Western Virginia Checking In

[Austin.Teter]

Hello everyone, like most I have been reading and enjoying this site for years and years. But I recently purchased a home with no garage and a small bit of area to build one, so I figured it was time to come out of the shadows.

My wife and I moved to Roanoke, VA last September. I’m originally from Minnesota, and my wife from Michigan. However we have been on the road for the last five years jumping state to state as my wife took contract positions as a physical therapist. But the time finally came to put down roots, so Roanoke it was, and we bought our house here in April.

I’m into American and German cars, adventure bikes and cafe racers, and by trade I’m into airplanes. I hope to build a garage that can satisfy my hobbies (minus the planes maybe) as well as keep the daily’s going. This forum is a wealth of knowledge and I appreciate everyone putting their experiences on here so is new comers can learn from you all.

I have a contractor coming out this week to give me an estimate on a garage... I’m equal parts excited and terrified. This should be an adventure.


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[captain14]

Welcome. I hope you enjoy Roanoke the some of the surrounding area.

After you talk to the contractor, ask more questions here.

Photos are always a big plus.

 

[DetachedGarage]

Welcome to the GJ forum!

 

[vavet]

Welcome from a fellow Virginian airplane, garage, and car enthusiast.

 

[Austin.Teter]

Thank you for the kind welcomes! My wife and I love the Roanoke area and are glad to finally have a home of our own.

So the first contractor came out today to give me a quote. He wasn’t too keen on the garage plan I had sort of “picked out” and threw some different dimensions at me. I wasn’t too pleased with the smaller dimensions he suggested especially before he knew the set backs for the property line and what not. But he gave me a rough estimate and it was substantially more than I was anticipating. It was the bare bones stick build with a slab, electrical to a box, and no finishing work with some ground leveling and excavation. He quoted me 40k on a 24x28 (I wanted a 32x30) I have a couple more companies I’m going to be contacting tomorrow, but this was a pretty disheartening blow.

 

[Austin.Teter]

I’m trying to post up a photo of my lot, but I guess I need 5 posts. I will post up as soon as I can.

 

[Austin.Teter]

So checking back in after a bit of a hiatus. After the failed first quote attempt, things only got worse. The next company came out and gave me an F you price of $75k for a slab, walls and roof this turned me off completely with proceeding with the garage. Now here I am nearly a year after and I’m trying to figure out a better way of going about this. How do I find someone who is willing to come out and build a garage that doesn’t want to put some twist on it, or charge me an arm and a leg? Do you guys use general contractors? Construction companies? Specific garage builders? I’m missing something...

 

[topcok88]

So checking back in after a bit of a hiatus. After the failed first quote attempt, things only got worse. The next company came out and gave me an F you price of $75k for a slab, walls and roof this turned me off completely with proceeding with the garage. Now here I am nearly a year after and I’m trying to figure out a better way of going about this. How do I find someone who is willing to come out and build a garage that doesn’t want to put some twist on it, or charge me an arm and a leg? Do you guys use general contractors? Construction companies? Specific garage builders? I’m missing something...

Hello Austin and welcome to the board. I live just east of you near Lynchburg, VA and relocated here from Wisconsin after living there for almost 20 years. My experience from the central Virginia area is that building isn’t inexpensive around here. The economy is still doing pretty great here and builders are busier than ever. I have a few key contractors and a few of my friends and I are in the construction process now. For the approximate 30’x40’ size stickbuilt I don’t think $50k-$75k is far out of line. If you have any questions just ask and good luck with your build. Oh and if you didn’t know - there is a guy just down the road from you who builds racing airplanes and engines. Pretty cool stuff.


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