Most new garages take several weeks of work once plans and permits are approved, depending on size and finish. The paperwork before that can take as long as the build, so it pays to start early.
How long does it take to build a garage?
Building the garage itself usually takes several weeks once permits are in hand, and longer for a garage with a finished room or apartment. Before that comes the survey, the plans, zoning and the construction permit. The state code gives the construction office up to 20 business days to act on a complete application. Weather in North Jersey winters can add days.
Do I need an architect, an engineer or plans to build a garage?
You need plans for any garage, because the construction office reviews them before issuing a permit. A simple one-car or two-car garage may be drawn from standard details, while a garage with a room above, an attached garage or a sloped site usually needs drawings from an architect or engineer. For a kit, the manufacturer's sealed drawings usually go in with a plot plan showing where it sits.
How many inspections does a new garage need?
A new garage in New Jersey goes through several inspections. The state code calls for inspections of the footing trenches before concrete, the foundation before backfill, the framing and sheathing, rough electrical and any plumbing, and a final inspection. Passing the final earns either a certificate of approval or, for space people will live in, a certificate of occupancy.
What are the steps to build a garage from start to finish?
These are the steps in order for most garages:
- Site visit, measurements and a written quote.
- Survey and plans, then zoning review.
- Construction permit from the town.
- Demolition of any old garage, with its own permit.
- Excavation and footings, then the footing inspection.
- Foundation and slab, with time to cure.
- Framing, roof and sheathing, then the framing inspection.
- Doors, windows, siding, roofing and gutters.
- Electrical and any insulation or drywall, with their inspections.
- Final inspection and walk-through.
Can I stay home and use my driveway during the build?
You can stay home during a garage build, but plan on losing the driveway for parts of it. Demolition, the excavator, concrete trucks and lumber deliveries all need the driveway, and on a shared Newark driveway the neighbor is affected too. We plan the heavy days in advance so you can park on the street or a neighbor's lot those days.
What happens if it snows during the build?
Snow slows a build but rarely stops it once the garage is framed. Footings and slabs are the weather-sensitive steps, because concrete cannot be placed on frozen ground. If a pour falls in a cold snap, it moves to the next workable day.
Who books the inspections during a garage build?
The permit holder books each inspection with the town's construction office when that stage of work is ready, and on most jobs that is the builder. The work cannot be covered up until it passes: footings stay open until the inspector has seen them, and walls stay open until framing and wiring are approved. Ask your builder to share each inspection result with you.
A two-car detached garage near Newark, from first call to finished
Here is how a typical two-car detached garage job runs from start to finish, in general terms. An owner in Vailsburg calls about an old one-car garage with a cracked slab and a sagging roof. At the visit we measure the lot, check the driveway width and the old garage, and talk about a 24 x 24 garage with a side door and power.
The written quote lists demolition, a new slab with footings below frost, framing, roof, doors, gutters and electrical. The survey shows the side setback, and zoning confirms the size fits. Plans go to the Building Division with the permit application, and a separate demolition permit covers the old garage.
Once permits are issued, the old garage comes down and is hauled away. Footings are dug and inspected, then the slab is poured and left to cure. Framing, roof, doors and siding follow, then the electrical rough-in and its inspection. The final inspection and a walk-through close the job, and the Vailsburg owner now has room for two cars on a slab built to stay level through the winters.
Thinking about a garage on your lot? We come out, measure, check the driveway and whatever is standing there now, and send a written quote. Call or text (917) 909-5756.