A garage is very useful in many ways. Obviously, you can park your car in it, and that usually works quite well for a while, until the family starts using it for storage, or someone claims it as a workshop.
We are going to take a look how to build a garage to be proud of in this article. The structure will be away from the main house, and though it will be built using brick, it is not considered to be a habitable building and so will only come under the planning regulations applicable to sheds, etc. Do check with your local authority about planning rules as they may differ depending on where you live.
The garage is a project that a competent DIY enthusiast can take on. It takes patience and skills that you pick up quite quickly. Read on and see what you think.
The Foundation And Floor
For this building, we are going to pour the concrete for the floor and foundation in one slab. Follow the guidelines below.
- Mark out the external dimensions on the ground using pegs and string.
- Excavate the ground to a depth of 30 centimeters.
- Dig down a further thirty centimeters around the edge of the hole, make the trench forty centimeters wide.
- Put a sheet of water resistant membrane in the hole.
- Pour some concrete up to ground level. We advise you to have it delivered by a truck.
- Level the base off and leave it to cure for a few days.
The Walls
You now have a chance to practice your bricklaying skills. Construct a double wall with an insulated cavity using a mortar mix of one part cement to five parts building sand. Add a plasticiser to the mix so that it doesn’t set before you use it.
As you are laying the bricks, put the door and window frames in place and build around them to make sure they are a perfect fit.
The Roof
The roof is the trickiest part of the garage, and only experienced people should attempt it. Complete novices must leave the work to reputable companies such as this to do the job properly. The concern is not with leaks; it is the safety that is important. A tiled apex roof with timber trusses is very hefty, and it will injure people badly if it should collapse. Yes, you could make your own flat roof, but that will affect the finished quality of your new garage.
Power
Ask an electrical contractor to view the site and tell you what size cable you need to run to the building, and how to run it. You can then do that part of the installation yourself and save much money. When the supply is in, call the electrician back to install the power outlets, lights, and to connect the supply.
All you have left to do now is to install a garage door. They come in kit form and are not too complicated to fit. Hopefully, it will slot into place perfectly. The garage is now ready to use, and you can give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done. What will you take on next?