Concrete block garages are a great investment in your home. While they can be built to any size and shape, they are typically rectangular or square. They usually include a door that opens into the garage and another door that opens into the backyard. The garage is usually attached to the house with an addition or a separate structure that is connected by a breezeway or covered porch.
When building a concrete block garage, you will need to choose between two methods: building it over-sized and then filling in the gaps with concrete, or building it at its final dimension and filling in the gaps before pouring the concrete. The first method is easier but more expensive as you will have to remove more material later on. This second method can save money but takes longer because you are working with smaller blocks during construction.
When choosing block sizes for your garage, make sure that they are no less than five inches thick so that they don’t crack under pressure from heavy equipment such as lawnmowers or snow blowers. In order for these blocks to hold up well against rainwater runoff from heavy rains and snowstorms, they should also be at least ten inches wide with at least four inches thickness.
Concrete block garages are not a cheap building option. In fact, they can be quite expensive. There are several factors that affect the cost of your concrete block garage: the size of the building and its features. Here we will go through all the things you need to know about building a concrete block garage from start to finish and how much each step costs so you can budget accordingly.
Cost To Build A Concrete Block Garage
The cost to build a concrete block garage depends on the size of your garage. It also depends on the materials, labor and permit costs that you would incur while building it. Let’s look at these factors in brief:
- The Cost Of Materials
The first thing that needs to be considered is the cost of materials for building a concrete block garage. The amount can vary according to the type of blocks you choose to use, their width and length and whether they will be used as single or double walls. In addition, other materials such as wood framing may also be required depending upon how wide your block is going to be built up against an existing structure like a house or an existing wall in order for its foundation sides not become too exposed from either side; this additional material may run into thousands if not tens of thousands depending upon its size (in terms of cubic meters).
- Labor Cost For Building A Concrete Block Garage
Types Of Concrete Block Garage
There are three main types of concrete block garages:
- Concrete block walls (which can be up to eight feet tall). These are the cheapest option, as they can be built with just a mason and his crew. They’re also something that you can easily build yourself if you have some experience or know someone who does.
- Concrete garage blocks with wood framing in between them (the wood is used for support). This option is more expensive than the first, since it means hiring a professional builder rather than doing all the work yourself. However, it gives you much more flexibility when designing your garage’s layout and appearance—you’ll be able to add windows or skylights onto any wall you want without worrying about how thick your concrete will need to be for structural stability.
- Solid concrete walls made from poured concrete rather than pre-made blocks (which take less time but cost more). These tend not only cost more but also take longer than other options because they require specialized equipment like pumps and mixers; this means they may not work out if you need something done quickly.
Laying the Blocks
Laying the blocks is the next step in building your garage. As with any construction project, you can make this as easy or difficult as you’d like. The best way to do it is by using a machine that attaches the blocks together without having to rely on mortar or cement. This will save time and money, since you won’t need to hire workers or buy special equipment for mixing the materials used for attaching them together. Think about how much time and money each option would save you before making your decision.
Wall Strengthening
The top of a concrete block wall cannot support the weight of the roof and must be reinforced with metal rebar. Without this step, the garage would not stand up to any type of weather or snow load. The block walls will also not have any strength at all if you use thin blocks for your construction, so when in doubt, always choose thicker blocks for stability and longevity.
Concrete Footings
“Concrete footings are the foundation of your garage, and they’ll support the weight of your garage and whatever else it’s holding up. They’re made of concrete, which is poured into forms that have been cut to match the outline of your slab. Footings should be at least 8 inches deep and 8 inches wide.” “The more expensive kind of footing has rebar embedded in it so that you can reinforce walls with steel as well as concrete.”
Wall Insulation
Insulation is an important part of the building process. It’s essential for energy efficiency and helps keep noise from the outside out. You can use spray foam or a more traditional batt style insulation. The amount of insulation depends on your climate, but it’s best to over-insulate than not enough.
Roofing Materials
One of the most expensive components of a garage is its roof. Roofing materials include asphalt and concrete shingles, tile, metal, and rubber roofs. Asphalt shingles are available in various colors and styles to complement your home’s style and design. Concrete tiles are heat-resistant and last for more than 50 years if properly maintained. They can be used on buildings that experience extreme weather conditions such as heavy snowfall or hail storms. Metal roofs can come in two different styles: standing seam panels or corrugated metal sheets. Both styles have similar cost but standing seam panels are better at shedding water so they may be worth the extra cost if you live in an area with heavy rainfall or snowfall during winter months.
Roofs made from rubber can last up to 50 years without major repairs needed because this material does not crack when exposed to high temperatures (upwards of 300 degrees Fahrenheit). Rubber also doesn’t absorb any moisture which means it won’t rot like wood does when exposed for long periods of time without repainting every few years so it’s perfect for areas where there’s frequent rainstorms during summer months.
Framing (Interior & Exterior)
Framing is the most important part of your garage project. It’s also the most expensive, so it’s important that you get it right.
The framing materials for concrete block garages are 2x4s for the interior and exterior walls, 2x6s for the floor joists, 2x8s for the ceiling joists and rafters (if you’re building a gabled roof), and 2x10s for roof rafters.
Interior Finishes
As you might expect, the cost of interior finishes is highly dependent on the type of flooring you select. Here’s a quick rundown of each option:
- Wood Flooring: $5-$10 per square foot
- Carpeting: $2-$15 per square foot (depending on grade and thickness)
- Tile Flooring: $2-$16 per square foot (depending on brand and style)
- Laminate Flooring: $3-$13 per square foot (for premade panels) or up to $4 for custom-made flooring that matches your other panel designs)
- Hardwood Floors: Generally ranges between $8-$15 per square foot, depending on quality and materials used in construction. Most wood floors are constructed with engineered wood products such as plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Hardwoods like oak, maple, or cherry can increase this cost by up to 40%. If you are working with a qualified contractor, they should be able to provide an accurate estimate based off their experience with local contractors’ pricing structures. It’s also important to note that some hardwoods may require additional finishing steps such as sanding which can add time onto project duration depending upon how long you plan on letting it dry before moving back into garage/shop area again.
Electrical Work
Electrical Work
Electrical work is a big part of building a garage, as you will need to wire the lights, outlets, and switches. You will also need to run wiring for the garage door opener. With the right tools and some patience, you can get this job done yourself in no time.
HVAC, Humidity, and Lighting
The HVAC system is the most important of these three. Not only will it ensure that your garage is comfortable and dry, but it will also help you to save money on energy costs in the long term. The right system will keep air circulating properly, reducing humidity levels and preventing mold growth.
For humid climates, an electric dehumidifier is recommended. This appliance extracts moisture from the air via a refrigeration process called cooling (not freezing) condensation of water vapor into liquid water droplets that are then collected in a reservoir tank for later disposal or re-use as drinking water if desired. Dehumidifiers range from small units designed for single rooms up through large industrial-sized models capable of handling several thousand square feet at one time or multiple rooms over many days of operation depending on capacity settings employed by owners/users who have set up automatic timers based on planned usage patterns rather than continuous operation 24/7 without pauses for maintenance purposes such as emptying tanks periodically when full or cleaning filters regularly before they become clogged up with dirt particles blocking airflow
Plumbing
Although a garage doesn’t necessarily need plumbing, if you want to move your car into the new garage, it will be necessary. The good news is that plumbing is relatively easy to install. The bad news is that it can get very expensive very quickly.
So how much should you expect to pay for plumbing? It depends on many factors: the size of your garage, what kind of piping needs to be installed, and whether or not there are any complications like running water lines underground through concrete or gravel. The best way to know exactly what plumbing costs will be is by contacting a professional plumber who can give an estimate based on these factors.
Labor Costs
Labor costs are the most expensive part of building a garage.
If you hire a contractor, they will be able to cut down on labor costs.
However, there is no standard hourly rate for contractors. The cost of labor can vary from $25 to $50 per hour depending on the contractor and their experience level in working with block garages.
Concrete block garages are not a cheap building option.
Concrete block garages are not a cheap building option. The cost of building a concrete block garage can vary greatly depending on the size and type of garage you want to build, with estimates ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 or more. A simple single car garage made from concrete blocks may be as much as $15,000 while a larger two car one could cost $25-30k or more depending on what materials you use and how much labor is involved in building it yourself.
Conclusion
The concrete block garage is a strong building option, but it is not the cheapest. You should research your options and decide what type of garage you want before you begin construction. Although there are many materials that can be used for this project, we recommend using concrete blocks because they will last longer than wood or steel structures and they require less maintenance over time.
