What do you want the garage for? Perhaps you want to park the car in it or to store the lawn mower and a few garden tools. Maybe it will be used as the workshop you always wanted. A basic straight forward garage is not that expensive to build but as your requirements go up so does the cost of construction.

A basic garage could be built of wood or masonry with a roof and an access door. Basic principles will apply though such as damp proofing and weather resistance. No matter what you store in it or use it for, you want to make sure it remains dry at all times.

Depending of the use there are a number of options available for you choose from in garage design depending on your budget.

If you plan to work in the garage for example maybe you may want to insulate the floor, walls and roof so that you can continue to use it in colder weather conditions. This would be your choice and is not a statutory building code requirement if there is no form of heating provided in the garage. If heating is installed you will be required to insulate the fabric.

What will be the external finishes? Do you want for example brick walls and a tiled roof to match the main house? This may be a planning requirement and will increase the cost of construction.

What utilities are required, for example electrical power. It could be simple such as a light and a power outlet to operate light tools or may be you will use the garage as a workshop that requires a more substantial electrical system. Will a water or gas supply be required to feed a heating system for example?

What about access to the garage? If you plan to park your car in it then a garage door will be needed. What type of door? There are a number of choices from the simple cheap up-and-over type to sectional side opening type, that operate by remote control and open effortlessly. If natural light is required this could be via a window or maybe roof lights. Maybe a pedestrian door is required in addition to the main garage door for ease of access.

Another thing to consider …. chances are no matter what you build it will require building control approval and maybe planning permission. This is very important as it may be difficult for you sell the property in the future without these approvals in place.

Building a garage is a bit like building a house there are a number of options available to you depending on budget and usage.

Check following points regarding the ground:

As a first step a good cleaning of the ground is needed. It is necessary to clean grass and especially any roots that can then turn up into a tree. Some people spread salt, to avoid anything growing below your garden building.

You must clearly mark the spot where you are going to build the garden building. Normally, the old but always useful method of stakes and string is the best choice. Dig a trench where you will put the concrete sub-floor.

A good depth of the trench is often necessary, something between 10 and 15 inches. Then you throw into the trench gravel, spread it on equally on the ground.

After completing this step, we recommend placing a plastic membrane that exceeds the size of the trench. An alternative is to pour asphalt on the trench. A proper isolation of the floor is essential to keep the garden building dry, since a lot of humidity creeps through the floor. If your garden building is made of wood, then humidity could also damage the material of the building.

Take your time for performing each step. If you used asphalt, wait until it is completely dry before you build anything upon it. Asphalt is only rock solid after drying completely, which takes a couple of days.

Remember that the base has several functions: thermal insulation, insulation against humidity, being a solid base to build upon and avoid anything growing below it. Therefore, in most cases, you’ll need to use asphalt instead of plastic, even if the later if much cheaper. In the long term, you will not regret spending a little bit more money.

The base of the garden building is as important as the basement of a house. If it is not build properly, the house can collapse. Follow carefully all the recommendations of the materials you use. Different cement types require different drying time. Some are not developed for outside use. Equally important is to choose the right kind of wood, if you are building the garden building from scratch. Most woods are not treated for outside use, which can be very harsh, especially in cold or rainy regions.

Once you’re done with your building make sure to accentuate it with superior outdoor patio lighting, it makes all the difference for an esthetically pleasing surrounding.