steveSBD
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Digging the Foundation Trench (and My First Big Mistake)
Roping off the trench, why a “32×24” block foundation isn’t really 32×24, leveling the trench bottom with a laser, and breaking granite…
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Dirt Work: Finding Fill and Building Up the Pad
My sloped site needed a lot of fill for the garage pad and driveway. Here’s everything I tried — from a lawn…
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Foundation Basics: My Concrete-Block Stem Wall Plan
Why I used concrete block as the “form” for my foundation, why a concrete truck beat bags of mix, and the mini…
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Obtaining the Building Permit (and What Inspectors Look For)
From application to “permit pouch”: how my garage permit went, the questions the county asked, the three inspections on my card, and…
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Blueprints: Stock Garage Plans vs. Hiring an Engineer
My county offered a free standard garage plan — but only up to 24×24. Here’s how I worked with a local engineer…
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Pole Barn vs. Stick Frame: Choosing a Construction Type
Most of my quotes were for post-frame (pole barn) garages. Here’s how post-frame and stick-frame construction differ, and why stick framing was…
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Getting Quotes: What $28,000–$50,000 Bids Taught Me
Collecting contractor quotes taught me what drives garage costs — weather, distance, rock and exclusions — and ultimately convinced me to build…
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Money Matters: Budgeting and Financing a Garage
Before the first shovelful, I needed a number and a way to pay for it. Here’s how I set my budget, why…
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Owner, General Contractor or DIY? Choosing Your Role
You can be the owner, the general contractor, a subcontractor — or all three. Here’s how the roles on a garage build…
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What Does It Cost to Build a Garage? My $11,000 Story
Contractors quoted me $28,000 to $50,000 for a basic garage. I built it myself for about $11,000. Here’s why the quotes were…