Construction type and suppliers for new garage

[malcolm]

I've got a bit carried away and designed a folly rather than a garage. The conservation area restricts things a bit. Now I'm looking for ways of building it cheaply but to a reasonable standard.

It is a double garage joined to a single garage with storage in the roof and clay tiles, and will be weatherboarded outside. Here is an artist impression:

I've been getting quotes from pre-fabricated timber frame manufacturers and they are coming out around £20k erected (plus slab, tiles and doors so will end up a little over £30k - eek).

Has anyone used a supplier they would recommend?

Also I'm keen to insulate the garage reasonably well. Anyone used SIPs for a garage?

 

[bigegg]

Could you not get a couple or three concrete sectional garages
or even some 2nd hand "link unit" portacabins?
Even brick built? (concrete block rather)
Once they are weatherboarded and roofed (as your design above), no-one will know the difference.

 

[malcolm]

It's got to get through building regs so second hand options are out. I did wonder about building it from concrete blocks and then weatherboarding but the cost seemed to end up about the same.

 

[RBDIVE]

why dont you make the timber frame yourself, treatted 100 x 75 studs at 600c/c with 18mm OSB sheathing, then clad with your wood over 25mm battens

 

[malcolm]

That might be the way to go. The builder next door suggested I could buy a pre-fabricated kit and have it put up for around £12k which would save a load of time and hassle. I'm trying some quotes from suppliers that appear to operate at the cheaper end of the market to see where they land.

 

[piman]

Hello Malcolm,

I have used SIP for the roof of the annexe I built and I am very pleased with it. I have a completely unobstructed interior apart from some beams and purlins. As a guide it was just over £20,000 for a floor area of 85 sq metres but quite a complicated roof being an L shaped building and two roof levels plus roof lights. The beams etc were all supplied and cut to shape.

Alec

 

[RBDIVE]

If you did the frame yourself the cost would be about £2000 in material possible £1700, pre done trusses about 4k so a big saving but time to make the frames etc

 

[awemawson]

I can thoroughly recommend putting insulation under the slab. My workshop is somewhat bigger but the principle is the same. I leveled, laid hard core, compacted it, blinded it with sharp sand, compacted it, laid Vizqueen membrane, then 100 mm of expanded polystyrene, then 150 mm of concrete with rebar

Andrew

 

[malcolm]

If you did the frame yourself the cost would be about £2000 in material possible £1700, pre done trusses about 4k so a big saving but time to make the frames etc

Building it myself could be a plan. I have no idea how to do it but it would make sense to start learning somewhere.

The costs still look frightening. I've put together some guestimate figures for DIY. Does £21k look sensible for a 50 square metre garage built by myself? Local council conditions seem to account for about £10k of that.

Raft foundation because of tree: £8000 £4000
Timber for walls: £2000
Cladding: £2200
Roof trusses and boarding: £5000
Plain clay tiles: £2000
Metal rainwater goods to suit conservation officer: £750
Windows: £1500
Garage Doors: £2000
Electrics: £1000
Building regs and structural calcs etc: £1000
Archeologist (don't ask): £2000
Total: £21000

(good point below - edited foundation estimate)

 

[awemawson]

When you say DIY, do you include the raft? If so that looks at a first glance pricey. Presumably they'll want the perimeter of the raft thickening. Man with JCB far a day circa £250. Concrete at about £100 per cu M. Then rebar, membrane, insulation, and blinding sand. Should be able to get hardcore free as people are charged to get rid of it. Maybe hire a vibrating roller (welcome to borrow mine but several counties away!)

Andrew
(who's laid getting on for 150 cu metres of concrete round the farm in the last 6 years!)

 

[Fintray]

Malcolm

If you go down the route of making the frames yourself the best thing to do is to make the sections to the exact size that the OSB comes in i.e. 1200x2400 or even fractions of that to minimise the cutting and therefore wastage.
Get yourself a gas powered framing nailer, good table saw and sliding mitre saw as they will save you lots of time and give accurate repeatable cuts (you can always sell them when you have finished).

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Slightly OT but another option I'm going to use to build a porch is steel frame, clad in cement type board and then covered in "slip bricks".
If you check out McDonalds you will see they are built in the same way. Common method for conservatory dwarf walls in areas such as city dwelling where there is no rear access and everything has to go through front door.
Who now is going to tap the wall of a McDonalds next time they visit ?

Paul H

 

[desmo11225]

Hello Malcom
Just spoken to my friend Robert Bush robert@builtbybush.com Have a look at his Web site, not as good as yours though. I've been watching your request for Help/Guidance Re. Garage/Workshop, Robert has bought "The Old Coal Yard" in Luton and is in the process of building workshops, 2 allready occupied, his own 3 parts finished, we are hoping to go down there Monday 23rd December to have a good tidy up.
Now then!!!!! you are welcome come and see what he's been doing and will give you plenty of advice and guidance.
Sounds like what would suit you is- You and your mates do most of the work with skilled men to help as well.
His workshops are on a concrete raft with a soak away underneath, concrete foundations bricks to floor level then timber frames clad outside with weatherboard/feather edged board lined inside with 2 foil aluminium bubblewrap and fireproof plyboard, also fibre wool in between.
I would say that's just what you want but there are loads of options to suit you.
Ring/Email me for a chat if this helps, I'm also in Luton, Bedford side
All the Best desmo11225 Des Jones