Building a new garage is a significant undertaking. And interestingly most of the choices you make come from answers to basic questions you need to ask yourself before starting. The first tip you'll find here is to get our designers involved early in the planning of your garage building. But the first question? What will you be using your new garage for? To some extent the answer to this question will impact all other decisions. Is your new garage strictly to be secure parking for your car? For 1, 2 or 3 cars? Will it be a part-time tool shed or clubhouse for your kids? Are you looking for a place to park the car as well as storage space? How about working on your car?

It's a good idea to list all the purposes your new garage will serve before beginning its design.

Choose the Best Garage Site | Garage Design Decisions | Garage Doors | Garage Materials | Garage Sizes   Garage Roofing and Other Finishing Touches | Build Your Garage Yourself | Selecting a Garage Design

Choose the Best Site for Your Garage

Garage Locations - At this stage, both practical and aesthetic considerations play roles in your decisions. Excellent tip: involve your spouse! Together the two of you need to consider: Just how far from the road and your home do you want your garage to be? If you live in a colder climate do you want to be shoveling your way out to the road, or trudging your way through to the house? Speaking of which, if you're building your garage to complement other buildings on your property, think about how it will look in all four seasons. Changing foliage affects visual impact and the amount of sunlight your garage gets. Does that matter to you?

Are you considering running electricity, venting or plumbing your garage? If so, you'll need to account for these factors when choosing the location and plan to extend the infrastructure for them. If you live in a colder climate consider installing radiant floor heating in the building phase to keep your vehicle cozy and warm on frigid nights. We also offer thermal doors and windows to help keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Important Garage Design Decisions

Summerwood offers many garage designs, each of which can be personalized to suit your needs and tastes. Many of the garage design options available here at Summerwood are only available here. Remember; involve our design team you'll increase the odds of getting exactly what you want.

Outside - Most garages do adequate duty as a shelter for your car. But a Summerwood garage is an architectural statement and can greatly boost the value of your home. You can make that statement an original one by modifying any of the fine styles we offer. (This is another good time to involve your spouse.) Build the garage of your dreams with attractive windows enhanced by shutters and plant boxes; give it charm with antique style hardware and more.

How will you arrive to your garage? Will you need to pave the way? If so, you may wish to lay your foundation at the same time.

Inside - The list you make of your garage's uses will help you decide on many of those interior design options. If it's a multi-purpose structure, you may want to partition it for order. However open concept provides a feeling of space that many find comforting. You may want to allow extra space for storage, with cupboards, shelves and maybe a work bench.

Garage Doors

We have an impressive range of finely crafted garage doors for all tastes and requirements. Looks that range from the old style country barn to a smart urban coach house. Each door is made from western red cedar. You can upgrade, and add windows and other extras to suit yourself. Learn more about our garage doors.

Build Your Garage To Last With Quality Materials

A garage is a major contributor to the value of your property and quality of your life. At the very least it protects your car, which, is among your most prized possessions. So you want it to be sturdy and last a lifetime. That's why Summerwood refuses any but the finest materials in its garage building kits. We advise you to do the same when completing it with personal touches.

Our garages are available with rich, long-lasting western red cedar but you can also choose our Canexel siding. It's a maintenance-free wood fiber siding and comes in a variety of pleasing colors. The hardware is all absolute top quality to ensure long life. Learn more about our garage siding and other building materials.

How Big Does Your Garage Need To Be?

What you need to consider: At this stage your list of intended uses for your garage comes in handy. (For instance, if you want to host jam sessions without moving the car outside you'll need more space.) Mind you, a dual-purpose garage doesn't have to be huge, if you plan well. You can store skis, garden tools, lumber and the like up in a loft. But will you need extra floor room another car, bikes, maybe a workbench, hobbyhorse or workout space? The key is to anticipate your needs and give yourself a bit of extra room to move around once you've accommodated them. Be sure to view our sample floor plans and utilize our floor plan grids. They're a huge time-saver.

Once you've decided on a size, physically test it. Set some stakes in the ground and tie string around them, creating the actual area you're intending to use. (You can do this even if you haven't quite decided where to put your garage.) Once your mock space is "built" can you fit everything you're dreaming of? The last thing you want is to find out after you've built your garage that you don't have the space to accommodate all your stuff.

What you need to know. Most jurisdictions and municipalities require building permits for structures over 100 sq feet, so plan on getting one before your garage kit arrives. Even if you do come in under 100 sq feet there are often restrictions such as not building within 2 or 3 feet of your property line. This library of regional listings will include the government office you need to contact in your area. Contact us for more information. We can help.

Garage Roofing Considerations and Other Finishing Touches

Unless you order our long-lasting and beautiful cedar shingles with your Summerwood garage kit, you'll need to supply your own roofing. The most economical choice is asphalt shingles. They come in assorted attractive colors, are easy to find at your local building supply center, and are easy to install - even for novices. (Just be careful so high up.)

Another attractive yet practical choice is corrugated metal instead of shingling. It also comes in many charming colors. And in winter, even the wettest, stickiest snow falls from it like water.

For more on roofing options, check out our Information section.

Will You Build your Garage Yourself?

A garage is a relatively large project, but we make it easy with all of our helpful and instructional tools. You can do it. And it's actually a lot of fun. Over the years we've turned loads of Nervous Nestors and Nancies into Handy Harrys and Hildas. Just be sure that you have the time, energy and tools to complete the project. Your garage kit comes with a careful estimate of the number of labor hours it would take to assemble your kit. Depending on your level of handiness, you can plan your garage's construction better.

Your garage kit also comes with minutely detailed step-by-step instructions. Additionally live help is just a phone call or email away. We're here to help in anyway we can.

On the other hand, you may not have the time or desire to do it yourself. We can still help. Our how to hire a contractor package offers a lot of valuable advice. The labor estimate will give a decent contractor all he or she needs to provide you with a quote.

Selecting a Summerwood Garage Design

Each of these stunning styles of wooden garage comes in an easy-to-build kit. They can be as large or small as you like. Choose one then stylize it to suit your exact tastes. Also be sure to view our many 3D virtual tours.

Summerwood Garages:

Highlands Garages - The simple gable roof evokes the no-nonsense style of hearty northern Scots. Consider large sash windows to allow for plenty of sunlight, a Scottish rarity!

Bancroft Garages - The Bancroft garage provides all the storage space you'll ever need and does it in a style that's all it's own. With so much great space, you'll be sure to use your Bancroft garage for more than just parking the family car!

Hanover Garages - Garages never had so much style designed in from the ground up.  The Hanover garage kit boasts an extra half storey of space to use as you see fit. From a creative home office to extra storage space, whatever you decide this garages a keeper.

Archer Garages - The hip roof style creates a soaring feeling of space and makes for a pleasant view from any angle. A flagstone walkway to the side door gives it that homey feel.

Montcrest Garages - Its steep gable roof means extra storage potential and quicker tumbling snow in winter! Inside the effect is spacious. Consider capping your Montcrest with our cedar shingles.

Alpine Garages - Inspired by the roomy chalets of Austria and Switzerland the double-car Alpine boasts a vast gable roof. Add a dormer window to make the most of the effect inside and out.

Bishop Garages - The pyramid shaped hip roof of the double-car Bishop adds a classic style to any property, bespeaking harmony and order. Balance it with our cedar shingles for an individual handsome look.

York Garages - The plunging gable roof of the double car York garage seems to go on forever inside but gives the impression of hugging the property outside. Plenty of storage potential or even a loft.

Can't make up your mind? View our garage photo gallery for ideas. When you see what others have built, it may inspire something brand new. Just promise you'll send us a picture of yours when it's done!