How to Estimate Materials for Building a Garage

Building basic garages is not as hard as it seems.

A garage can serve multiple purposes. It is a great place to store tools, park the family cars, house the family pets while away, and can even become a private getaway or playhouse. Garages add property value to your home and complement your home's landscape. Even for the most experienced carpenter, building a garage takes planning and money. Estimating how much material you need to construct your garage will depend on what you are using your garage for and where you will build it on your land.

Things You'll Need

• City zoning laws manual
• Blueprints
• Transit level telescope

Instructions

1. Choose a site for your garage. Materials vary if you plan to build the garage in your backyard versus in between your house and the neighbor's property. Building in your backyard on soil may require more materials than assembling a pre-fabricated structure on top of your concrete driveway.

2. Consider city zoning laws. These laws regulate the width and height of the building; you may require a permit on structures larger than 100 square feet. Contact your local utility companies to find out where the water, gas, and electrical lines are on your land; this prevents your project from being shut down by the city because you are interfering with power lines or about to bust a gas line.

3. Study the blueprints. Once the city approves the site and building plans for the garage, the blueprints and the photos will help you envision the actual building. Every garage has a basic framework; the foundation, framing, roofing, and exterior finishes are standard on all garages.

4. Determine the type of building material you will use; most garages are made of pressure-treated lumber, while others are made of some type of stone, like brick. Stone costs more than lumber. Typically four types of lumber are used: cedar, pressure-treated lumber, pressure-treated pine, and board lumber vary in price because of their distinct qualities.

5. Decide on the type of hardware and tools you will need for your project: nails, screws, bolts, studs, and hinges have to be weather resistant or the structure will not stand for long. Aluminum costs less than stainless steel; hot-dipped galvanized steel costs the most. Purchasing durable tools makes a difference; replacing cheap tools costs more in the long run because of the time and money you waste replacing the tools.

6. Contemplate if you will use a metal anchor to reinforce the wood frames. Stone material does not have to be reinforced with a metal frame; however, quality cement is necessary to keep the stone structure from falling apart.

7. Consider the finishing touches you may want to add to your garage. Wood and stone last longer if they are painted. Using paint with a primer will additionally help prolong the life of the wood or stone.

Tips & Warnings

• To prevent the neighbors from getting upset about the noise the construction will bring, inform them when you will start your project.

References

• "Black and Decker: The Complete Guide to Contemporary Sheds"; Philip Schmidt; 2008

Resources

• Cost Helper: Cost of Building a Garage - Get Prices and Estimates