Building a new garage is as exciting as building a new home. Most homeowners willingly spend 2/3 of their house’s cost to build a new garage because a garage isn’t just a place to park vehicles but essential addition to the home.
A garage has many uses; you can park your vehicle, store essential items, build a workshop, or a makeshift gym and office room. Hence, you should seriously consider building a garage that would fit every possible future upgrade.
When we talk about building a versatile, robust garage, we need to delve deeply into the costs.
According to Pocket Sense, the average attached garage costs around $27,000 to build. In addition, a homeowner sees about an 81% return on their investment over time.
But we all know that this figure will vary depending on your garage’s size and choices of flooring material, wall and roof paint, door opener, roofing material, lighting, and lighting fixtures, security, insulation, and plumbing necessities, etc.
How much does it cost to build a new garage?
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Let’s look at the facts first.
There are varying figures in the market. Bobvilla.com reports that the cost to build a garage ranges between $16,747 and $38,926, with an average cost of $27,774. This is very true considering the national averages spent by most homeowners.
Spending $40 to $70 per square foot is common for standard garages. We mean a single car garage with bare concrete flooring, drywall and roof, and a garage door by the standard.
Higher-end builds such as a double-car garage with an insulated wall, durable flooring, and modern roofing would cost anywhere from $20 t0 $350 per square foot.
The Pocket Sense reports that building an attached garage costs around an average of $27,000 while building a detached garage average $28,000 or above.
How much does it cost to remodel an existing garage?
Spending on garage remodel isn’t much different than building a new garage. On average, homeowners spend $6000 to $22000 to remodel their garage.
In any case, building a garage will only increase the resale value of your home and add to your home’s appearance.
Do not worry as we have brought a detailed breakdown of costs associated with building a new garage, either by yourself or with a professional’s help. Also, if you’re considering remodeling your garage and are worried about costs, this is your ultimate guide.
Factors in Calculating the Cost to Build a Garage
As with any construction project, size or square footage is the primary factor that determines the cost to build a garage. Other essential factors to consider are if you want an attached or detached garage, building permits, choice of materials, labor costs, etc. Building permit costs will vary by location, but other essential costs may remain similar.
Foundation
The structural foundation is the critical component of any new garage and sometimes makes up a significant amount.
One of the cost-effective options for building a garage is to erect a pole-style building. This type of structural foundation does not cost as much as building a foundation pad and then adding a structure. Although cheaper, this can be prone to significant weather conditions and natural calamities.
The average price for building a garage foundation runs from $1,500 to $8,500.
Remember, the stronger the foundation, the stronger is your garage structure.
Size and number of Garage Doors
The garage size and number of doors are other significant factors determining the cost.
As mentioned before, an average cost for a single-car garage will cost $40 to $70 per square foot. Keeping that in mind, building a single-car attached garage with approximately 240 to 384 square feet will cost anywhere from $10,500 to $27,000.
As an alternative, you can consider a 2.5 garage space of approximately 520 to 744 square feet that allows a small workspace. The cost averages $20,800.
Usually, you only have a single garage door for a single-car or 2.5 car garage. this doesn’t add much to the building cost. However, adding 2-car garage doors, such as double-car or custom-sized garages, will require additional door space, accessories, and materials.
Attached vs. Detached
The average cost of $40 to $70 per square foot will apply whether you’re building an attached or detached garage. The cost mainly differs with the structural foundation, wall space, and electrical wiring.
An attached garage costs about 10% to 15% lesser than a detached garage because an attached garage shares wall space with the house, and the electrical wiring or plumbing can be pulled more easily.
For detached garage cost, you’d need to reconsider the structural foundation, wall materials such as drywall or concrete, and electrical wiring.
Permits
Your local building codes might put up requirements regarding garage structures and often include an inspection of the building to ensure it meets their requirements.
Some states require garages to install insulation or a heating unit inside the garage compulsorily. Others will make a battery backup for an automatic door opener mandatory.
Whatever the reasons are, the building contractor will need to obtain a garage building permit that may cost anywhere from $200 to $1500, depending on the region and Homeowners Associations (HOAs).
Windows
Installing windows is an inexpensive way to allow natural light into your garage. It not only brightens the dark garage space but also reduces electricity costs for lighting.
Windows are an additional cost; hence you should consider the number of windows beforehand. The cost to install a window ranges between $200 and $1300, depending on the size and style. Adding a new window on drywall can cost more.
Here are some costs for installing windows by type.
- Double-hung = $350-$850 (Windows + installation)
- Single-Hung = $175-$600 (Windows + installation)
- Fixed & Picture = $150-$1200 (Windows + installation)
- Casement = $300-$1900 (Windows + installation)
Insulation
The insulation cost will vary depending on the project and square footage. On average, insulating a garage costs approximately $0.5 to $2 per square foot.
For a 24×24 garage, the total cost for insulation could be between $3500 to $8000. You’d basically insulate your garage wall, ceiling, and door to make your garage a conditional space.
Consider insulating your garage before it’s finished because the crews will need to drill holes through the drywall to inject the foam and plug the holes, which will cost more.
Gutters
Adding gutters to your new garage is an excellent idea to protect the basic structure from long-term water damage. Most gutters used for homes are made from aluminum, vinyl, or steel. Choosing an aluminum gutter is the most cost-effective option, and the cost could run anywhere between $4 and $8 per linear foot.
Roofing
Garage roof or ceiling is made to withstand stress such as snowfall, rainfall, earthquake, and additional light or storage fixtures.
Although drywall is the most popular and cheapest choice for garage roofing, it isn’t the best choice. Aluminum soffit, corrugated metal, Oriented Strand Board, and polycarbonate are a few of the quality choices for garage roofing.
On average, you should expect to spend between $1000 to $10,000 for garage roofing.
Flooring
Most garage owners do with concrete floor; however, a plain concrete floor would not hold much under the vehicle’s weight, storage, living space, gym items, etc. Fixing the long-term floor damages such as cracks and stains will cost more in the future.
Consider resurfacing and refinishing coat to protect your garage floor. Epoxy flooring is the most suitable choice for any garage.
Installing epoxy flooring costs between $3 to $12 per square foot. Flooring a single-car garage (250 Square feet) may cost between $750 to $3000 and a double garage between $1200 to $6000.
Framing and Entry Door
Framing is standard in the construction of a garage. Wood framing is the most cost-effective choice for framing, which costs $4 to $8 per square foot, including labor.
The entry door can range from simple to high security for a detached exterior door, and the average cost ranges from $100 to $2,500. Consider an automatic garage door opener with the entry door.
Electrical and Wiring
Electrical and wiring are vital aspects of any new garage. You’d need electrical wires for light fixtures, door openers, electrical appliances, workshop, etc. Additionally, power sockets and plug-ins are essential in any garage. Including electrical and wiring to build a garage typically costs $6 to $10 per square foot on average.
Labor
The cost of labor may vary depending on your project. The average labor costs 50 to 70 percent of the final construction cost.
Other Associated Costs
The additional costs may include the type of garage accessories, additional storage space, plumbing and HVAC systems, garage heating units, workbenches, door openers, etc.
Garage Door Opener
The cost of installing a garage door opener entirely depends on the appliance. Most new door openers come with Wi-Fi connectivity, wall-mount design, and remote features such as webcam or audio.
Expect to spend anywhere between $247 to $800 for a garage door opener.
Garage Upgrades
Installing an HVAC system is helpful for garages located in the hot, humid region. The average cost runs between $700 to $1500.
Accessories
Accessories such as a workbench, cabinetry, fridge, the heating unit may cost anywhere from $375 to $3400.
Building a Garage: DIY vs. Hiring a Professional
Building your garage is cheaper than hiring a professional. Prebuilt garage kits are handy and cost-effective ways to build a garage with relative ease. However, prebuilt kits aren’t the same as traditional garages.
You’d need to tackle complex constructions such as framing, installing drywall and concrete, siding material, and painting which requires professional guidance. Making one mistake can cost you a lot in the future; hence it’s good to hire a professional to build your garage.
Expect these costs when hiring professional garage builders.
- One-car garage = $7,000 – $45,000
- 2-car garage = $15,000 – $50,000
- 3-car garage = $28,000 – $57,100
- 4-car garage = $32,000 – $73,900
- RV Garage = $36,000 – $140,000
When to build a new garage?
Here are some reasons to seriously consider building a new garage.
- A crumbling foundation, rotting wood, broken garage door, or undersize space are reasons to consider building a new structure.
- The cost to tear down and rebuild a garage ranges from $44 to $85 per square foot. If the original pad is in good shape, you won’t have to pay for a new gravel pad.
- Your garage is structurally compromised and prone to rain, snowfall, wind, earthquake, etc.
- You need ample space to hold extra cars, create a workshop, living space, or a gym.
- You want to sell your house at a higher price range and need a new garage that increases your home’s value.
Building a garage is a worthwhile investment; hence do not compromise on its construction in any way. Find the right professional with enough experience to have a structurally solid and appealing garage unit.