The biggest cost, by far, is labor. To save costs, me and my dad built our garage ourselves, but not everyone can be so lucky as to have the construction knowledge (and time) to complete such a project on your own. Make no mistake about it - if you don't have the construction knowledge, do not even try to attempt this on your own. A small miscalculation such as where to cut a piece of wood could end up costing you hundreds of dollars. Plus, if you do the labor yourself, you won't be insured if something goes wrong.
2. Materials
Outside of labor, the price of the materials is the most costly part of any garage construction project. You will need to purchase all of the building materials you need, as well as any special tools that may be necessary. There are three different kinds of materials used for garage doors that you can choose from.
Wood
-Makes a great insulator
-Doesn't weather very well
-Too heavy
Steel
-Not a very good insulator but they fill the pannels
-Low maintenance and lasts longer
Different Synthetic Materials
-strong and durable
-more expensive
-vinyl is dent resistant
3. Hidden Costs
Also, if you decide to take on a garage construction job on your own, keep in mind the hidden costs that may pop up. Have you ever thought about how you were going to wire your new garage? How about the garage door? Even though you may be skilled at actually building the unit itself, when it comes to the electrical side of things you may run into issues. If this happens to you, you will then need to hire an electrician to get everything in order, and/or a garage door installer. If you can't do it right, don't try to do it yourself. It will end up costing you more in the long run.
4. The Verdict
If you want a single enclosed garage, you could possibly build it for just a few thousand dollars. To hire a contractor to build you something bigger you might be looking at much more. Overall, however, you get what you pay for, and a professional job will add greater resale value to your home than one you did yourself.
