Building a new garage is a big undertaking, but it’s one of those projects that many handy, experienced homeowners choose to tackle by themselves. If you’re considering DIYing your garage, you’re probably interested to know the different building methods you might use, as well as which one is the most effective way to build a garage. Here, we’ll give you our recommendation for the best, most cost-effective way to build a garage, and we’ll show you why. Let’s take a look:
What is the Most Cost-Effective Way to Build a Garage?
For homeowners planning to DIY their entire garage build, we recommend post-frame construction for a few reasons. We’ll take a deeper look at each of these reasons in the article, but they include:
- It’s an affordable upfront investment
- Post-frame construction provides the greatest value over the lifetime of the building
- You choose the design you like best
- A post-frame garage is easily installed quickly and with fewer hands
Even with those benefits of post-frame construction in mind, you may be wondering, “What about garage kits?” or “What about a regular stick-built garage?”. Those are both very common methods to build a garage, but they aren’t the most cost-effective options. Here’s a look at the pros and cons of all three of those garage-building methods.
Looking At 3 Popular Ways to Build a Garage: The Pros and Cons
If you’re not sure what building method is best for your garage project, or if you’re not sold on post-frame construction just yet, let’s take a quick look at three popular and effective ways to build a garage, including a breakdown of their pros and cons.
Garage Kit
Many big-box lumber stores offer garage and shed kits. They come with everything you need to build your garage, pre-packaged and ready for you to assemble. The main concern is you have no choice in what materials are used or in the design of the building, but this is considered to be one of the cheapest ways to build a garage.
Pros:
- You don’t have to make decisions
- Everything you need, all in one purchase
- DIY garage build option
- Relatively affordable
Cons:
- What you see on the box is exactly what you get
- You don’t get to choose materials
- You’ll get very basic, entry-level building components, which might not last as long in the long term.
- Maintenance and repair costs over time can add up, increasing the overall cost of the garage
Post-Frame Construction
Post-frame construction is a popular building method that you see on pole barns everywhere. Post-frame construction is known for being fast to install, exceptionally durable, and one of the most cost-effective ways to build a garage.
Pros:
- Fast, sturdy construction that’s designed to last
- Exactly the garage you want — you decide on size, finishes, features, and more
- An affordable building method
- You choose materials you trust to support your garage for years to come
Cons:
- You’ll have to source your own materials
- You put together your building design
- May cost slightly more than a pole barn kit upfront
When sourcing your own post-frame construction materials for your DIY garage project, turn to the experts at Zeeland Lumber & Supply. We have all of the materials you need to make your project a success. Request a post-frame construction quote here.
Read more about the cost-saving benefits of pre-fab trusses and panels in our guide.
Traditional, Stick-Built Garage
A stick-built garage is best if you’re planning to build an attached garage to match your home. While it is one of the most effective ways to build a garage, it’s also one of the most complicated and expensive of the three methods we’ve discussed.
Pros:
- Easily match your garage to your home
- A durable building option
Cons:
- An expensive garage-building method
- You may need a contractor, especially if you’re building an attached garage
- You’ll need to purchase more materials than the other two methods
- Construction will take longer and may require more hands
When we take a look at these pros and cons, it’s easy to see that post-frame construction and garage kits are the most affordable building methods for your DIY garage build. Traditional stick framing is an option, but most DIY homeowners will find this to be the lengthiest and most costly choice.
With that in mind, why do we recommend post-frame construction over garage kits for the DIY homeowner? Here are just a few of the top reasons:
Why Post-Frame Construction is the Most Cost-Effective Way to Build a Garage
We’ve written a lot about post-frame construction vs traditional stick building, as well as post-frame construction vs pole barn or garage kits for a reason. If you’re building something like a garage or pole barn, post-frame construction really is the most durable and cost-effective option.
Delivers Greatest Lifetime Value for your Garage
The greatest benefit of using post-frame construction to build your garage is that it delivers the greatest overall lifetime value. It’s true that you might find a DIY garage kit that’s cheaper than the cost of purchasing materials for your new garage. But a DIY garage kit isn’t going to have the same quality of building materials.
For a minimal increase in investment, you can purchase high-quality building materials for your post-frame garage that will provide better support and greater durability for a garage that will stand up well against inclement weather, rain, and snow, for years to come.
Partnering with Zeeland Lumber & Supply as your trusted supplier of all post-frame construction materials will help set your project up for success. Contact our experts to learn more.
Designed Exactly How You Want It
When you build your garage using a post-frame construction method, you have the freedom to design your garage however you want. You aren’t tied to a specific design from a garage kit, which means you can choose the size, window options, roofing and siding, and garage door you like best. And, because you’re not reconfiguring an existing design, you’ll likely end up saving in the long run. You can buy exactly the materials you want, without wasting time or money on an upgraded package of products or reverse-engineering your design wants on an existing building.
Easy to Build with Whoever Is Available to Help
Another key benefit of post-frame construction for garage buildings is that it requires fewer people to install. This is important when building your own garage — you probably only have a few helpers, and they may not all be experienced in construction. Post-frame construction requires fewer building materials, which means you need fewer hands on deck to get the job done quickly.
Garage Build Materials at Zeeland Lumber & Supply
Planning to build a garage with post-frame construction? Zeeland Lumber & Supply has all the materials and resources you need to plan the most effective way to build your garage. From high-quality lumber to metal roofing and siding, you can get that garage up in no time when you work with our team to gather all the materials you need.
For more information, contact our team, stop into one of our many locations, or fill out our Post Frame Project Quote Request form for a personalized quote based on your specific project.