Posted: 6/26/2006 5:31:15 AM EDT
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Currently, I have a one car, detached, but my tools and junk need more space. Next to the garage there's enough room to add another one like it. All the estimates I have gotten are $8,000-10,000+. That's a sum I can't afford right now. How much would it be to build a two-car garage by myself, minus pouring the concreate and installing the door? Should I be able to use the wood material from the existent garage (which, by the way, is in decent shape)? Thanks. |
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Going to need some more information here. Specifically, roof pitch, type of walls (block or wood), and size of addition and square footage of both existing and proposed. Give me that information and your local suppliers' information for cost adjustment and I'll work you out an estimate for materials only. But if you do 90% of the work yourself--and the door is EASY to do yourself, as is the slab--you'll cut that bid in half, at least. You should contract only two things out on this project: digging and setting the footers and the new trusses and tie-ins. If you're not scared of a few blisters and some sore shoulders, you can do this with a little guidance and a decent digital camera to pose very detailed questions. Just how good are you at working things like this? EG: Can you rent a forklift and use it? Can you slab a foundation? What kind of help can you expect? Swing a hammer and run Romex? |
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Thank you very much for your help. I'm only looking for a rough estimate and you already answered my question. Don't have the funds to do it now; just long-term planning. I might sell the house in a year or two and it seems that the money I will be getting for the house will not justify the few thousands of dollars spent in the garage. I might just opt for a shed. Thanks again. |
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The house I lived in previously had a one car garage and this is what I did to be really cost effective (I mean, cheap...): I basically just split the garage down the middle, pulled one side to rest on the new footings, extended the existing rafters lowering the roof pitch. You save a ton on wood because you're reusing about all of it. The existing footings and slab need to be extended which was the biggest part of it. |
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Like said already, a lot depends on the specifics. I'm currently in the process of building a two car garage, where my one car garage once stood. There was excavating needed (removal of original garage, and digging of footings for the new garage, then back fill). Cement work needed for footings, block walls (X2 @ 4' above grade) and a new floor and driveway. My dad and I are both experience carpenters (him professional, me more on freetime and helping friends), so there was absolutely no labor cost in framing, sheeting, roofing and finish work. I have done all the electrical and plumbing myself, and will do the landscaping as well. My wife works for a major nationwide homebuilder, and we used there services for the new garage door purchasing and installation (cheaper than just purchasing a door normaly). For a complete rebuild, I'd say that your estimate of 8-10k is considerably low, and we did all our own labor! The only contract work we've had is cement and excavating. If you could just ad second garage to the exsisting, I'd say your estimates sound reasonable. |