Stick Built versus Pre-Fab Garages

TheTimeTraveler · 08-20-2023, 10:47 AM

I am thinking about adding a one or two car garage to my property and have a few questions from those "in the know". I am now just in the beginning stages of investigating options.

Someone suggested that a prefab structure would be better, faster, and cheaper to put up as opposed to a stick built structure built at the work site.

I assume that either structure would meet or exceed local building codes so my questions are: Is there a huge financial advantage of the prefab structure? How long does it take to install a prefab versus an on site stick built garage? What are the downsides or upsides of electing one over the other?

Are there quality prefab garage structure providers who will sell and install in the Lakes Region area? Do the prefab providers take care of pouring the foundation? Will the prefab folks take care of all the town required permitting process or is that a function of the property owner?

Assuming a prefab garage: Any idea of what the cost would be to purchase and install a one car garage? What about the costs involved for a two car garage?

Thank you for any input!

John Mercier · 08-20-2023, 11:19 AM

I will try to go in order.

PreFab is usually panelized. Meaning large sections are panelized in the factory and shipped to site where a crane sets them and workers secure them together.

Less time on-site in the weather, but location features matter... such as room for the crane to operate. There isn't a lot of clean up of construction goods, as that was done in the factory in a more efficient manner.

Stick built in many modern cases still use trusses, so some of the same factors play in. But the crane would not wait on-site for the builder to stud frame and sheath the walls so the crane could lift it into place. It would come after the builder did all that basic work with manual labor and just set the trusses. The builder would need to hoist the roof sheathing and shingles manually, as the crane would return to the factory.

The lead salesperson will coordinate for the foundation if that is your desire... but the permits would be you. The lead salesperson should be able to provide the plans and most of the docs necessary to ease the permitting process in most cases. Some cases will have site issues that will require a trip to the planning commission or even the request for variance.

Lavalley/Middleton has garage plans on line, with the various sizes and options. Once you see one that you like (fits the architecture that you are looking for) contact the local store manager, they can lead you to their salesperson that will confer the costs of the options that you prefer and lead you through the entire process.

http://lavalleys.com/products/garages/
Paste into your search engine.

bobkatfly · 08-20-2023, 06:54 PM

Friend of mine purchased a Lavalley/Middleton garage recently and has been happy with it. I think it's still in the finishing stage and he had a few minor issues but it seems they're being taken care of. I don't know what the costs were but install was fairly quick and I think they also handled the slab install.

joec · 08-21-2023, 01:46 PM

Google SP Rankin Garages. They did my 14x32 in two days and needed 3 hours the third day to do the windows and doors (after the slab was poured). They will do a monolithic slab foundation. That may not work for you depending on how/if you plan to attach it to your house.

They don't do site work if needed.

All the prices and specs are on the website. They worked with me on some of the extras and modifications I needed. I needed 9 foot walls, 9/12 pitch roof, portal framing, upgraded garage door, upgraded roof shingles and I supplied the windows and doors.

They do not do vinyl siding. They do fir T1-11 or Zip sheathing if you want siding or shingles. They may do plywood sheathing. The roof is standard roof rafters.

They do nothing but garages and do 2-3 of them a week.

I'm happy with mine.

Good luck!

WinterHarborGuy · 08-21-2023, 03:20 PM

We went through this 7 years ago in NY.

Roughly speaking, our options (building only) were:
*stick built $80K
*prefab $65K
*pole barn $50K

We went pole barn and we are happy. Guy we hired has done 250 of them over 40 years. You save as there is no foundation - you sink the poles, build up the building on the poles, and pour the floor at the end.

24' by 24' with an upstairs (unfinished). We put in lots of bells and whistles (doors/windows that were better than average) and electric added to the cost, but we wanted to keep it under a certain number...

TheProfessor · 08-22-2023, 05:26 PM

Years ago viewed a 3 car free standing garage put up.
Walls came on flat bed truck.
Put up in a day or two.
Lasted about 10 years.
Then a heavy snow storm.
The whole garage imploded/collapsed.

Replaced with a stick built garage.

ishoot308 · 08-22-2023, 05:49 PM

I have a family member who is well versed in the pre-fab garages / homes and he said to me that the ones manufactured in Canada are the best to get…

FWIW;

Dan

Biggd · 08-23-2023, 06:48 AM

My brother in-law just had a 24'x24' metal garage installed on his lot, on a slab, in Sanbornton for 29K. Just an FYI!

John Mercier · 08-23-2023, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheProfessor

Years ago viewed a 3 car free standing garage put up.
Walls came on flat bed truck.
Put up in a day or two.
Lasted about 10 years.
Then a heavy snow storm.
The whole garage imploded/collapsed.

Replaced with a stick built garage.

Mine came the same way in the 90s. Not three bay, but panelized on a flatbed.
Four sides got craned in, then the trusses with the gable ends already sheathed.
It is 2x4 construction with what was originally the pine clad T-111.

A new one would more likely come 2x6 with fir clad T-111, and Simpson hangers, as they no longer build the way they did in the 90s.

Since they roofed it with three tab, when it had to be redone, due to the two layer maximum in my town, I went with metal roof. Had I thought about it I would have extended the eaves on all four sides prior to that... it puts a lot of snow against the sidewalls when the snow lets go.

I also had to upgrade the door, as in the original it came with a wood door with MDF panels; and I vinyl sided it to match the home. But overall... it has done pretty well.

08-20-2023, 10:47 AM	#1
TheTimeTraveler Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 870 Thanks: 275 Thanked 283 Times in 174 Posts	Stick Built versus Pre-Fab Garages I am thinking about adding a one or two car garage to my property and have a few questions from those "in the know". I am now just in the beginning stages of investigating options. Someone suggested that a prefab structure would be better, faster, and cheaper to put up as opposed to a stick built structure built at the work site. I assume that either structure would meet or exceed local building codes so my questions are: Is there a huge financial advantage of the prefab structure? How long does it take to install a prefab versus an on site stick built garage? What are the downsides or upsides of electing one over the other? Are there quality prefab garage structure providers who will sell and install in the Lakes Region area? Do the prefab providers take care of pouring the foundation? Will the prefab folks take care of all the town required permitting process or is that a function of the property owner? Assuming a prefab garage: Any idea of what the cost would be to purchase and install a one car garage? What about the costs involved for a two car garage? Thank you for any input!

08-20-2023, 06:54 PM	#3
bobkatfly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Center Tuftonboro Posts: 360 Thanks: 53 Thanked 53 Times in 47 Posts	Friend of mine purchased a Lavalley/Middleton garage recently and has been happy with it. I think it's still in the finishing stage and he had a few minor issues but it seems they're being taken care of. I don't know what the costs were but install was fairly quick and I think they also handled the slab install. __________________ Bob F Amherst till the big 66 comes (made it!) Winter Harbor/Mirror Lake till the big guy comes

08-21-2023, 03:20 PM	#5
WinterHarborGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 79 Thanks: 22 Thanked 41 Times in 24 Posts	Pole barn is worth a look We went through this 7 years ago in NY. Roughly speaking, our options (building only) were: stick built $80K prefab $65K *pole barn $50K We went pole barn and we are happy. Guy we hired has done 250 of them over 40 years. You save as there is no foundation - you sink the poles, build up the building on the poles, and pour the floor at the end. 24' by 24' with an upstairs (unfinished). We put in lots of bells and whistles (doors/windows that were better than average) and electric added to the cost, but we wanted to keep it under a certain number...

08-22-2023, 05:49 PM	#7
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,192 Thanks: 2,368 Thanked 5,255 Times in 2,039 Posts	I have a family member who is well versed in the pre-fab garages / homes and he said to me that the ones manufactured in Canada are the best to get… FWIW; Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

08-20-2023, 11:19 AM	#2
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,340 Thanks: 3 Thanked 590 Times in 486 Posts	I will try to go in order. PreFab is usually panelized. Meaning large sections are panelized in the factory and shipped to site where a crane sets them and workers secure them together. Less time on-site in the weather, but location features matter... such as room for the crane to operate. There isn't a lot of clean up of construction goods, as that was done in the factory in a more efficient manner. Stick built in many modern cases still use trusses, so some of the same factors play in. But the crane would not wait on-site for the builder to stud frame and sheath the walls so the crane could lift it into place. It would come after the builder did all that basic work with manual labor and just set the trusses. The builder would need to hoist the roof sheathing and shingles manually, as the crane would return to the factory. The lead salesperson will coordinate for the foundation if that is your desire... but the permits would be you. The lead salesperson should be able to provide the plans and most of the docs necessary to ease the permitting process in most cases. Some cases will have site issues that will require a trip to the planning commission or even the request for variance. Lavalley/Middleton has garage plans on line, with the various sizes and options. Once you see one that you like (fits the architecture that you are looking for) contact the local store manager, they can lead you to their salesperson that will confer the costs of the options that you prefer and lead you through the entire process. http://lavalleys.com/products/garages/ Paste into your search engine.

The Following User Says Thank You to John Mercier For This Useful Post:
TheTimeTraveler (08-20-2023)

08-21-2023, 01:46 PM	#4
joec Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 13 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 5 Posts	Google SP Rankin Garages. They did my 14x32 in two days and needed 3 hours the third day to do the windows and doors (after the slab was poured). They will do a monolithic slab foundation. That may not work for you depending on how/if you plan to attach it to your house. They don't do site work if needed. All the prices and specs are on the website. They worked with me on some of the extras and modifications I needed. I needed 9 foot walls, 9/12 pitch roof, portal framing, upgraded garage door, upgraded roof shingles and I supplied the windows and doors. They do not do vinyl siding. They do fir T1-11 or Zip sheathing if you want siding or shingles. They may do plywood sheathing. The roof is standard roof rafters. They do nothing but garages and do 2-3 of them a week. I'm happy with mine. Good luck!

08-22-2023, 05:26 PM	#6
TheProfessor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,115 Thanks: 17 Thanked 340 Times in 205 Posts	Years ago viewed a 3 car free standing garage put up. Walls came on flat bed truck. Put up in a day or two. Lasted about 10 years. Then a heavy snow storm. The whole garage imploded/collapsed. Replaced with a stick built garage.

08-23-2023, 06:48 AM	#8
Biggd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH Posts: 4,059 Thanks: 2,184 Thanked 1,181 Times in 750 Posts	My brother in-law just had a 24'x24' metal garage installed on his lot, on a slab, in Sanbornton for 29K. Just an FYI!