Making the decision to purchase a reliable storage space for a car is often a turning point for any owner. Metal garage remains one of the most sought after options on the market due to its durability and affordable cost compared to capital brick or foam blocks. In the conditions of modern urban development and country cooperatives, it is the steel structure that allows you to quickly solve the problem of parking, protecting the vehicle from precipitation and theft.
However, the purchase process is not limited to just calling the manufacturer and paying the bill. There are many nuances that need to be taken into account: metal, used in the manufacture of the frame, to the features of installation on a particular site. The wrong choice can lead to rapid corrosion, freezing of the room in winter or even deformation of the walls under snow load.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all aspects related to the purchase of a steel garage. You will learn how to distinguish a high-quality structure from a cheap analogue, what types of foundations are suitable for different soils and how to organize an effective construction. ventilationSo that the car does not rust from the inside. Pricing and legal aspects of the installation of non-capital buildings will also be discussed.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Metal Structures
The main argument in favor of buying a garage made of metal is the speed of construction. Unlike capital construction, which can take months, steel boxing takes only a few days or even hours to assemble if it is a ready-made modular option. Collaboration structures allow not only to quickly mount the object, but also if necessary to dismantle it and move it to a new place, which is especially important for leased land.
Cost also plays a crucial role. Metal garage is much cheaper than brick analogue, as it does not require a powerful buried foundation and expensive masonry. In addition, modern processing methods such as hot-dip or application of polymer coatings, significantly prolong the service life of the metal, making it resistant to aggressive environmental factors.
⚠️ Attention: Cheap models of garages are often made of thin profile sheet without corrosion treatment, which can lead to the appearance of rust in the first year of operation.
However, metal has its weaknesses. The main disadvantage is high thermal conductivity: in summer in such a garage is hot, and in winter it is cold, which requires a mandatory heating system. heat-insulation for comfortable use as a workshop. Also, metal structures require regular maintenance of the coating and a high-quality ventilation system to avoid the formation of condensation, which is detrimental to the body of the car.
Types of metal garages: single and prefabricated
When choosing a place to store a car, you will come across two main categories of designs: all-welded and collapsible. All-welded garages are ready-made sections (walls and roof), which are welded at the factory and brought to the installation site in the form of large blocks. Their installation is carried out by welding or joining bolts directly on the foundation, which ensures high rigidity and tightness of the structure.
Collaborative options, on the contrary, are delivered in the form of a set of elements: frame arcs, wall and roof sheets, fasteners. Building one. frame-carry It is completely done at the installation site. This is ideal for areas with limited access, where a crane with a single section will not pass, or for those who plan to move a garage in the future.
The choice between these types depends on your priorities. If you need maximum strength and tightness "out of the box", it is better to choose an all-welded option. If mobility and the ability to self-assemble by forces of 2-3 people without the use of heavy equipment are important, then prefabrication It's a smarter choice.
The Myth of Prefabricated Garage Strength
There is a common misconception that prefabricated garages are less durable than one-piece garages. However, when using high-quality fasteners (bolts 8-10 mm) and proper installation, the prefabricated construction for wind and snow load is not inferior to welded, and in some cases even wins due to the possibility of compensation for temperature expansions of the metal.
Materials and production technologies
The quality of the future garage depends on the characteristics of the metal used in its production. The basis of the frame most often serves profile-pipe Or a corner. For racks and roof trusses, the optimal cross-section is considered to be a pipe 40x20 mm or 60x40 mm with a wall thickness of at least 2 mm. The use of a thinner metal is unacceptable, as it will not withstand the weight of a snow cap in winter.
For the covering of walls and roofs, sheet metal is used or flooring. The most reliable option is to use a steel sheet 1.5-2 mm thick, which is painted with soil and enamel. The flooring should be marked at least C-20 or C-21, which indicates the height of the wave and, accordingly, the stiffness of the profile. Cheap profile list C-8 for garages is not suitable due to low sailing and tendency to deformation.
The most important stage of production is anticorrosion protection. The current standard is galvanized steel with polymer coating (polyester, pural). This coating not only protects the metal from rust, but also gives the garage an aesthetic appearance, retaining color for 10-15 years. Conventional black steel requires mandatory painting with quality soils immediately after installation.
When ordering a garage, check with the manufacturer the brand of steel. Optimal if it is structural steel of high quality (St3sp / ps), and not remelted scrap of unknown origin.
Foundation and site preparation
Installation of a metal garage is impossible without a properly prepared base. Even a lightweight design requires a flat and rigid platform, otherwise the distortions will lead to jamming of the gate and the destruction of welds. The type of foundation is chosen depending on the level of groundwater and budget. The most common option is ribbonwhich provides a reliable support and allows you to organize an observation pit or cellar.
For prefabricated garages is often used plate-base. A monolithic plate serves as both a floor and a base for walls. This is an expensive, but the most durable option, eliminating problems with dampness and curvature of the floor. Alternatively, temporary structures can be used foundation-blocks (FBS), installed on the perimeter, but they require perfectly flat stacking.
Preparation of the site begins with the removal of the fertile layer of soil and the leveling of the surface. Be sure to make a sand pillow 10-15 cm thick and thoroughly tamp it. If you plan to make an observation pit, it is dug to pour concrete, strengthening the walls with brick or concrete, and necessarily provide waterproofing, since the metal of the garage in contact with wet earth will rust instantly.
☑️ Preparation for the installation of the garage
Comparison of characteristics of different models
To finally decide on the choice, it is useful to compare the main parameters of various standard solutions presented on the market. Below is a table showing the differences between the economy, standard and premium model.
| Parameter | Economy (Command) | Standard (Integrated) | Premium (Reinforced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frame | Corner 40x40x3 mm | Pipe 40x20x2 mm | Pipe 60x40x3 mm |
| Sheathing | Profillist C-8 (0.4 mm) | Leaf 1.5 mm / Profile list C-20 | 2.0 mm sheet / Sandwich panel |
| Coverage | ground-enamel | Polymer coating | Bilateral polymeric |
| Gateway. | Foldable, no wicket. | Folding with a wicket | Automatic sectional |
| Term of service | 5-7 years | 15-20 years | 30 years. |
As can be seen from the table, the difference in price between models is due not only to the thickness of the metal, but also to the completeness. Sectional gates In premium models, it is much more convenient to operate, especially in winter, when swinging flaps can lead from the snow. However, for seasonal storage of the car is quite enough and standard performance.
When choosing, you should take into account not only the initial cost, but also the cost of maintenance. A cheap garage will require annual painting and lock repairs, while a quality design will last for decades without the owner’s intervention. The critical parameter is the thickness of the metal frame: a value of less than 2 mm for load-bearing racks is considered emergency for regions with snowy winters.
Insulation and ventilation: creating a microclimate
Metal quickly heats up and cools, so without insulation, the garage turns into a “thermos” in summer and a glacier in winter. To create comfortable conditions, it is necessary to use effective heat-insulating. The most popular solution is polystyrene (penoplex) or mineral wool. The foamplex is not afraid of moisture and is easy to install, it is glued directly to the internal walls and sewn with a profile sheet or OSB-stove.
However, insulation without ventilation will lead to a catastrophic result - the formation of condensation. Warm air from the cooling after the trip of the car rises up, meets the cold metal of the roof and falls out in the form of water. To avoid this, a supply and exhaust system is necessary. ventilation. The vent holes are made at the bottom of the walls (at the floor), and the hoods are made at the top of the opposite wall or in the roof skate.
To organize ventilation, it is enough to use plastic pipes with a diameter of 100-110 mm. It is important that the air is constantly circulating, carrying moisture out. In winter, it is recommended to install deflectors on the exhaust pipes, which increase traction and prevent snow from blowing into the room.
Insulation of a metal garage without the organization of forced or natural ventilation will lead to accelerated corrosion of the car due to constant condensation.
Legal aspects and installation
Before buying a garage made of metal, you need to solve the problem with the land. Installation of the building is possible only on your own plot or on land leased with the appropriate permission. In garage cooperatives (GSC), the issue is resolved through the board.
This status has its advantages: it is easier to obtain permission for such objects, and the tax on them is lower or not charged at all. However, if you pour a powerful tape foundation and weld the garage to the rebar, the structure can be recognized as capital, which will require registration of ownership and payment of property tax. Documentation. The garage (passport of the product, certificate of conformity) should be kept by the owner in case of inspections or disputes with neighbors.
When installing in the city or in an organized cooperative, fire safety standards must be observed. The distance from the garage to the border of the neighboring site should be at least 1 meter, and to the residential building - at least 6 meters (according to the current SNIP and fire safety rules). Violation of these rules may lead to a requirement for demolition or relocation of the structure.
⚠️ Warning: Installing a garage on public land or in violation of indentations from the boundaries of the site may lead to a lawsuit for demolition of the structure at your expense.
Do I need to register a metal garage?
If the garage is a non-capital structure (collective, on blocks), registration of ownership of it is not required, since it is considered movable property. However, to avoid problems with neighbors and administration, it is better to have documents confirming the right to use the land.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long does a metal garage last without painting?
The service life depends on the quality of the factory coating. A galvanized polymer coated proflast serves 20-25 years without loss of properties. A regular painted garage will require paint renewal in 3-5 years, and ferrous metal without protection can begin to rust after 1-2 years.
Can I install a metal garage in winter?
Yeah, it's possible. Prefabricated structures can be mounted at any temperature. All-welded sections are also installed in winter, but the work on concrete foundation requires the use of special frost-resistant additives in the solution or heating of concrete.
Do I need to make a floor in a metal garage?
The presence of a floor is necessary for comfort and hygiene. Concrete screed prevents grass from germinating, absorbing oils into the ground and makes cleaning easier. In prefabricated garages, the floor is often made of pavement slabs or poured with concrete on the ground.
How to protect the garage from breaking in?
For protection, use high-quality hinged locks with cut-off arcs, install additional rigs on the gate. An effective method is welding "ears" for the lock on the inside of the flaps, so that they can not be approached from the outside.
What is the minimum metal thickness for a roof?
For a roof that is under snow load, the minimum thickness of the metal sheet should be 0.5 mm (for flooring) or 1.5 mm (for smooth sheeting). The roof frame must be made of a pipe with a cross section of at least 40x20 mm.