First of all you need to decide what the purpose of your garage is. Car storage? One car or two? Do you want to place a workshop in it? A music studio? A guest apartment. The traditional garage as a car storage area only is a thing of the past. There are so many great ways to use your garage space on top of storing your cars that it’s almost crazy not to make use of them. But you’ve got to work them out ahead of time. This is one of the most important steps in making sure you get the right set of plans.

Next you need to choose the size. Remember, if you build your garage a little big, then having extra space isn’t the end of the world. But if you build it a little small, you might find yourself stuck without enough space, and believe me, you won’t want to tear it all down and rebuild! So choose your size wisely! Remember that you need to be able to open your car doors, so allow enough space for however many cars you plan to store plus open doors. Generally speaking, 12 feet of width per car will give you enough space.

Once you take these two aspects into account, you’ll be well on your way to finding the right plans. After that its just a matter of going and getting a set that match your criteria. Check our plans page for all your garage plan needs. Remember though, building your own garage can be a great thing and allows a great deal of flexibility in the design and features, but if you do it wrong, you won’t be happy, so get plan ahead and put in the time to lay down your requirements so you can ensure you get the best set of plans for you, then build away!

The cost…
The cost of building an RV garage is almost always higher than the cost of building a normal garage designed for cars. So if your RV is very old as is, or a smaller, cheaper model, then it might not be feasible for you to build a garage for it. However, if your RV is newer, more expensive, or you just want to ensure it stays in top notch condition, then a garage will keep your RV in top notch condition, both looks wise and in how it runs. This can save you a ton of money in the long run and more than makes up for the investment you put into the garage.

Accessibility…
You’ll need to have a good spot to put you RV garage. It seems like an obvious point but it’s an easy mistake to make. RVs are big, sometimes very big, and they can be very awkward to maneuver in tight spaces. This means that you almost always want to have clear front access to your RV garage. Building it around back, or at the side of your house can make it a real pain to park and maneuver. So if you can, try to build your garage with clear front access.

Plans…
Do yourself a favour and don’t try to build your RV garage from plans you sketched out on a napkin. It’s important that if you’re building a garage for your motor home that you do it correctly. You don’t want to make a mistake and end up with a large, essentially useless building. This is where a good set of plans comes in. Arming yourself with a set of high quality, professionally designed plans will give you everything you need to know to get your project done right, and save you so many headaches you’ll be very glad you did.

Plan out everything you need the garage to do ahead of time.
One easy mistake to make is to over simplify what you want  your garage to do in the planning stage. You might have two cars so you’ll plan it to be big enough to hold them and that’s it. But then when you decide down the road you want to store your bikes or boxes in there, you may not have the room. Sit down and think about every use you’ll likely put the garage to, and make sure to plan accordingly.

Consider your cars now, but also in the future.
You might have two smart cars now, but will you always? Remember, if you build your garage a little too big you’ll always have extra space and that isn’t the worst thing in the world. But build it too small and you don’t get a second chance! Just because you’ve got a tiny car now doesn’t mean you always will, so try and plan ahead. Generally speaking, 12 feet of width for each car will allow you lots of space for small cars and enough space to get larger trucks or SUVs in should you need to.

Follow a good set of professional plans.
The best thing you can do for your garage is to get yourself a good set of professionally designed plans. This way you ensure the building will be well designed, to code, and capable of doing all the things a garage should. Garages come in a lot of different sizes, so decide on which size is right for you and then invest in a set of plans. They’ll make the process much, much easier for you and you’ll be very glad that you did.

Building your own garage is a great way to ensure you get exactly what you want, but a garage is a very functional building. If you built your bedroom a little small it wouldn’t be a big deal, but build your garage wrong and you might find yourself with an almost useless space. These tips will help you ensure that you know exactly how to build your own garage and that it turns out as well as possible.

First of all, the type of car you drive is very important. Your current cars are obviously of the most importance but try and look ahead as well. If you’re the type that tends to drive small cars like Toyota Corollas, then you can get away with a narrower garage, but if you plan your garage for 2 small cars and then decide down the road to buy an SUV you might find yourself in a bit of a bind!

Remember, a garage that is 20X20 is 400 square feet, but a 40X10 garage is also 400 square feet. Good luck getting 2 cars in a 10 foot wide garage! Don’t just automatically jump on the larger square footage. You might end up with a long garage that doesn’t accommodate both cars very well, or at all.

Generally speaking, a  20X20 garage is going to be a little tight, especially if you plan on using the garage for storage or any other purposes. You have to remember that you also need to be able to open the car doors while they’re parked, so measure the cars with the doors open. In general 24X24 should be sufficient for most cars. If you’re a truck driver you might want to consider bigger. If you can manage to get a 30X30 you’ll probably be alright.

If you’re looking into pre-built garages or measuring off of a potential real estate purchase, you’ll probably be fairly limited in your choices, but if you’re building your own, remember, when looking for plans, you need to consider all the uses you have planned for the garage and build accordingly. Try to allow 12 feet for each car if you can, and if you need extra storage, or a work area, consider making the garage at least 6 feet deeper than it is wide.

Building your own garage is a great exercise. Not only is it a lot of fun, but it gives you a sense of accomplishment and a level of flexibility that is unmatched. But remember, if you do it wrong, you might find yourself stuck with a very, very non-functional building that can only one of your cars, or doesn’t meet your other needs. Make sure you do it right. Get a good set of plans and make certain you’ve laid out ahead of time exactly what your requirements are for the project.

If you start using this space for other projects that you have, you need to deal with one of the major inconveniences, that is warmth. During the summer you don’t have to worry too much about this but during cold seasons you might find some difficulties in continuing your project because of the very low temperature.

You can find many ways to warm up your workshop-

garage. You can try one of the porcelain heaters; they

work great and can warm up a good area but they are not

meant to warm a large space for a long time.

Another solution for you would be to use a kerosene

heater. These heaters are easy to turn on, most of them

have an electric starter. It should have a thermostat to be

able to regulate the temperature also they have a specific

scent, they do function on kerosene! So if you think you

cannot handle this smell, a kerosene heater wouldn’t be a

good choice for you. They are quite dangerous for your

children, if they have access to the garage and you would

definitely want to ventilate very well the garage!

A very good and popular choice nowadays is a gas heater.

Of course you have to hire a professional to install it. You

can find a gas heater suited to your budget for remodeling

the garage. There are many models and almost all of them

are fairly inexpensive. The main advantage of a gas

heater is that it gives you a consistently warm

environment. They are available in both manual and

thermostatic control types. You would probably prefer a

model that has a thermostat, even though its price is a

little higher than the price of a manual temperature

control model. The only thing that you have to do is to set

it on a desired temperature and leave it to do its job.

There are two types of gas heaters: vented and vent less.

The vent less unit uses air from the room and the vented

model has a system that vents directly out of the garage.

The disadvantage of the vent less model is that you have

to keep the room vented at all times because the unit uses

the air from the room where it has been installed. The

main advantage for the both types of gas heaters is that

they have a pretty low running cost compared to the

kerosene and electric heaters.

Remember that if you choose to install a more advanced

heating system like a gas heater, you must ask for a

professional’s help.

If you start using this space for other projects that you
have, you need to deal with one major inconvenience,
that is warmth. During the summer you don’t have to
worry too much about this but during cold seasons you
might find some difficulties in continuing your project
because of the very low temperature.

You can find many ways to warm up your workshop-
garage. You can try porcelain heaters; they
work great and can warm up a good area but they are not
meant to warm a large space for prolonged periods of time.

Another solution for you would be to use a kerosene
heater. These heaters are easy to turn on, most of them
have an electric starter. It should have a thermostat to be
able to regulate the temperature also they have a specific
scent, they do function on kerosene! So if you think you
cannot handle this smell, a kerosene heater wouldn’t be a
good choice for you. They are quite dangerous for your
children, if they have access to the garage and you would
definitely want to ventilate the garage very well!

A very good and popular choice nowadays is a gas heater.
Of course you have to hire a professional to install it. You
can find a gas heater suited to your budget for remodeling
the garage. There are many models and almost all of them
are fairly inexpensive. The main advantage of a gas
heater is that it gives you a consistently warm
environment. They are available in both manual and
thermostatic control types. You would probably prefer a
model that has a thermostat, even though its price is a
little higher than the price of a manual temperature
control model. The only thing that you have to do is to set
it on a desired temperature and leave it to do its job.

There are two types of gas heaters: vented and vent less.
The vent less unit uses air from the room and the vented
model has a system that vents directly out of the garage.
The disadvantage of the vent less model is that you have
to keep the room vented at all times because the unit uses
the air from the room where it has been installed. The
main advantage for the both types of gas heaters is that
they have a pretty low running cost compared to the
kerosene and electric heaters.

Remember that if you choose to install a more advanced
heating system like a gas heater, you must ask for a
professional’s help.

Massive building failures and strong winds have convinced
storm-prone communities that residents must be prepared
to employ active or passive reinforcement systems for their
garage doors. An active system is that specific type of
reinforcement that must be installed before a high-wind
event while passive systems are built into the product and
don’t need any activation from the owner. For the home
owner in hurricane-prone areas there are only two real
options: either a new garage door with a built in passive
reinforcement system or a garage door reinforcement kit.

The option of totally replacing the garage door is usually
an expensive procedure so a garage door reinforcement kit
would be a good choice if your budget for remodeling your
garage is low. Although is rather expensive, a new garage
door offers a more secure and safe option in front of a high
wind.

If you’d rather choose the cheapest option, that is to
reinforce your garage door you can protect your home in
one of the following ways: first of all install pressure or
impact resistant devices, such as shutters, panels, accordion
fold shutters on the garage doors or install pressure/impact
resistant garage doors that do not require shutters. If your
existing door is impact resistant but it is not wind pressure
rated, install an approved garage door bracing system to
increase the wind pressure resistance. A pressure/impact
resistant rating ensures that the device meets the wind pressure
and debris impact requirements of the Southern Building
Code Congress International standards or the July 1988
wind pressure and debris impact requirements of the
American Society of Civil Engineers adopted in September
1994.

When adding a garage door bracing first ensure that there is
enough and relevant documentation that the product has
been tested at a certified testing laboratory. The product
should be designed to withstand both positive and negative
wind pressure. You should contact a local garage door
supplier of approved garage door bracing systems to assist
you in the selection of the necessary system for your needs.

The garage doors can be selected by the type of the chain
System they use: screw-drive system, chain drive system or
computer controlled system. The screw drive system has
a mechanism that moves the length of a steel rod; it is a
lifting mechanism that is mounted in your garage ceiling.
The chain drive system is made of a chain that moves the
door along a pair of tracks; this is the most common and
affordable system but also has the disadvantage of being
extremely noisy. The computer drive mechanism doesn’t
use any screws or chains; the system’s body is mounted
above the door.

The speed and the type of power are other factors used in
selecting a new garage door. A faster door means a more
expensive one, but this feature reduces the waiting time
on your driveway. Even though it opens quickly, a door
usually closes pretty slow for safety. The power
of the motor is important in choosing a door because it
has to have enough power to raise the door; a large motor
is likely to last longer. Also the quietness of the motor
should be another decision factor.

Enhanced security features can be found in a newer
generation door that uses random codes. A new random
code is generated each time the remote control is used to
open the garage door. This security code prevents you
from opening another garage and vice versa. The remote
control may be found in several models with a different
number of buttons. A multiple button remote control is
the best choice for someone who has several garages. The
fixed controller is mounted on the wall either inside or
outside, near the garage door and it allows the garage
door to open without a remote controller. The keypad
allows to close the door for a specific period of time and
it provides enough time to exit the garage without
running.

Safety features are present on every garage door. These
features prevent the door from crushing objects or people by
reversing the direction if it hits something. This safety
feature is triggered by an electronic beam and it is
mandated by law. A computer-controlled mechanism can
detect or compensate for varying conditions, for example
if the door is coming in contact with an obstruction or is
closing too fast.

This type of flooring keeps your garage looking new whatever
activities you choose to do inside and also does a great job in
hiding cracks and stains while protecting the floor from oil, battery
acid, grease, brake fluids, salt, antifreeze, mud or other dirt that
finds its way into the garage. If you are living in a colder climate
, you definitely know what a mess winter snow and salt
make in your garage, this floor is easy to clean , you just have to
hose it off.

If you are thinking of remodeling your garage, you must consider the
option of installing a G-floor for several reasons: the coin-pattern
flooring is easy to install, rather cheap, durable and gives a great
look to your workshop-garage.

In order to do the sealing yourself you need several
materials and tools: protective clothing, neoprene rubber
gloves, goggles, a stiff brush and a bucket, a paintbrush, a
cartridge-style respirator with organic-vapor and small-
particle filters, paint roller with extension handle and tray,
medium nap roller cover, a concrete degreaser and of
course some concrete sealer. Usually ½ gallon of sealer is
used for approximately 100 square feet.

Before sealing you have to clean the floor because it has to
be free of dirt, grease and oil. To do this you should use a
stiff scrub brush to apply the cleaner and concrete
degreaser according to the instructions. Allow the solution
to lay on the floor for 15 to 20 minutes more for stubborn
stains after scrubbing. After his you should rinse
thoroughly with clear water. You may need several
applications. Many concrete sealers contain hazardous
chemicals that may be harmful to skin and eyes and the
vapors are not safe to breathe but the vast majority are
acrylic. The best way to avoid damages to your skin, eyes
and lungs is to wear the protective equipment made of
neoprene rubber gloves, goggles and a respirator with both
organic-vapor and solid-particle filter cartridges. During
the process of sealing the floor you should continuously
ventilate the garage by opening all doors and windows and
also using a fan would be a great idea.

After cleaning and drying the concrete, the sealer has to be
applied. The sealer should be tested in an inconspicuous
area before applying. Some uneven density in the concrete
may result in light/dark appearance that may be
objectionable. By using the medium-nap paint roller with
extension handle is the easiest way to apply the sealer. Start
in a rear corner continuing to work your way out of the
garage. Before doing anything else you should allow the
sealer to dry as indicated on the sealer bottle, usually for a
few hours. For a driveway the procedure is essentially the
same but it would be quicker to use a garden sprayer to
apply the sealer to a large driveway. You should act with
caution not to over spray on other material due to the high
risk of staining.