Choosing a concrete garage

Choosing a concrete garage is the quickest way to get additional secure storage. Concrete garages are manufactured at the manufacturers’ site and delivered to your home on the back of a lorry; the building is then assembled quicker that it would take you to put up a wooden shed. The walls are made from interlocking concrete panels that bolt together giving a weather proof seal. The roof if possible is made from a single sheet of galvanized steel it a built in place and then the final fascia are fitted. Although not very attractive to look depending on the design of your garage the roof will barely be visible from ground level.

Concrete sectional garages can add a lot of value to you home and do not need to be just used to store your car. Many people have concrete garages to add additional space to their home for hobbies, people make them in to workshops, home gyms, utility rooms, recording and photographic studios, home offices and even microbreweries and wine cellars!

In essence there are three styles of garages to choose from, there is the apex roof, flat roof and lean-to style of garage. The type you choose will be dependant on your personal preference and what you think would blend in to your area the best. Although there are three main styles you will find that most companies are happy to accommodate slight variations. Supposes you have a work van that you would like storing securely, you will find that you can get an apex garage with additional head height.

Concrete garages have come along way since the 1960’s concrete clad garages you can still see today. They are now available in a range of finishes such as a realistic brick finish which from a distance looks quite appealing. Some manufacturers offer ‘maintenance free’ garages, which means that their garages are provided with uPVC fascias and door etc that will not need maintaining. On any of the models none of the exterior walls will need maintenance for a long time. On the subject of doors and fascias there are a number of style that you can choose from that will make your garage unique. You can get Georgian style doors, wood effect doors and fascias that will make your garage look quite appealing.

When choosing your garage think carefully about what you want to do with it. A lot of people wish that they had chosen a slightly bigger garage than what they did. If they had thought about it first it only adds a small amount to the total cost to add another half a meter to the length or width at the time of ordering.

You will need to put a base down for your garage, some manufactures offer and additional service to do this for you, but not many will do it ‘in the price’. The base for your garage will need to be made from concrete that is 4 to 6 inches deep. This is only a guide through and specific advice will need to be taken as it very dependant on the condition of the ground you are building it on. The size of the base in relation to the size of the garage will need to be 150mm (6”) bigger that dimension of your garage. So if your garage is 2.4m wide you base will need to be 2.55m wide and the same applies for the length. Once your garage has been built what you do with the floor will be dependant on what you want to do with it. You may choose to tile it if it’s going to be used as a room but if your going to use it for something more practical you will need a hardwearing finish such as concrete garage floor paint.

As guide for a 2.4 x 4.9m (8’ x 16’) garage with an apex roof you can expect to pay around £2200 including erection of it. If you’re feeling brave and fancy having ago your self you can knock about £350 of this price. Flat roof garages do come in a lot cheaper with the 2.4m x 4.8 being approximately £1500. These prices are just a rough guide, and you can get a garage made to almost any size a and configuration you want. Once you’ve established the size you need approach at least three manufacturers that can give you a quotes. Don’t forget to get quotes for different styles and materials, in some cases the materials that you choose can make a big difference to the cost.

There are many concrete garage providers online now and they are happy to provide a cost online giving you the best possible chances of you finding a bargain.