Want to build a custom garage (pics?)
 

My wife and I are putting in an offer on a house. If we get it, I want to add a detached 3 car garage. I'd like electric, a roof high enough for a lift, and an open storage loft on one side. It would need room for 2 cars, 3 dirt bikes, 3 Crafstman roller tool boxes, a couch, and big screen. I'm not opposed to steel, and there are no HOA restrictions. I'd love to see pics of everyone's set up, and I'm curious what kind of money I'm looking at spending. I've had a hard time finding custom prices on the web.

Kailua, HI.......kicking and screaming to OK......MUST be military.....Marine?

I'm in the process of finishing up my 30X44' building with 12' ceilings and an upstairs (attic/bonus room trusses). It is a poured foundation w/ 2X6 walls, fully insulated... I had a contractor build it to the point where the exerior was complete, but unpainted (cement board siding). I did all of the wiring, plumbing, heating, interior paint (still finishing) and trim work.

Cost will depend on a lot of things. For my building, I probably could have been in a range anywhere as low as $25K up to $75K. I can tell you that I will end up closer to the top end of that range due to the fact that it was all stick-framed and made to match my house A pole building will be less expensive.

I did some research on metal buildings when we were looking to build on some property that we owned and came to the conclusion that unless you are spanning 50'+ with the trusses it wasn't much of a cost advantage to go metal.

Disclaimer - - I'm not a builder or construction expert, so others may be able to offer more detailed better info.

Here is a pic of my shop.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...25322554_o.jpg

I have a 30 X 48 all metal shop that I bought as a do it yourself kit... it would have been around 11 grand except that I changed a few things - pitch of the roof went to 6/12 -- I wanted clear span -- bigger doors -- and three electric skylights (at a grand piece) -- so the building wound up being just a little over 20 grand delivered. Cheap IMHO. I've since torn the standing seam metal roof off and did it to match my house.

The SLAB cost about 10 grand if I remember correctly because it has to be some kind of special "edge" foundation -- and it was done in fiber reinforced concrete -- super flat and super smooth -- with stainless steel expansion joints.

A buddy and I put the building up. I then had it professionally insulated with high density batting... and I put up 5/8" CDX plywood on the walls (to hang stuff off of!).

All told -- the BUILDING without electric or plumbing -- just the slab - building - insulation - and interior walls --- was about 50 grand. Electricity is a separate 400 amp panel with separate service (from the house) and I wired it myself. There is NO water or plumbing (toilets etc).

Retiring from flying in Navy P-3 Orions. Been in Hawaii for 17 years. I'm definitely kicking and screaming. But we want to raise our kids close to family.

We've been looking for a house on about 5 acres with a shop or garage already built. There's a million of them where we're looking, but my wife doesn't like any of the houses. I'm more concerned with the garage.

BTW, Brandon, that's a great looking garage and probably about the same as what I need. I think I'd do a big door though.

So Brandon, sub hunters, huh?

Myself, I spent 3 years on Oahu when I was an Army helicopter mechanic stationed at Schofield Barracks, but actually worked at Wheeler AFB.

Being from the Midwest, I did NOT go kicking and screaming when I came back to the Mainland. I missed the change of seasons. For me, Paradise got kind of old after a while......but having said that, I did enjoy my time in Hawaii. Lots of stories.

Lots of good pics here. These guys build a nice building.

http://mortonbuildings.com/buildings/residential/

Don

If you are looking at 5 acres I would put up the biggest shop you can afford. No matter how big...YOU WILL FILL IT ! For economy I would look at metal buildings. If you need to help justify it you can store peoples cars for X amount of dollars.

You have much better friends than I do Charley, mine just want to store, they get down right offended about the "pay" part....

"but you've got all this room..." Damn straight I do, and it's for my junk, not yours.


Jeff-

There is a lot of ideas on this website.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/

Mike