Mia
A garage is always a great home addition. It can be used not only to park your cars in a safe location but also to store various different tools and knick-knacks, making your home more organized in the process. As with any other construction project, the type of material you use is extremely important – it will determine how sturdy, durable, and easy to maintain your new garage is. That’s why it’s important to go through the most popular materials used for this purpose, as well as to take a look at what makes each of them such a good option for your project.
1. Steel
Steel is one of the most popular materials used for building garages. Steel is a metal alloy that is made by melting iron ore and then adding different other materials, like chromium or nickel. The steel used for building metal garages is prepared with the addition of more carbon than any other alloy – this increases its strength significantly. It also forms long chains during the process, so while it’s not as flexible as some other materials, it is more durable and sturdy. Another benefit of using steel to build a garage is the fact that it’s an eco-friendly material, and it doesn’t require much maintenance. The last thing to consider when thinking about whether or not this type of material will work for your garage is that steel can not only be used for its outer shell but also to cover the floor. This will make your garage more stable while giving it extra protection against humidity or water damage. This material is especially popular in areas with heavy rainfalls, storms, and frequent earthquakes.
2. Aluminum
Aluminum is a metal alloy that is created by the combination of aluminum and different other metals like copper or manganese. This material has enough strength to endure even occasional storms, which makes it extremely durable and sturdy. However, in order to provide your garage with added extra stability and protection against damage, you will need to coat the outer shell with steel. It’s also usually recommended to use steel garage doors since that material provides more security than aluminum. Aluminum is an eco-friendly material, which means you will not only protect the environment but also save money in the long term by avoiding harmful substances like harsh chemicals used for treating some other materials.
3. Brick
Brick is a sturdy material that requires very little maintenance. This type of material can also stand up to strong winds and storms fairly easily, which is why it’s a perfect option for areas with a lot of rainfalls. When thinking about how to build a brick garage, you will need to consider the fact that it requires strong foundations since this material doesn’t have great resilience. It’s also recommended to extend the foundation so as to avoid moisture from getting inside. While it doesn’t require too much maintenance, it does need a bit more than the previously mentioned options. In order to keep a brick structure in good condition, you will need to repaint it every couple of years and replace any broken or loose bricks.
4. Concrete
Concrete is a mixture of cement, gravel, stones, and other materials which act as an adhesive. Since it’s made from natural materials that are found locally in many places around the world, concrete can be considered an eco-friendly material. It also doesn’t require much maintenance and doesn’t need to be painted as brick does. However, this material is not flexible and can even break under heavy weight or pressure. It’s important that you don’t go for a flat garage roof if you’re going with concrete since it can’t handle the extra weight. Another thing to consider with the use of this material is that it’s more likely to gain water damage over time, so you need to be prepared to do the needed repairs every 6-7 years or so. That said, as long as you take proper care of your concrete garage – ensure to remove snow, leaves, or any other debris from the roof, and fix any potential cracks as soon as they appear, you’ll be pretty happy with this budget-friendly option.
5. Wood
Wood is an excellent choice of material if you live in an area where the weather doesn’t get too hot or too cold. This type of material also stands up pretty well to storms, so if you live in an area where there are frequent hail or rainfalls, this is an option worth considering. The only problem with wooden garages is the fact that they need a bit more maintenance than other options since water can get inside easily and cause damage to the structure. It will need to be repainted every 2-3 years and you will also need to replace any broken or rotting wood – how often that will be exactly will depend on different factors including the type of wood you choose. It’s also important to note that wood is not a fireproof material, so you need to make sure your garage has proper insulation and no combustible materials are stored inside.
6. Wood-Plastic Composite
This material is a mixture of plastic and wood, which makes it the least eco-friendly option on the list. It’s also easy to maintain since you won’t need to repaint and replace it as often as wood. Wood-plastic composite is considered to be very flexible and can take on many shapes without any problems whatsoever. It can suffer from water damage but it’s easy to repair and doesn’t require too much time or effort. It can be used for various purposes such as building a garage, shed, storage room, platform, fence – the list is pretty long. It’s perhaps best suited to warmer climates and areas that don’t have a lot of earthquakes since it’s not the most durable option, but many people still rely on this modern material in order to construct their garages due to the aforementioned benefits.
When choosing materials for building a new garage, you need to consider the climate in your area since that will mostly determine which option is best suited for your new garage. It’s also important to be aware of how much time and money you’re willing to dedicate to maintenance since some materials are easier to maintain than others. As long as you weigh all your options carefully, you should end up with a garage that is safe and sturdy while also being a pleasure to look at.
