Most new garages take several weeks of work once plans and permits are approved, depending on size and finish. The wait before work starts, for drawings, HOA approval and the permit, often takes as long as the build itself.
How long does it take to build a garage?
Building the garage itself usually takes several weeks of work once plans and permits are approved. A simple detached two-car garage sits at the short end; an attached garage tied into the house, or one with an apartment above, takes longer. Rain on clay, permit review and door delivery are the usual causes of delay around Griffin.
Do I need an architect, an engineer or plans to build a garage?
You need plans for the permit, but not always an architect. A standard garage can be drawn by the builder or a drafter, with a site plan showing distances to the property lines. An engineer is often needed for an apartment or second story, a long beam over a wide door, a steep lot or poor soil. Truss drawings come from the truss maker.
How many inspections does a new garage need?
Expect several inspections, set by your building department. Most garages get a footing or slab inspection before the pour, a framing inspection, rough electrical and plumbing inspections before walls are covered, and a final inspection. Each one has to pass before the next stage starts.
What are the steps to build a garage, in order?
The usual order of steps:
- Site visit, measurements and a written quote.
- Plans, site plan and HOA approval if needed.
- Permit application and approval.
- Layout, clearing, grading and footing excavation.
- Footing or slab inspection, then the concrete pour.
- Framing, roof sheathing and roofing.
- Framing inspection, then windows, doors and siding.
- Rough electrical and any plumbing, with inspections.
- Garage door, opener, insulation and drywall if planned.
- Gutters, grading, driveway tie-in and cleanup.
- Final inspection and a walk-through with you.
Can I stay home and use my driveway during the build?
Yes, you can stay home; a detached garage is built outside the house, and an attached one only opens the shared wall near the end. The driveway is the harder part. On concrete days, trucks need the drive and the yard, and fresh concrete cannot be driven on for a while, so plan to park on the street for some days. We tell you which days ahead of time.
What slows a garage job down in Georgia?
Wet weather is the main one: clay that is soaked cannot be graded or poured on. HOA review, a busy permit office, a historic district review in towns like Newnan, and long lead times on custom doors or windows also add time. Ordering the door early helps.
How does a 2-car detached garage go from first call to finished?
Here is an example of how a two-car detached garage behind a brick ranch near Griffin goes from start to finish. It is an illustration of the usual steps, not a record of a past job.
- First call: you describe the lot and what you want to park or store.
- Site visit: we look at the setback room, the slope, the drive, trees and where power will come from.
- Written quote: a 24x24 garage with one double door and a side door, slab, power and a driveway extension.
- Plans and approvals: drawings and a site plan, HOA sign-off if there is one, then the permit application.
- Ground work: topsoil stripped, pad compacted, footings dug and inspected, slab poured on a dry day.
- Build: framing, roof, siding to match the house, then the door and opener.
- Finish: electrical inspected, gutters and grading done, drive tied in, final inspection and walk-through.
When should I order the garage door?
Order the garage door as soon as the size is fixed in the plans. Standard doors are easier to get than custom sizes, wood doors or special colors, and the opening must be framed to the exact door size.
Want a price for your own lot? We come out, look at the ground, the drive and where the garage can go, then put the size, materials and price in a written quote. Call or text (678) 661-6646.