Free Garage Plans:
Are they really free?
"The
opportunity cost of our decisions is the lost value
of what we might have done in the alternative.
'Free' is rarely free."
Free garage plans can actually cost as much or more than those you
have to buy, but they do have their place. Are they right for you?
What options are available? Doing a little homework before going the
"free" route will help you answer these questions and save
you time and money in the long run.
Here are a few things to consider:
Some Free Garage Plans Are Better
When you download or send away for free plans, check to see if
they include:
- Foundation Plan
- Floor Plan
- Framing Details
- Elevations
- Section Drawing (basically, a cut-away drawing that shows the
layers of building materials from the foundation up through the
framing, siding, sheathing, etc.)
- Materials List
In most areas where building permits are required, the items listed
above (except for the materials list) are basic requirements in
the application process. If they are not included, you will need
to add them yourself or have them added.
In addition, your plans will have to be drawn to scale and you
will likely also have to provide an electrical plan, site plan,
roofing details and engineering (if using engineered trusses or
using support posts), and information on door and window sizes and
locations.
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Free Garage Plans Will Require Changes
Even if your plans are free, your building authority will likely
require additional items that are not included with your free plans.
Some people can create and provide the additional items, most cannot.
For example, if you use engineered trusses, you will need to provide
engineering calculations. Thankfully, most commercial truss builders
will include the calculations with your trusses.
If your garage design includes any support posts, you will very
likely have to provide a professional engineer's calculations for
proper sizing. Sizing can vary based on supported beam spans, types
of construction materials used, roof loads (depending on the type
of roofing material used and the anticipated snow loads in your
location), etc.
Depending on your location, you may also have to provide engineering
calculations and design changes to account for seismic activity,
wind loads, and other environmentally related issues. It all comes
down to your local building codes and the requirements established
by your local building authority.
What's this going to cost?
Additional engineering can cost from one to two hundred dollars
for simple beam calculations to several thousand dollars for involved
and/or complex calculations. These are real costs that you need
to anticipate and that may catch you by surprise.
Free Garage Plans May Not Exactly Match Your Needs
While some see their garage as a simple building to house their
cars, others see their garage as a multi-purpose structure that
adds tremendous value to their home and their lifestyle. In the
first case, four walls and a roof may suffice. In the second case,
a little extra planning on the front end can pay huge dividends
when your new garage is finished.
Even if you don't know how to build a garage,
you need to know why you want or need one. "Ready,
fire, aim" is not such a good idea when you are building something
that will be costly to change.
Free Garage Plans Can Be A Great Place To Start
When you face the fact that a set of free plans may not meet your
every need, you will save yourself a lot of grief. For some, a set
of free plans offers a great starting point to help you design the
proper structure to meet your needs.
Starting with a good idea of what you want your garage to look
like and how
big you want your garage to be will go a long way toward helping
a designer or a draftsman prepare your plans for submission to your
local building authority. Here are some questions to consider:
Remember, an architect, designer or draftsman will charge by the
hour for everything they do. If you pay a professional to help with
your plans, bringing them a nearly complete idea of what you want
can save a lot of time and money.
Even if you don't know how to build a garage,
or even which end of the hammer to hold, knowing what you want is
the best place to start.
If you don't want to pay for plans up front, find a set of free
garage plans that comes close, add your own comments, additions,
changes, etc., then submit what you have to the paid professional.
All Free Garage Plans are NOT Created Equal
What's The Bottom Line?
While free plans are a great idea and seem like a great
value, you will likely need to spend some additional money bringing
your plans in line with the requirements of your local building
authority.
Free plans offer a great starting point but will undoubtedly require
changes and additional input from you and likely from a paid professional.
Keep that in mind and you will be much happier with your garage
building project.
VERY IMPORTANT! PLEASE check with your local building
authority FIRST before deciding to use free plans or even plans
you have to buy. When you know the requirements up front, your job
becomes a lot easier!
For more detailed instructions and information, visit our
page on how to build a garage. You might be surprised at
all there is to consider!
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