| If your home doesn't have a garage or perhaps one | | | | space as well. This is where gambrel "barn style" |
| that is not large enough, you may have thought | | | | garages come in. The gambrel style roof makes |
| about adding one to your property. However, having | | | | room for an attic above the garage. Gambrel garage |
| a garage built by a contractor can be quite | | | | kits usually accommodate two cars and cost as little |
| expensive. And even if you're handy enough to | | | | as $6,000. |
| tackle the project yourself, doing all the plans and | | | | What if you have something special in mind? Most |
| getting all the construction materials together can be | | | | garage kit manufacturers give you all sorts of |
| a daunting task. That is why more and more people | | | | upgrade options. You can pick special siding, larger |
| are looking at garage kit packages. | | | | garage doors, skylights, cupolas, additional insulation, a |
| What is a garage kit package? It's a package that | | | | metal roof, pull down attic stairs and more. And you |
| includes everything you need to build the garage of | | | | can always apply your own touch to your garage |
| your dreams. A standard kit includes the framing | | | | project. |
| lumber, wood trusses, siding and shingles, the garage | | | | While most people add a garage to park their cars, |
| door, windows and whatever else is needed to build | | | | garages can also be used in many other ways. For |
| a freestanding garage on your lot. It also comes with | | | | example, a garage kit can be modified to |
| a set of detailed drawings including elevations, floor | | | | accommodate a small business office, a playhouse |
| plans, truss and plywood layout, cut lists and various | | | | for the children, a home gym, a general recreation |
| details. | | | | room, a guest apartment or just some flex space. |
| The question that instantly comes to mind, of | | | | The possibilities are endless, and having a separate, |
| course, is: Can I do this myself? Can I build my own | | | | detached structure generally costs less to insure, and |
| garage? If you are handy with tools and have a few | | | | noisy activities in the garage do not affect the home. |
| experienced helpers you probably can (don't forget | | | | Where can you get garage kit packages? There are |
| that you need a concrete slab or concrete footers). | | | | very reputable mills and building materials companies |
| However, you can also get a garage kit through a | | | | that make and ship them. They use brand name |
| builder or buy a kit and have a contractor do the | | | | products and make sure that all components meet |
| work and the total cost will probably still be less than | | | | industry standards. Kits are fairly large, of course, and |
| having one custom-designed. | | | | it usually takes three or four weeks for one to ship, |
| In terms of costs, the kits are amazingly affordable. | | | | so plan ahead. Garage kit builders usually ship within |
| One-car garage kits in NJ can be as little as just over | | | | about a 300-mile radius, so if you live in the Mid |
| $3,000, two car garage kits are usually between | | | | Atlantic region, a centrally located garage kit |
| $4,000 and $5,000, and three car garage kits are | | | | company may ship to Pennsylvania, New Jersey, |
| generally in the $7,000 range. As long as they build a | | | | Maryland, and other Mid-Atlantic states. |
| garage, many people want to add some storage | | | | |