How to build a garage with your own hands
We tell you how to build a garage with your own hands, what work will need to be done, and what experts advise

Many car enthusiasts dream of a corner where they can not only leave their car safely, but also do some side business. Anyone can organize such a place. Together with builder Anton Mikhailov we tell you how to build a garage with your own hands.

Step by step instructions for building a garage

Building a garage begins with preparation. It consists of several stages. Anton notes that each step here is important and interconnected with others.

Place

“You can’t just choose a site and start building on it, especially if it’s not your private territory,” Mikhailov warns. – In the case of the construction of a garage without the appropriate permits, it can be demolished, and the owner fined.

To obtain land for the construction of a garage, you must first obtain ownership. The process resembles the acquisition of real estate – you collect technical documentation for a garage, put it on the cadastral register, and then register it with Rosreestr. If the procedure was successful, then you should contact the local authorities and ask for permission to purchase a plot for construction. The cost comes from cadastral prices, it is set by the administration.

On a private area, next to the house, it is easier and more convenient to build a garage. There you do not need to mess with documents, just register a parking lot for your car in Rosreestr.

– You can make a garage as an extension to the house. But it is better and safer to build it as a separate building,” the expert says. – The main selection criterion here is convenience for the owner, it is important that he can easily enter and leave his territory.

When choosing a place for building a garage, it is important to remember that it does not intersect with water supply, power lines and other communications. In case of damage to the latter, the presence of a building at the place of approach to them will greatly complicate the task of repair. In addition, it is not recommended to build a garage in a lowland.

Determining the size

For the construction of a garage, it is desirable to prepare its scheme. It will first of all reflect the dimensions of the box. They depend on the volume and number of cars. If there is only one car, then there is no need to build a giant structure. The vehicle should fit comfortably within four walls, and, if desired, a place for a workshop should be provided.

Foundation preparation

The site on which the construction will be carried out must be leveled. Then you should check the size chart and use pegs and rope to mark the lines to highlight the place where the construction will be organized. Nearby, you also need to leave a platform where materials for building a garage will be stored.

Choice of materials

Experts advise to stop at several options. Each has its pros and cons.

Tree. Not the most expensive stuff. A wooden framed garage can be built quickly and is considered environmentally friendly. At the same time, there are risks of fire here, given that the use of combustible materials among motorists is in the order of things. Also, wooden garages can deteriorate and collapse under the influence of the weather.

Brick. This is a heavier material, the construction process with it will take longer. Under such a garage requires a solid foundation. But brick buildings last longer and are more fire resistant. They react more calmly to the weather and the environment. Due to the properties of building materials, finishing here can be done at your discretion.

Blocks. It is relatively inexpensive and convenient material. Yes, the blocks can be heavy and require machinery to transport them, but building with them is convenient. Blocks can be placed according to the standard scheme – in half a stone. It is important not to forget to concrete the voids in them. The properties of many blocks are similar to bricks, although they are less moisture resistant.

Steel. Metal garages are popular and are almost the most convenient. They can be both welded and collapsible. There are enough materials on the market, including for the insulation of such structures.

Garage roof and floor installation

Major final steps. The roof is designed to protect your box from bad weather and be reliable. The ideal basis for it will be elements from an I-beam or a reliable dense beam.

The floor must be filled with a screed; it is highly undesirable to put the car on logs covered, for example, with wood. Already the screed – most often it is made of cement, sand, water and gravel – is left uncovered. If desired, wooden elements are laid on top of it or tiles are laid.

What work will need to be done when building a garage

Project development

Most often, any construction, and this also applies to garages, begins with the development of a project. It is important to take into account the following points:

Foundation installation

The foundation for a garage can be of several types. Depends on the materials from which the box will be made.

Monolithic

A more costly option. It is distinguished by quality, reliability and durability. If the garage is large – made of brick or concrete blocks – then this is exactly what should be done – a slab base. For him, you need to prepare a small pit. After tamping the bottom, sand, a geotextile, an initial layer of concrete, waterproofing and the main concrete layer are placed in layers over the entire area.

Pile-screw foundation

This type is suitable for lighter boxes. Piles specially designed for such purposes should be screwed into the ground, level the top layer and combine it with timber, channel or concrete. Instead of piles, you can use concrete columns or reinforcement, however, wells will have to be prepared for them. They are filled with concrete.

Strip foundation

Another option for large boxes. A trench is being prepared around the perimeter of the structure, deep enough to support heavy materials. Formwork is made in it, in which, in turn, a reinforcing cage is assembled. It is filled with concrete mix.

Building walls

As we noted above, they can be from different materials. Accordingly, the technology for installing garage walls will be different.

Roof erection

For a reliable roof, I-beams, a thick beam or, for example, a steel profile, if we are talking about a metal garage, should be laid across the walls of the garage. The elements are fixed using bolts. The space between them can be closed with wooden or other elements. The draft base of the roof will need to be covered with waterproofing and insulated at will. To avoid problems with precipitation, it is better to build a pitched roof with an angle of inclination of up to 30 degrees.

Floor laying

For the floor, it is necessary to compact the foundation tightly and fill it with a screed. Thickness – at least 10-15 cm. The screed can be left as it is, or wood flooring can be installed on top, or tiles can be laid.

Interior finish

The issue of the internal arrangement of the garage depends on the motorist. Someone leaves metal walls, someone wooden. Some prefer to make a tile finish. An affordable option is lining, however, this material will require a special varnish to easily wash off dirt and traces of combustible materials.

Gate installation

When installing a standard gate, you first need to measure the openings. Based on these data, blanks are cut out. In the case of metal structures, the sashes are fastened by welding, or using bolts and self-tapping screws. The main thing is not to make a mistake in size and securely lay the components of the frame on the base. Lift gates can be installed if desired. Their canvas consists of separate sections, tightly interconnected.

Wall insulation

In winter, it gets cold in the garage, which is unacceptable. The right heat insulator is essential. If the walls are sheathed with clapboard or plastic, it is recommended to use mineral wool or foam. Low-density foam concrete can also be laid between the frame posts.

expert Tips

Popular questions and answers

What can you save when building a garage?

You can save on materials. So, for the roof, it will be cheapest to use corrugated board and roofing material. Of the blocks, cinder blocks are considered the most affordable and high-quality. A garage made of sandwich panels is also relatively inexpensive. Pile and strip foundations will cost less than monolithic ones. The most accessible will be wall cladding with clapboard or plastic.

Are there any regulations for installing a garage on the site?

The garage belongs to the outbuildings. It should be located no closer than 1 meter from the neighboring fence, if there is no house or other household facilities there yet. Waste water from the roof should not fall on someone else’s site. If the neighbor’s plot is built up, then the garage must be at a distance of more than 6 meters from the object. Also, the garage should be located at a distance of 5 meters from the red line – water supply, sewerage, electrical wiring, gas supply, communications. All these measures are used to ensure fire safety.

How to install a viewing hole for a garage?

It should be provided at the stage of drawing up the markup for future walls. The inspection hole should be located exactly in the center of the gate. The main thing is that large-sized racks or shelves should not be located in the garage, which will interfere with the passage of a car.

What size should a standard garage be?

Depends on the number of cars and your preferences. For an ordinary passenger car, a structure measuring 6 meters long and 4 meters wide is enough. Height – 2,5-3 meters. The main thing is to leave room for passage and installation of racks for materials used by motorists.

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