Planning Tips for Building Your Custom Garage
If you’re planning to put a custom garage on your property, chances are you’ll use it for more than just a place to park. And with the many varied uses a garage can have, it’s important to understand that when it comes to planning your garage, you’re never constrained to what you might consider “standard” garage building options. To get your creative wheels cranking, below, we’ve outlined a few unique features you may want to add to your garage plan.
Radiant In-Floor Heat Is a DIY Mechanic’s Best Friend
Do you plan to use your new garage for weekend DIY work? Have you thought about including in-floor heating in your garage plan? It’s efficient, quiet, and perhaps best of all, it makes crawling around on the garage floor in the dead of winter far from miserable. In fact, with in-floor heat, you might just find yourself looking for reasons to crawl under your vehicles!
If you’re planning to have a heated garage (a major perk in our Minnesota climate) having radiant, in-floor heat can also help you save on energy costs. With a warm floor, you can keep the garage heat at a lower level and still feel perfectly comfortable while you’re working.
Standard-Height Garage Doors Aren’t Your Only Option
Got a lifted truck? Perhaps you’re looking to haul loads of stuff into your garage on top of a vehicle? Then a standard, seven-foot-high garage door will probably be too short for your needs. Luckily, that’s not your only overhead door option!
Although standard-height overhead doors are the most common, eight-foot, nine-foot, and even taller doors are widely available. When you sit down with a garage builder to start laying out plans for your build, the pros can recommend the most appropriate size and type of door for your needs based on what you plan to do with the space.
Heating & Cooling May Require Separate Electric Service
Planning to enjoy time in your garage throughout winter? Perhaps you’re looking to spend hours in there in the middle of summer? Then you’ll probably benefit from having a dedicated heating and cooling system for your custom garage, but that may require additional electric service.
Depending on your needs and the level of electric service your home has, your garage builders can let you know whether you’ll need a sub-panel installed or a totally separate main panel. If you plan to use power-hungry tools in the garage, separate service is almost always necessary.
Storage or Attic Trusses Give You More Space for Your Extra Stuff
Do you have a lot of seasonal items, recreational gear, or extra stuff you rarely use? Did you know there are truss options that give you extra storage space above your garage? You can substitute storage trusses for standard trusses without blowing your budget and create hidden storage space that provides plenty of additional room. Attic trusses are also available — although they’re considerably more expensive than standard trusses — which will create a full-size room above the garage that you can do whatever you like with.
Ready to Build a Custom Garage in the Twin Cities?
If you’re thinking about building a new garage on your Minneapolis or St. Paul property, let our team at Sussel Garages help you out! For over 100 years, we’ve been building custom garages for property owners throughout the Twin Cities metro and we handle the entire process from start to finish. From planning and excavating to slab pouring, framing, roofing, and all other aspects of construction, our knowledgeable team takes care of it all.
To learn more about how we can help you or get an estimate for your build, call us today at 651-645-0331 (St. Paul) or 612-379-0949 (Minneapolis). You can also request a free estimate, and we’ll get in touch with you!