Plumbing Blog

i built my whole house and 7 sheds. the sheds were slab timber . pretty easy if you are handy. look for garage kits and then get some quotes to build it to lock up. i found it cheaper to get it fully done by the pros (supply and erect) than the time it would have taken me. a mates shed went up in 3 days. 4 cars with doors open and a kids feral area upstairs

check local building codes and regulations first you may be required to have a contractor, electrician or a plumber do some of the work my dad built his 30′x40′ garage basicaly with one other person but make sure you have help that knows how to do carpentry work if you don’t that wont leave you half finished the work isn’t that hard just be careful but it is realistic to do it it is alot cheaper to do it yourself but the foundatin might cost as much as the rest of the building

my husband does construction, and honestly it is cheaper just to hire someone to do it then to diy. Then it is done right, especially if you have codes to go by, from your city or county!! Especially for us, he builds all day he doesn’t want to come home and do things he’s done all day at home too! Pro’s can do it much quicker ( on a job site) than home owners, plus if something goes wrong and you have to have someone come fix it that will cost a lot more!

Experience is the key here. I would suggest tearing down the garage to understand how it needs to be built back. The contractor wants to remove and build new, because it will be easier for him and more money. If only one wall is trashed, get that family help over there and brainstorm on the best thing to do. I would repair, unless you want the new garage and space. You could hire a concrete contractor to prepare the slab.

I’ll go along with TC. I personally don’t believe in paying someone to do that which I can do myself. Its wasteful and goes against my genes. I’m Scotch-Irish and Dutch, so doubly cursed. I would even suggest contacting Ask this Old House, you never know, you might get lucky. But if you end up without their help, Do what you and your relatives can do, and hire help for the rest. Building together is great Quality Time. Good Luck!!!!

Well it’s not all that hard ; No disrespect to good men that build proffesionaly, but if you take your time plan and buy a really nice kit you most certainly can put it together … and Im sure after talking to some folks with building exp youll feel more confident , have fun and just take your time

If it was a standard single story garage, I would say you could tackle the job. There are numerous kits for standard single story garages available from most building supplies with full DIY instructions.

I would advise against you tackling a two story structure, especially a garage. If you want an open concept garage to hold 2 cars with extra room without any centres supports, you will likely have to have the structure designed and stamped by an engineer.

You memtioned termites. If the old structure has termites, you will have to termite proof (inhibit) the structure. If this is not done correctly, it will not be log before the new structure has a serious termite infestation.

You may be wise to consider a steel/concrete structure.

Wiring and plumbing are also skills where you have to know what you are doing.

Improper wiring hazards: electrocution, fire hazard are two big ones.

Improper plumbing hazards: Backups and flooding, fire/explosion - sewer gas is methane which is as volotile as propane and natural gas.

The garage ceiling must be sealled properly to prevent CO (Carbon Monoxide) from penetrating the workshop above the garge.

Here is a guide for selecting contractors:

==============================================

Selecting contractors:

1/ Look up local contractors first. work out from the closest
to your location. If someone you trust has had work done
similar to yours, ask them about the contractor they
used. If they were completely satisfied with their
contractor(s), ask for their telephone number.

2/ Select at least 5 your are interested

3/ Do a google/yahoo search on each of the contractors
you are interested in; look for praises (check who is
writing the praises to see if they have any connection to
the contractor google/yahoo search the people giving
the praise or references)

4/ When you are satisfied with at least 3 contractors per job,
have them give you written estimates with details of work
to be done, terms, guarantee(s), cost of extras (how
much do they charge if they find something not covered
by the contract), paymant schedules if necessary and
whatever else you can think of to protect yourself.

5/ If the contractor tries to pressure you into signing the
contract immediately with a high deposit (more than
15%) reject that contractor. Be careful, high pressure
can be someone who sounds very convincing, but has
many reasons why you should sign on the dotted line
NOW.

6/ It is always good to have another adult with you when a
contractor inspects the work to be done.

7/ If you do not get at least 3 written estimates signed by the contractor - not you (do not sign yet) , go back to 1. repeat until you get written estimates signed by the contractor - not you (do not sign yet).

Read the estimates over with some who has some knowledge of the work that has to be done.

This may take longer than you thought; do not rush into it. Research, resaerch research, helps.

When you are ready choose by being informed.

Good Luck

it can be done, but, depending on how bad it is, you have things to consider. just how bad is your slab now? removing an old slab is going to be more than removing the garage pound for pound. demo work is not that hard neither and is alot of fun, as well as limiting your expense to a dumpster rental and a few tools. you could even rent a jackhammer and break up the old slab yourself if youd like. the garage kits are a good way to go for beginners, but no matter which way you go you have to stay committed through the whole thing!!!! remember safety is always first, use common sense, if youre not sure then dont do it or ask/find out, and if you go thru with it, you’ll be fine, especially with experienced family.