Custom Muscle Car Garages - Build Your Own Garage

Your city's or township's zoning regulations may be available online. If not, call your local government's planning commission.>>>

Zoning And City Planners
Once you have your budget figured out, you must now check your local zoning and building planning codes to see if the type of building you want to put up is even allowed in your area. When dealing with the city, Whitney recommends calling the structure a storage shed rather than a garage, because to the city, garage implies leaky, derelict cars and an environmental hazard.

Your city or township has an incredible amount of control over all aspects of the building, from size and height requirements to appearance. Sherman lives in an area of Riverside zoned for agriculture. "That's the only reason my shop doesn't have to match my house," he says. If he were in a residential area, he'd have been required to build a wood-framed structure finished in the same stucco as his house. That would have effectively kept him from building his shop. "I'm not a carpenter, I don't know how to build a wood-framed house, and I couldn't afford to have someone build it for me," he says. Again, do lots of research. Consult with a contractor if necessary. Architect Jay Behm recommends looking for one who specializes in small projects like house additions since it may not be cost-effective for a bigger firm to take on a project like this.

Jay Behm sells garage plans on line.>>>

Plans
Now, armed with the knowledge of what is permitted in your area, you can draw up plans either on your own or from a designer. Jay Behm, an architect who's developed a specialty in designing garages and selling the plans online, says his most popular-selling floor plan is a two-car garage with shop space. The structure has 9-foot walls and wider and taller doors to accommodate a variety of vehicles. Many of his plans also include a second floor that can be used for storage space or a living area. He includes a supply list you can take to your local hardware store for a quote on the necessary materials.

When designing your shop, be creative and try to imagine the variety of work you'll be doing there. Plan a space that accommodates this work efficiently. Do you want to install a lift? You'll need at least 12 feet of clearance. Are you going to keep more than one car in there? Maybe you'd prefer two roll-up doors to one large one. Do you want heat and air conditioning? You should insulate the building. Sherman is grateful that he insulated his shop. "It gets to be 115 degrees here in the summer," he says. "It could easily reach 140 in here if I didn't add the insulation. Now it's never more than 90 in here no matter how hot it gets outside." Adding insulation allows Sherman to cool his shop with two small window-unit air conditioners rather than an expensive central air system. An insulated building is also a quiet building. Rain hitting an uninsulated metal roof can sound like machine-gun fire. Plus an insulated building keeps the neighbors happy because it reduces the amount of noise coming out of the shop. If insulation doesn't fit into your budget, your shop should at least be ventilated with a fan mounted near the roof. "If you're uncomfortable, you won't want to work in your shop," Sherman says.

By Courtesy Bottom Line Steel Buildings

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