Building a Garage or Shop in North Bay, What to Know Before You Start

Building a Garage or Shop in North Bay, What to Know Before You Start

A lot of people reach out about building a garage or shop once they run out of space or want something separate from the house.

It could be for storage, a workspace, or just having a place to keep things out of the weather.

Most projects start with a simple idea, but once you get into it, there’s usually more involved than people expect.

The size and layout are the first things to figure out.

A basic single car garage is one thing, but once you start getting into larger shops, higher ceilings, or bigger overhead doors, everything changes.

Wall height, door openings, and roof style all affect how the structure is framed and finished.

The base is a big part of the project.

Concrete work, prep, and getting everything level matters more than people think.

If that’s not done right, it shows up in everything that goes on top of it.

This is usually handled as a subcontracted portion of the job depending on the build.

From there, it’s the structure itself.

Framing, sheathing, roofing, siding, soffit, fascia, and all the finishing details that tie everything together.

This is where a lot of the difference comes in between a basic build and something that actually looks clean and holds up over time.

Most garages and shops around here are finished with steel roofing and some type of siding.

Steel tends to be a good fit because it handles the weather better and requires less maintenance long term.

It also gives a much cleaner finish when everything is tied together properly.

When it comes to cost, it really depends on how the project is built and what’s included.

A smaller, more basic garage build might land somewhere in the $20,000 to $40,000 range.

As you start getting into larger shops, higher walls, bigger doors, and more detailed finishing, that can move into the $40,000 to $80,000+ range.

Once you start adding things like custom steel work, full exterior finishing, and higher-end details, it can go beyond that.

For the exterior portion specifically, which is where most of my work comes in, pricing is usually based on square footage and detail.

Siding typically falls in the $10 to $20 per square foot range depending on the material and level of finishing.

Steel roofing is generally in the $8 to $14 per square foot range depending on whether it’s screw-down or standing seam.

Custom trims, fascia, and capping are where the detail work really shows, and that’s usually priced based on the amount of fabrication and install time involved.

One thing I always tell people is to think ahead.

It’s usually worth going a bit bigger or adding height now rather than wishing you had later.

It’s much easier to build it right the first time than try to change it after.

A lot of the work I do ties directly into these types of builds.

Steel roofing, siding, soffit, fascia, and custom finishing to make sure everything lines up clean and looks right when it’s done.

That’s usually where the difference is between something that just gets built and something that actually looks finished.

Recent projects Click: Iron Oak Contracting - Recent projects 

If you're planning a garage or shop this season, feel free to reach out.

Call or text 705-492-5491 and I can take a look and go over what makes the most sense for your build.