When building a new garage from scratch, be prepared to wait a couple of weeks and invest probably more than you have initially planned. The thing with building garages is the same as with building houses: it does not stop when you predict it will. It is not just about foundations, walls, roof and some wiring in between, but about so much more, and one thing always leads to another. Therefore, a better solution then building a garage is creating it from something else, i.e. some other garage-like object. This is where container structures come into play and present one of the finest solutions you can find.
Why and How?
Container shelters and shipping containers are among the most applicable structures you could get your hands onto, yet not everyone knows about them and appreciates their versatility. Made from hard and eco-friendly material, they are mainly built to transport goods overseas, but have been used for other things, from shops and sheds to offices and homes.
Due to their structure, they can endure all sorts of weather conditions and will not leave you hanging in the rain, wind, snow and sun. Finally, they are easily convertible into anything you want. All you need for a good garage is a container structure that is not rusty, some free time and a handful of ideas. Oh, and make sure whether you need a municipal permission – just in case.
The Foundation
Even though there is no building in the traditional sense, this project is more than simply placing the container in your back yard and cutting the door open with a wielder. Therefore, if you want to turn a handy, highly adjustable container shelter into a garage, be ready to put in some physical work into it. This means that you cannot start without foundations if you want your garage to last longer. In order to do this, choose the suitable location for your new garage – not too far from the house, yet far enough to ensure solitude and prevent sound issues – and mark it.
Then, flatten the ground with a pressure roller or other similar machine, making sure it is about one to two inches below the ground level and flat. After that, you are ready to form the frame around the marks of your future garage by some 12-inch boards and a row of bricks alongside them. In the end, all you need to do is pour the concrete into the frame and wait for it to tighten. And that is your foundation.
Placing and Protecting the Container
After this, it is time to install your container. The most important thing is not how, but where to put the door and, depending on your intensions, it can go on the front, for a drive-in car garage, or the side, for a walk-in tool storage. These container structures are suitable for both ideas, and their purpose can be changed at any point by installing two doors.
Finally, it is important to insulate your garage properly. Shipping containers are properly insulated by default, but there can never be too much of insulation. It protects not only your possessions – car and tools – but also regulates temperature. You can easily do it yourself, using spray-on or roll-on insulation, or, on the other hand, home solutions like Styrofoam or egg cartons.
As you can see, this solution is a ready-made one you just need to adapt. It is durable and trustworthy, always looking nice and avant-garde. What’s best, you can nicely blend it into your back yard, especially with a fresh coat of paint.