How much does it cost to build a 2-car garage?
 

During our record snowfall, my temporary fabric (vinyl?) shed collapsed under the weight of the snow...with the Boxster in it... No apparent permanent damage but I'm still digging the hundreds of pounds of snow out.

Does anyone know how much it costs to have a 2-car garage built? A real one with a concrete floor, framed walls and roof?

The fabric (1-car) shed was only $200 at Costco and has lasted 4 years. So I can't complain about the value.

On the other hand a permanent structure with room for a 2nd car or if not a 2nd car, a workshop, is interesting to me. But I suspect the amount of work is on the order of that needed to build a small house (e.g. foundation, concrete pad, framing, drywall, insulation, roof, one door, electric garage door(s), etc. such that it'll be expensive.

15 years ago, my sister paid $10,000 USD for a 2.5 on a concrete pad. The price may be about the same now due to the presence of builders not building.

You might want to think about installing a metal shop building. You'll get more room, you can insulate it if you want and I believe the cost is cheaper that a conventional wood framed garage (siding, shingles, widows). Both will increase your property value and the shop will give you the ability to expand easier than a garage. Depending on the cost of concrete in the Great White North you could always just go with a dirt floor.

Prices for garages vary tremendously. Contact local builders for pricing. Also make sure you find out if the zoning in your town will allow you to build.

The cost will depend on where you are located and the building codes in your area. If you are not required to do things like sheetrock the inside or use fire rated materials, you can save a lot of money.

x 2 on construction workers being short on work but the cost of materials has gone up many times in the last few years. The cost of copper for the electrical and the cost of shingles for the roof has doubled in the last couple of years.

For a 6 inch concrete slab, wood frame, sheetrock interior, electrical ( 400 amp ), two roll/raise doors, one pedestrian door and a shingle roof.....budget $20k to start.

If you do it, build with enough head-room to have a lift installed for an extra car and maintenance projects. A good lift is about $2,500.

I think a garage is going to be closer to $20K.

I agree, I've heard friends saying something closer to $20K to build a garage - the concrete slab is the most expensive part. I agree on the high height. Make sure you have the door installer raise the tracks and spring so you don't have to move them when you install a lift.

I have a 13 foot ceiling and it's itching for a lift... I've seen lifts from Direct Lifts that are just under $2K.

Good luck and tell us what you end up doing.

-Steve

Start with a check of your local building codes, most limit the size and height of any detached structure. Also consider that building a garage may prompt an appraisal of your house and new garage for real estate tax purposes.

When I needed a third garage space I had a fully assembled plywood shed delivered with barn type doors. The structure measures 10' X 18', has a 3/4" marine ply floor with pressure treated joists on 12" centers . Since there was no anchoring needed to the asphalt pad underneath it didn't count as a permanent structure for zoning purposes, meaning no tax or inspection requirements. Total cost $1500. It's now 12 years old with no signs of needing major upkeep.

I understand you live in Canada, do you have the same restrictions we do down here? Permits, zoning, housing associations and the other crap we have to put up with when we want to build something?

A 6 Inch slab 24' x 24', is just over 10 cubic yards of concrete. Concrete prices are about 100 dollars a yard. That is 1k in concrete materials alone. By the time you add footings, forming, finishing you will be at 5k for a bare slab. No unemployed builders can help you there.

Materials for framing and roofing will be about the same cost. 10k or so with unfinished walls and no electricity if you are doing a pitched roof and tabbed shingles.

I would budget 25k for a decent shed.

(EDITED BECAUSE I CANT ADD PAST 9PM)

$50.00 USD per sqft.

I paid approx $75 sq/ft for my 2.5 car addition so it varies quite a bit. The builder was a family friend so I got it done pretty cheaply vs. what other builders in the area would have charged. A lot of cost was in the brick though.

Don't you mean $1000.00 in concrete?

Good catch, your right on the concrete costs. After finishing take 9k off of everything I said, ahahahah. Sorry, that was past my bed time.

My guess is now 21k, without exterior walls.

My dad just built another garage at his house, a lot bigger than a 2 car and it's got a kitchen, bathroom, viewing area, workshop, and loft. Our concrete prices must be down in this part of the country because, his slab entire slab, side pad, and driveway was $10K.

bathroom
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0800.jpg

unfinished but, pretty much finished. The floor has been stained now, couches, and a rug added.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0762.jpg

ceiling, which is actually wood flooring.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0768.jpg
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0769.jpg

Kitchen and side door.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0767.jpg

Hey YellowBox.........Do you want a brother?
That is one sweet garage.
The cars in the rack ain't bad either.

My god that is an amazing garage. More garage pics!

This man needs ideas and prices and the rest of us need to covet thy neighbor's garage.

Don't forget to add in extra cost for the VCT floor!

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...r/P1050229.jpg

Yellowboxster01,
A Ford GT and Ferrari 355 Spyder? Are you kidding me? :eek:

p.s.
is the new Ford GT, 40" high like the original Le Mans car?

No, I don't believe so in order to accommodate for head room. The doors on that car are dangerous!

garage door shut and LOCKED! :p
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0805.jpg

Other garage complete with Racedeck floor and paintings. Surprisingly empty at the time of this picture.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0873.jpg

Oh, there they are.
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s...t/IMG_0776.jpg

In the interest of saving money, there are many things you can complete yourself and reduce the overall cost of the garage. The one thing that you do not want to put off for later is the floor. A dirt floor is like parking your car in the mud. Moisture will come up and start doing the nasty on your undercarrage. Do as much as you can yourself and use the savings for a lift. Ed

Yes, ... coveting. Lots of coveting.

Thanks all. I appreciate the tips, prices and the garages to aspire to.

I'm keeping the lift in mind.

Yes, I will need to get permits.

I live in the city and am worried that I'll tick off the neighbors if I build a monster garage.

Wow, those are some pretty garage pics. I didn't know garages cost that much. I'm facing having to paint a house, do a kitchen and bath, so never even thought past that yet.

As far as permitting, my mom needed a permit for a potting shed, which I guess is just a small shed to do plant stuff in? No clue. Anyway, she had trouble getting the permit (and there is no homeowner's association, this is just in the city) so she had to get an attorney. The attorney cost so much she had no money to build the shed, but she did finally get the permit.

You need a permit to install a hot water heater in my hometown. The cost is $65.

I have a real estate developer/car collector buddy that spend about half a mil last year to build a 9,000 sf garage to house his collection. The floor is stamped and stained concrete that looks like wood. The exterior is stone. Quite a spread. As far as the cars, a Bentley GT convertible, an '09 AM Vantage, but mostly vintage Hemi muscle. He just sold a rare GTO on ebay for well over a hundred grand...

were are you
 

socratic were do you live in the great white north?

in canada the concrete will run a little more than the $1000 for a typical 20x24. you can get a garage package from windsor plywood, totem lumber, home depot, rona and any of the lumber yards in your area, they will also get you a quote to set it up. and im sure you can get for less than 21000....


we have erected the package in 1 day, with main door in, shingles on day 2.

Doesn't anyone pour a footer below the frost line and build a proper foundation for a garage anymore?

If there's a permit, then it will be done per code. Code is below frost line. So I assume so. The thing to do - when you have the money available, is to get quotes from 3-4 sources. Pre-fab will be cheapest generally and go up quickest. There should be a "steel" building company selling kits as well as other commercial companies with pre-fab kits.

Oops. Double post.

Let me know if you want to trade Dads...

Wow this isn't a garage, it's an automotive retreat centre!

at bare minimum, sheetrock and paint your interior and add lots of lighting.

and don't forget the german flag stripe around the whole thing...

http://www.eskimo.com/~riffraff/imag...ragepaint3.jpg

This

They sell them at home depot or lowes, or you can sometimes find them on Craigslist for almost nothing

I actually just installed a steel 12x21 carport just for my boxster for the winter! Price isn't too bad and the structure is top notch ($700-$1500).

One day, I'll have my 2 car garage + dual post lift....

Jeez yellowboxster .. that garage might actually be nicer than my house .. LOL

Where do you see a 355 ? .. I dont see it

Frostline? What is that? Never heard of it... Maybe when it gets really cold, like in the 40's.. :D

recently did a three car metal shed. 34 x 21 for $3500. It currently has gravel floor but quotes are in for concrete- $2500.

Still thinking this thru, we are thinking about moving south. So that is a lot for short term...

location
 

where are you?

i just built a 24x26 stand alone outside of S'toon,

prep'd for an inslab heating system

concrete cost $9200
lumber, shingles, steelcraft 8'x16' O/H door, vinyl siding $8300

labour to frame, shingle $2000

if you get serious about it, and you are considering a hoist as future add in, you need to ensure that you plan the locations of the hoist post before you begin, i did not consider it and now with the heating in the slab i can't really drill any holes in the concrete for fear of hitting the heating tubing. the hoist will requires some form of footing at the post locations, this needs some engineering input.