plan now for a garage

Realizing that you may need to improve your parking and storage needs is easy.  However, selecting a builder and knowing what goes into building a custom garage is actually more involved than most think.  Today’s garage no longer necessarily serves only as a place to park your car, but a place for a workshop, apartment, studio, exercise room among many other endless possibilities. 

The preparation for building the garage is what takes the most time.  From deciding what the garage will be used for to where the garage will sit on your property all takes a substantial amount of time and consideration.  If you are planning to build a garage, you need to start the process as early as possible.

Here are a few tips to help you along the process:

Decide on your budget

Not sure on how much a garage will cost you?  A custom two car garage will start around $20,000 and upgrades can quickly add up.  Having a maximum budget will keep you from overspending and sticking to what you actually need. Also keep in mind you will need some type of foundation for the garage, whether it be concrete or pressure-treated.  A foundation for a typical two car garage will start at about $3,800. 

Decide on placement

You’ll need to decide where it makes the most sense to place the garage on your property.  You’ll probably need to consult with you local building/zoning and health departments to be sure the location and size of the garage you have in mind is in fact available for your new building.  Every town has governing codes that limit distances from property lines, existing structures and the road.  Existing ground conditions are also important to consider.  A flat, level site will be easier to build on than a steeply sloped site requiring a great deal of fill.

Decide what size

Not sure what size garage you need?  The average size for a two-car garage is 24 feet long by 24 feet wide.  The average size for a three-car garage is 24 feet by 36 feet.  However, it is important to consider the extra space you may need for a workbench or additional storage. If you are like most, visualization will help.  Stake out the size you think you will need.  Once the area is created analyze whether or not it will be enough space for your individual needs.

Perhaps the best way to double your storage space is to add a second floor to the garage.  This is ideal for storing boxes, seasonal items and other items you don’t need easy access to.  It is also very common to turn this upstairs space into a finished living apartment.   

You should also plan for additional space for future expansion.  Allow some extra space for the additional tools and equipment you are sure to collect.  Remember, however large you make the garage, you will always find a way to fill it up sooner than you think!

Decide on a reputable builder

Building a garage can be a complex job, so it's important to hire a reputable, knowledgeable and licensed contractor.  The Barn Yard & Great Country Garages has served the Northeast for over two decades and can customize the garage you need.  Starting with an initial consultation, we will walk you through each necessary step with exceptional quality and service.  Unlike many builders, The Barn Yard & Great Country Garages takes the extra steps to ensure successful completion of your building, like providing full sets of engineered plans to ease the process of obtaining the proper permits needed from your town.  In addition, we only use the highest quality building materials.  It is extremely important that the materials used (e.g., lumber, doors and windows) are all premium materials to ensure a structure that will last many generations.  Avoid contractors that insist on using particle board, low grade lumber, and especially un-insulated windows and garage doors.  This will not provide you with a quality structure -- it only saves on construction costs for the substandard builder.

The extensive services available through The Barn Yard & Great Country Garages eliminate the need to hire various outside contractors.  We are your one-stop-shop for design, site work, excavation and concrete foundation services.  You can be confident that many have utilized The Barn Yard & Great Country Garage’s exceptional services and have allowed us to handle the complete job from the initial consultation to the finishing touches of a fine crafted building. 

Decide Today.

Many people know they want to have a garage built this year.  However, many do not realize that since each property and homeowner is unique the planning and permit process does take time.  The ideal time to contact a choice builder is as soon as possible to begin the design process and schedule your building date before the seasonal rush begins. 

So, contact us today for a complimentary consultation or visit one of their 3 convenient Connecticut locations in Ellington, Windsor Locks and Brookfield. 

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