Last Updated on April 11, 2024 by Admin
Garages provide invaluable, secure storage space for vehicles, equipment, tools, and more. While attached garages directly to homes offer convenience, separate detached garage structures give far more freedom to build the size and layout needed. Of the various garage construction materials available, steel garage buildings deliver exceptional durability, customization, versatility, and cost-effectiveness advantages.
Table of Contents
Why Choose a Steel Garage?
Steel makes an outstanding primary building material for garages thanks to inherent benefits beyond other alternatives, such as wood-frame.
Durability
Steel construction provides exceptional resilience to withstand years of exposure to demanding environmental elements like ultraviolet rays, rain, snow, and severe winds. Robust steel withstands heavy use from frequent vehicle maneuverings better than more delicate wooden buildings. Rugged steel construction translates to protection and peace of mind.
Versatility
Steel lends itself to configuring garages in unlimited sizes to create precisely the layout and dimensions you require. Steeply pitched roofs, ample height clearances, extended bays, and other specialized needs are easily incorporated during fabrication and assembly.
Low Maintenance
Once erected, steel garages require much lower ongoing care compared to wooden structures, which need frequent repainting or restaining. The exceptional longevity of color-coated steel panels keeps garages looking like new for decades to come.
Cost-Effective
Purchasing an expertly pre-engineered steel garage kit costs significantly less than conventional construction. The DIY-friendly packaged buildings ship to your location for convenient assembly, saving labor expenses associated with stick-built methods.
Quick Installation
Pre-cut steel parts with pre-drilled holes for fasteners enable rapid connections. Complete garage framework assembly often requires only a few days. The lightweight panels make handling more manageable than lumber.
Customization
While packaged for efficiency, steel garages still allow abundant ways to customize aesthetics and functionality. From selecting colors to incorporating specialized features, the design flexibly caters to exact needs.
Environmentally Friendly
As the world’s most recycled material, steel garage construction helps conserve natural resources while panels fabricated from recycled content further reduce environmental impact. The exceptional lifespan also minimizes landfill waste streams over time compared to shorter-lasting buildings.
Fire Resistance
Steel rates are among the most non-combustible building materials, earning Class A fire ratings. This assurance helps secure assets against disaster while keeping associated insurance rates lower. The material’s thermal properties also assist climate control efficiency inside steel garages.
Types of Steel Garages
Steel garage manufacturers offer convenient standard sizes and layouts that cover most homeowners’ needs. Buildings assemble easily thanks to the engineered packaged kit format using color-coded parts with pre-drilled holes for connecting with nuts/bolts. Here are some of the most common steel garage options:
Single Car Garages
As the name implies, these economical steel garages offer space for parking one vehicle. Typical dimensions span 12 feet wide by 20 feet deep, often with options to extend length if more room becomes necessary. Attractive pitched roof styles lend aesthetic curb appeal.
Double Car Garages
Double steel garages make perfect sense for multi-vehicle households needing covered parking. At approximately 24 feet wide by 24 feet deep, two cars conveniently fit parked side by side. Thanks to steel construction economies, the structures remain reasonably affordable.
Triple Car Garages
Owners storing numerous vehicles, like collectors, appreciate the expansive protected capacity of steel triple-car garages. Their generous 36-foot width leaves ample operating room to access doors and gear stored inside while keeping vehicles shielded.
Carports
More open carports serve similar functions as fully enclosed garages minus complete wall panels on one or more sides. The roof covering alone still protects from sun, snow, falling leaves, and other elements. Given the reduced materials, carports cost less upfront.
Lean-To Garages
Sometimes called side garages, lean-to configurations attach directly to existing buildings, often sharing one common wall. The angled roof slopes downward away from the building. Positioning garages saves property space and makes entry access convenient through the attached building.
High Clearance Garages
Standard garage height clearances of eight feet may not accommodate occupants like oversized lifted trucks, RVs, boats on trailers, and more. Choosing taller custom garages prevents clearance headaches down the road for large assets.
Custom Garages
While packaged standard garage sizes work for many, custom steel buildings fabricated to unique dimensions and layouts enable the creation of the perfect solution where standard models meet needs. Customization adds cost but gives ultimate flexibility, especially on restricted sites.
Key Considerations Before Buying a Steel Garage
Focusing a discerning eye on critical details ensures your prospective steel garage meets current needs and allows future flexibility:
Size
Consider both current and future storage requirements when selecting garage dimensions. Vehicles, as do tool and equipment collections for hobbies, continue growing. Smart planning leaves room to grow rather than squeezing items into an undersized garage, which is now causing headaches later.
Also, account for space to conveniently open doors fully and maneuver inside. Walker Steel suggests a minimum width of 12 feet wide for single garages with higher clearance double garages spanning 18 to 24 feet wide. Extend length accordingly for the number of cars, accounting for storage too.
Permits and Regulations
Local municipalities enforce zoning regulations and building codes covering details like land usage allowances, construction specifications, aesthetics rules, and more that determine garage permitting. Research these thoroughly and consult local building departments before buying to ensure your desired garage and site location meet requirements.
Foundation
Factors in site geography and soil conditions when planning the critical foundation are responsible for keeping the garage level and preventing collapse or shifting over decades of use. Frost line depth, potential flood levels, and soil types factor significantly into engineering foundations able to uphold robust commercial-grade buildings securely anchored in place.
Doors and Openings
While basic single‐vehicle steel garage kits ship with one standard roll-up door as a cost-effective solution, carefully consider access needs. Many homeowners upgrade to double-wide doors, allowing more freedom when moving items in and out. Specialty bifold doors save exterior space when open by folding compactly against walls. And windows lend desired natural interior light.
Steel Garages configured with higher customizable walls, doors, and specialized access points prevent frustrating usage limitations down the road while enabling ideal functionality today. When planning the perfect steel garage addition to improve life at home, keep big-picture priorities around convenience, value, and flexibility central.
Conclusion
Investing in a durable steel garage delivers outstanding utility and protection for vehicles, assets, projects, and hobbies for years while avoiding compromises associated with undersized or flimsier constructions. Thanks to abundant sizing options and almost unlimited customization potential, steel garage kits available from reputable providers allow for configuring the perfect detached garage matching specialized requirements. With quicker installation, reduced maintenance, and increased home property value, steel garages make smart, future-proof choices that deliver lasting service and satisfaction.
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