak for themselves. According to the American Housing Survey, 80% of homes in the USA have either a garage or a condo. So, you can bet this is the way to go.
With the right construction expertise, equipment, and understanding of construction techniques, you can easily build a garage on a budget. You might have to sacrifice some features, but it’s doable.
Do you think it’s too difficult? We’re here to prove you wrong! Grab your Essential tools for garage, and let’s get to work. We will show you how to build a garage on a budget.
Planning Phase
You can only jump into the building process with proper planning beforehand. Considering the following things will guarantee a successful project:
- Assessing space and needs: The space you must work with is crucial because you need the garage to fit on your property. You might have the space to build your garage, but what happens if it’s bigger than expected? Generally, you should always give yourself 12″ on every side to cover yourself in case you go overboard.
- Setting a realistic budget: Before spending your hard-earned money and picking the tools up, you must plan how much you want to spend. According to Forbes, building an affordable single-car, detached garage starts at around $7,250. However, the price may be higher or lower depending on your home country. Between materials, equipment, and permits, it all adds up. So, write down all your expenses and ensure they align with your budget.
Cost-Effective Design Options
There are plenty of design options when building a garage. However, some are cheaper than others.
These are the cost-effective methods you should look at for construction time.
- Simple designs and layouts: Traditional one-story garages, standard rectangle garages, tandem garages, and detached garages.
- Utilizing existing structures: Expanding on existing sheds or carports to transform them into garages.
- Modular garages for affordability and convenience: Opt for a modular garage built off-site and assemble it yourself at your property.
Smart Material Choices
You’ll have to decide on the materials you want to use for your garage.
It’s a toss-up between affordability and longevity. Do you really want to go down the road of using timber when it might only last ten years? When you could opt for something more durable like steel.
Save yourself time and money by considering these smart material choices:
- Affordable building materials: Cheap metals like aluminum, asphalt, or concrete.
- Recycled and salvaged materials: Reclaimed bricks, scrap steel from older buildings, and reclaimed timber to use for the garage’s flooring.
DIY vs. Hiring Professionals
When building a garage on a budget, you’ll likely want to do it yourself because it’s cheaper. But sometimes, it’s worth hiring a professional, so it turns out properly.
There are pros and cons with both options, some of these include:
Pros of DIY
- Affordability: It’s cheaper to build a garage on your own than hiring a professional to help you.
- You’re in control: You can modify the design however you like without any outside influence.
- Bragging rights: It’s your work, so you can show it off and brag about it when it’s finished (as long as the project was successful).
Cons of DIY
- It takes longer: The construction side of the project can take longer since you’re building it on your own.
- Design constraints: The design may be restricted unless you’ve built garages in the past.
- Construction legislation: If you don’t understand the building laws in your home country, you could unknowingly break them.
Pros of Hiring Professionals
- Professionals are skilled: They have experience building garages, so you can expect a good end product (in most cases).
- Time-saving: It saves you time so that you can focus on other areas of the project.
- Knowledge of construction legislation: Garage construction companies are aware of the building regulations and can help you navigate them.
Cons of Hiring Professionals
- Higher costs: It’s more expensive than a DIY job because the contractor will charge a fee for the construction in addition to the materials required.
- Less control: They may want to amend your desired design to benefit them in the construction process.
Saving Money With DIY Projects
One of the keys to building a garage on a budget is doing it independently because you don’t have to pay extra for assistance.
If you do the following things, you can save yourself a lot of money with your DIY project:
- Use reclaimed materials instead of new materials.
- Hire tools instead of buying them.
- Shop around, don’t jump on the first thing you see.
Get Ready to Build Your Garage!
Building a garage on a budget requires careful planning, and it’s not easy. You can’t leave any room for mistakes; everything has to be perfect, or you’ll end up spending more money getting help from someone else to fix it.
But, when a garage is built correctly, it can look amazing and be a worthwhile investment that will add real value to your home.
