How to Build a Large Garage

Now a days, a large garage is a useful addition to any home.

In years past when a family only owned one car the garage was a simple structure that required a minimum amount of space. Nowadays, we each own a car and that leads to a need for multiple car spaces. Larger garages are here to stay, as each family member brings home a vehicle, in addition to other garage items: multiple bicycles, extra gardening tools even a workshop or mudroom.

Things You'll Need

• Crane and backhoe Concrete and concrete tools and forms Engineered wood or metal trusses 2 by 4s, 2 by 6s and 2 by 10s Plywood or OSB (oriented strand board) Roofing materials Waterproof house wrap Insulation Garage door Plumbing Heating Wiring

Instructions

1. Level the ground where you are building the garage. You will end up with a large pile of “fill dirt”. This will need to be stored out of the way, but should be used to “fill in" landscaping when the garage is finished.

2. Dig two foot wide “footers” around the circumference of your garage for your walls. Follow all building codes for your own safety and to pass all the inspections that will take place. A two story garage will need a deeper and stronger foundation.

3. Install any drainage pipes, in floor radiant heating, or wiring that will come out of the floor before the concrete is poured. Let the foundation cure for several days.

4. Build a main support post at the center of the front and back wall. These will be your load bearing walls and the weight of the large garage will need to be distributed evenly. Since a garage door will need to be added to the front, the main support beam will be placed on a header that is horizontally placed above the door frame. Two posts will come down from the wall frame to rest on the header. If two or more garage doors are being used the support post can be placed between them and extend to the floor.

5. Support the ceiling with engineered lumber and trussed joists that are especially made for longer spans. If a room is going to be built above the main garage, floor joists will need to be placed every 4-feet to insure a solid floor above.

6. Build the outer wall frames with 2-inch by 6-inch boards to hold the required insulation. You will want to check your counties building codes and recomended R factor, which is the rateing for how well you are insulated. Ceilings below the outside roof will need to be at least 2-inch by 10-inch boards to hold insulation. Check local building codes and practices; in many areas, garages may be framed with 2 by 4s.

7. Build your wall frames in 10 to 12 foot spans with a top and bottom “plate”. This is a 2 by 6 board that is flat to the ground and flat to the ceilin;. 2 by 6 upright studs are nailed at 16 inch intervals “on center”. That means the first board is at the beginning of the plates and the next one is measured 16 inches from the 2 inch wide stud or 14 inches from the very end. Remember that the 2 by 6 is really 1/2 inches by 5 and 1/2 inchest. Any wood that touches the concrete floor will need to be treated lumber.

8. Rough in your doors and windows to the frame.

9. Secure your wall frame to the concrete floor with a powder actuated tool. This special hammer is fitted with a .22 caliber casing that will shoot a nail through the wooden floor joist and into the concrete.

10. Nail ceiling trusses across the shortest span of your building. Metal trusses and new engineered wood are available for these larger areas.

11. Cover the roof trusses with sheathing. The sheathing is covered with builder's felt, then shingles.

12. Nail plywood or OSB (oriented strand board) on the exterior of the garage frame.

13. Secure your windows and garage doors as the manufacturer recommends.

14. Wrap the entire frame in waterproofing paper.

15. Add your siding, soffits and fascia.

16. Wiring and plumbing is added after the framing is complete.

17. Insulation, drywall and lighting are your final steps .

References

• building a load bearing wall
• laying a foundation