Question:
I want to put up a 20 x 24 garage in our back yard. Which would be the
most cost effective approach?
I will do the erection or assembly. Both will have insulated walls and
roof.
A nice looking manufactured steel building.
A stick built, stucco'd to look like the house.
Both would have a steel roof as I am restricted to 10' max height at
the peak and I don't think asphalt tiles like such a low slope for 8'
walls (about 2-12).
Momma doesn't mind which way I go.
Answer:
Likely, your stick built garage would be cheaper than a quality metal
building, particularly with you doing your own erection labor. There are
other comparison factors to consider . . . but you didn't ask.
One point, your ten foot maximum height very well may be to the eave line
and not to the ridge line. May depend on orientation, when considering a
gable ended building. I know this is sometimes the way zoning or deed
restrictions are written when you are building on or proximate to a property
line, as in a detached garage. Whether or not, you can get an engineered
wood (or steel) truss spanning the 20-feet with a pitch less than 2/10 to
meet the height. Also, you might lower your wall height slightly and have
the lower truss chord a bit higher at 8-ft.
Although Momma doesn't have a preference, you'd better believe that upon
resale (and you will resale someday . . . or your estate will) the buying
Momma will care a lot. A garage, even detached, matching your house will
command a much higher value than even the best metal building . . . unless
you live in a neighborhood where your best resale buyer will be "We Buy Ugly
Houses." Go with the stick-built . . . by all measures.
