Are you considering adding a garage to your house? Here’s a quick checklist to help you decide if a prefabricated metal garage is your best option.
You have vehicles and equipment you want to protect
A garage of any type will help protect your vehicles from damage caused by the sun, wind, rain, snow, ice, and hail. Unlike a carport, a metal garage can be securely locked to protect your vehicles, equipment, and other valuables from theft.
You have a limited budget
Prefabricated metal garages are significantly less expensive than garages constructed with wood, concrete, and other materials.
You want a low-maintenance garage
Steel garages last a long time and require very little maintenance. They don’t rot, mold, or need to be repainted.
You want to increase the value of your home
Adding an attractive metal garage to your house can make your property more appealing to potential buyers and increase the resale value of your home. The value of a garage area is usually at least a quarter of the value of your house (per square foot).
You don’t want to fuss with a complicated and potentially expensive do-it-yourself project
Building a garage yourself might seem like it would be cheaper than buying a prefabricated garage. But because manufacturers get volume discounts on materials and already have all the tools they need, buying a prefabricated garage often ends up being cheaper than building one yourself.
Your budget is under $5,000
A basic, one-car garage installed on an existing concrete slab will generally cost at least $4,500. A two-car garage starts at about $6,500. If those prices are beyond your budget, a metal carport may be a better option for you.
Carports are about one-third the cost of a garage. If you’re interested in a carport, download my Carport Buyer’s Guide to learn everything you need to know about carports.
You need a garage tomorrow
Regardless of how you go about it, building a garage on your property will take time. In most cases you’ll need to get a permit, prepare the site, have a concrete slab poured, and then schedule an installation. Metal garage manufacturers have lead times that can run from a few weeks to several months.
You want an attached garage
Most prefab metal garages will be installed as a detached outbuilding. The garage installers will need about three feet of space on every side of the garage in order to set it up (for some extra-large garages, even more space is needed). Local building codes may require additional space between buildings.
If you want an attached garage for your house, you’ll probably need multiple permits and inspections—and you’ll probably want to hire a contractor to design and build it for you.
You want to build an apartment in your garage
Metal garages are excellent for storing cars and other items, but they aren’t suitable for living spaces. If you’re thinking about adding an apartment in or above your garage, a traditional stick-built garage might be a better option. Our prefabricated metal garages are not designed for use as living quarters.
You belong to a homeowners association that doesn’t allow detached garages
If your property is subject to HOA rules or other restrictive covenants, you’ll need to check what is allowed in your community before considering a detached garage.
What did you discover? Does a detached metal garage fit your needs? In the next chapter, you’ll learn how to size your garage and get an initial estimate of how much your garage will cost.
