Metal garages are considered to be a substantial investment when looking to install an outdoor building in your backyard, not just because of their long lifespan but also because they offer immense flexibility and improved functionality. Parking your vehicles, storing personal belongings, setting up a workshop, or housing tools and equipment—you can do all under a single roof with the right garage structure. However, doing it right means doing it under a budget!
The initial costs of setting up a metal building can often vary as they are dependent on a range of factors, including customizations, the location of installation, the local climate, and more. While these structures are known to offer a high return on investment, you should never have to break the bank for a garage installation.
How Much Does it Cost to Build a Garage?
Prefabricated garages are highly cost-effective as they are built off-site and assembled on-site. Steel buildings are light in weight, due to which the transportation and labor costs are also lower than traditional structures.
Essentially, a metal building costs between $15 and $40 per square foot, depending on the customization and additional integrated features. However, the pricing is heavily dependent on several other factors.
A breakdown of the cost can help you understand which components contribute the most to the prices of your metal building.
| Elements | Cost contribution (in percentage) |
| Material | 50 percent |
| Labor | 20 percent |
| Foundation | 15 percent |
| Engineering | 10 percent |
| Permit | 5 percent |
What Factors Affect the Steel Garage Prices?
The following factors affect the price of your steel garage. They will also help you understand most of your questions regarding ‘How much will building a garage cost?’
Dimensions
The length, width, and height of a metal building will affect the overall cost of the structure. Increasing the length of the building might not affect the price as much as expanding the width and height. This is due to structural changes that come with wider and higher structures, such as additional frames, columns, trusses, and beams that are installed to support wider buildings, as well as wind and load resistance requirements to adhere to for higher structures.
While the overall cost is likely to increase with bigger garages, the per-square-foot cost reduces, giving you a better deal.
Single-car metal garages can cost between $2,500 and $5,000. Whereas, the cost of multi-car garages ranges from $7,000 to $15,000.
Design complexities
The more complex the garage is, the more it is likely to cost. A simple garage structure with side panels is expected to cost less than a complicated structure with additional inner partitions or set-ups, such as adding lean-tos, wraparounds, and car lifts.
Intricate design elements, as well as more detailed engineering will increase the labor and material costs. Integrating additional design features is known to cost 10 percent to 30 percent more than the base price.
Customizations
There is a myriad of customization options offered by metal structures, including:
- Ends: Partially open, closed, or gabled ends will cost different. While closed ends offer better protection, they add to the overall cost. Certified gable ends can cost up to $300.
- Sides: The cost of completely open, partially closed, or entirely closed side panels will also differ. A fully enclosed metal building will cost more due to structural adjustments.
- Doors and Windows: Different types, as well as the number of doors and windows will impact the cost of your steel garage. Doors can cost between $90 and $300, whereas the cost of windows can range from $200 to $225.
- Insulation: Insulation techniques help you in maintaining the temperature within the garage around the year. High R-value insulation techniques are preferable for better results. Double-bubble insulation can cost $1.50 per square foot, and Woven R-17 insulation can cost about $3 per square foot.
- Colored screws: To enhance the appearance and overall aesthetic appeal of the building, you can opt for colored screws. These are likely to drive up the cost of the metal garage building by 3 percent.
Gauge requirements
The thickness of steel is measured in gauge, and the thicker the structure, the lesser the gauge unit. 12-gauge steel frames are 0.1046 inches thick and are stronger and costlier than 14-gauge frames, which are 0.0747 inches thick. However, the former can withstand the harshest of weather conditions.
Likewise, 26-gauge side and roof panels are more robust than 29-gauge panels.
Roof options
Depending on your local climatic conditions, you can opt from the three popular roofs:
| Regular roofing | Regular roofs utilize horizontal panels running from the front of the building to the end. Due to their rounded edges, they are stretched, making them ideal only for mild climates. |
| Boxed-eave roofing | Boxed-eave roofs also feature horizontal panels and are also known as A-frame roofs. They feature an eave trim. Because of horizontal panels, rainwater and snow are likely to get accumulated, which can compromise the integrity of the roof. Hence, they are perfect for moderate climates. |
| Vertical roofing | Vertical roofs consist of vertical paneling running from the center of the roof towards the side. They are arguably the strongest and most durable along with requiring minimal upkeep. They utilize additional purlins for support and ridge caps to seal any possible roof gaps. |
Location
The installation location is also likely to affect the overall steel garage prices. Your distance from the manufacturer, the local steel prices, regional labor charges, and reinforcements required according to local weather will play a key role in calculating the cost of your building.
For instance, regional topography, as well as climate can make it more expensive to install a metal building in upstate New York than installing the same structure in a state like South Carolina.
Moreover, if you live in an area that is prone to heavy rainfall or snowfall, then you have to ensure that your metal building meets the required wind and snow loads in order to withstand the local environmental conditions,
Additional accessories
- Anchors: These are a crucial component of any metal building as they anchor the whole structure to your foundation. There is a range of anchors available based on the type of foundation and the environmental requirements, including mobile home anchors, concrete anchors, and rebar anchors. They typically cost between $50 and $200.
- Braces: In high-wind areas, reinforcement braces are extremely helpful. They tend to cost around $20 to $50 each.
- Trims and header bars: Trims often help in sealing different parts of the metal garages, including doors, windows, and roofs. On the other hand, header bars are known to offer additional support to the structure.
- Hat channel: It is a support structure that is often utilized to strengthen roofs and wall panels.
Other customizations, such as fasteners, sealants, ridge caps, gutters and downspouts, and roof pitches, also affect the cost of the steel garage.
Paint
Colored panels cost more than the non-colored galvanized steel options. However, a colored coating adds a layer of protection against UV rays and tends to extend the lifespan of metal buildings. You can choose from a range of color options that meet your aesthetic preferences.
Local permits
Authorities across the US require you to apply for specific permits when building a new metal garage. These permit requirements and the cost can vary depending on costs, the size of the building, as well as intended use.
Steel prices
The global prices of steel are constantly fluctuating. They can be affected by wars, manufacturing issues, supply and demand fluctuations, and material availability. Moreover, the local prices of steel in your area might also affect the cost of the building.
Foundation
Metal buildings require sturdy foundations like concrete, asphalt, or gravel. These can differ in cost, but concrete is the most preferred as it has high load-bearing capacity but also costs more than alternatives. Gravel foundations begin at about $1 per square foot, whereas concrete slabs can cost between $4 and $8 per square foot. Hence, for 20-foot-wide and 20-foot-long metal garages, a concrete foundation can cost about $1,600 to $3,200.
Informed Decision Making
Choosing the right metal garage is of utmost importance as it is going to be an investment that is going to be erected in your backyard and will last for decades. So, make sure you make all essential cost-related decisions to build a beautiful garage within your budget!
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