Building a 24×24 Garage Yourself – What Budget to Expect
Motivated homeowners with basic construction skills can build simple 24×24 (576 sq ft) steel garages for storage or shops quite affordably using prefab building kits and elbow grease equity. But what exactly should owning your own 576 sq ft garage cost by going the DIY kit route? Plan around a $15,000-$25,000 budget to complete basic functional buildings.
Steel Garage Kit – $5,500 ($9.50 per sq ft)
Quality 24×24 garage packages including stamped steel I-beam columns, roof trusses, wall girts and all hardware for assembly average about $9.50 per square foot before options. This means a full structural shell kit totals around $5,500. Reputable mid-range suppliers like American Barn offer complete component garage kits to this spec.
Concrete Installation – $3,500-5,000
After permitting, prepare a level building site with graded crushed stone base before pouring a 5-6″ thick reinforced concrete slab to safely support structures. Hiring concrete finishers simplifies meeting curing standards and finishes for drainage. Budget around $6-8 per sq ft for turnkey slab.
Supplemental Framing Lumber – $500
Some additional 2×4 studs for partition walls, 2×6 rafter ties, sheathing boards and miscellaneous blocks get budgeted to frame interior rooms, lofts or storage systems if building beyond basic shells.
Building Wrap, Insulation – $1,250
Wrap foundations in moisture barrier like Typar before adding R-13 Batt insulation to walls and R-30 layers to ceilings for better climate control and sound dampening.
Windows, Entry Doors – $2,500
Allocate ample allowance for commercial-grade windows, walk doors, and 12-16 foot wide vehicle access gates to suit security needs while controlling HVAC costs. Insulated human-sized entry and larger garage doors range $750-5K alone pending material.
In total, garage owners can expect their 576 sq ft DIY builds tackling much sweat equity to cashflow around $13-15K. Factor another $3-5K if hiring electricians, plumbers or painters for finished interiors. Just don’t skimp on the pad or strong anchoring essential for durable structures withstanding decades of use!
