Building a two-car garage is a solution that goes beyond just wanting to protect the machinery from rainfall. In the current climate and high cost of cars, garage project for 2 cars from sandwich panels
It is the best choice for owners who value time and budget. The technology of prefabricated structures allows you to reduce installation time from several months to two to three weeks, which is critical if there is a limited window in the construction season.The choice in favor of multilayer panels is due not only to speed, but also to their physical and mechanical properties. Sandwich panels (PWS) have excellent thermal insulation, which makes the garage suitable for work even in winter. However, in order for the building to stand for decades without distortions and deformations, a competent engineering approach is needed at the design stage.
In this article, we will analyze all stages of creating a project: from choosing the type of foundation to the nuances of fastening a wall profile. You will learn how to avoid typical errors when calculating the load on the frame and why The thickness of the insulation less than 100 mm for the central regions of Russia is considered insufficient for year-round use..
Design of sketch and selection of dimensions
The first step in creating any project is to determine the dimensions of the future structure. For two cars, it is not enough to double the size of a single garage. It is necessary to take into account not only the width of the machines themselves, but also the passageway areas, opening doors and possible maneuvers. The standard width of a passenger car is about 1.8-2 meters, but comfortable. garage project for 2 cars The width of the gate and the interior space should be at least 6 meters.
The depth of the room also plays a key role. If you plan not only parking, but also minor repairs or storage of spare parts, the length of the structure should be increased. Optimal is considered to be a depth of 6 to 7 meters, which allows you to leave space in front of the bumper for the workbench or shelving. It is important to determine the location of the gate and window openings in advance, so that they do not conflict with the trajectory of the movement of the equipment.
When designing, the height of the structure should be taken into account. If you have plans to install a lift or store things on mezzanine, the height of the walls should be increased to 3 meters or more. In the standard version for passenger cars, 2.5-2.8 meters in the light are enough.
Don’t forget to leave space for engineering communications. Even if you don’t plan to supply water or electricity right now, the (reserving) channels in the project will eliminate the need to break walls in the future.
Choosing the Foundation for Frame Construction
Despite the light weight of sandwich panels, the base should be reliable and resistant to frosty soils. Errors at this stage can lead to deformation of the frame and depressurization of the joints of the panels. The most common solution is ribbon shallow entrenchment. It provides a strong support for the load-bearing columns and allows you to organize an observation pit if necessary.
The second popular option is a monolithic concrete slab. This solution is more expensive, but it serves as both a foundation and a finished garage floor. The plate evenly distributes the load and is ideal for areas with high groundwater levels. The third option is a pile-screw foundation, which allows you to start construction even in winter and on a difficult terrain.
⚠️ Note: When choosing a pile foundation, make sure that the headers of the pile are strictly aligned on the horizon. A difference in heights of more than 2 cm on the span length can lead to the impossibility of mounting wall panels without gaps.
When pouring concrete, it is important to use a reinforcement frame, which will give the structure the necessary tensile strength. Concrete must gain design strength (usually 28 days) before the installation of the metal frame. Accelerate this process with heating or additives without laboratory control is not recommended.
Materials for frame: metal or wood
The frame of the garage of sandwich panels is most often made of metal. This is due to fire safety, durability and geometry accuracy. For racks and farms used profile-pipe square or rectangular section. Standard rack sizes range from 100x100 mm to 150x150 mm depending on the height of the building and the snow load in the region.
Wooden bars can also be used, especially if you are on a budget or want to avoid welding on site. However, the tree requires mandatory treatment with flame retardants and antiseptics. In the garage where fuel is stored, the risk of fire is higher, so the metal frame is considered more preferable from the point of view of safety.
The connection of the elements of the frame is carried out by welding or bolt joints. Bolt connections allow you to dismantle the garage and move it to another place if necessary, but they require more accurate preparation of holes and the use of high-strength bolts.
- 🏗️ Profile pipe 100x100x4 mm - for the main columns.
- 🏗️ Schweller or two-tavr - for beams of overlap with large spans.
- 🏗️ A 75x75 mm angle is for connections and slanting, providing spatial rigidity.
All metal elements after welding should be cleaned of slag, defatted and covered with a primer. This will prevent corrosion that can begin under the paint layer at the welded joints.
Technology of installation of sandwich panels
Installation of wall and roof panels is a process that requires strict consistency. The panels are installed vertically or horizontally, depending on the project. Vertical installation is more often used for walls, as it avoids horizontal joints through which water can flow. Horizontal installation is convenient for large wall lengths, but requires careful sealing of lock connections.
Fixing panels to the frame is carried out with the help of special EPDM screws. These gaskets ensure the tightness of the hole and prevent moisture from entering the structure. It is important not to pull screws: excessive force can push through the soft metal of the skin or deform the seal, which will lead to leaks.
Docking panels along the length (if the height of the garage exceeds the length of the panel) is performed on top. The size of the flooring should be at least 200 mm for walls and 300 mm for roofing. In the joints must be applied sealant or additional insulation.
⚠️ Note: When cutting sandwich panels, use only metal scissors or disk saws with hard teeth. The use of a “Bulgar” (angular grinding machine) with abrasive circles is prohibited, since sparks burn through the zinc layer and polymer coating, triggering rapid corrosion.
Corner and shaped elements (cash, ebb, skates) are installed after installation of the main planes. They protect the ends of the insulation from moisture and give the building an aesthetically complete look.
☑️ Control of panel installation
Roofing system and drain
The roof of the garage from sandwich panels can be single-slip or gable. The single-sided design is easier to install and cheaper, but requires the organization of the correct slope for water flow. The gable roof is more traditional, allows you to organize an attic storage space and better cope with snow load due to the steepness of the slopes.
Special roofing is used for the roof sandwich-panelThey have a higher profile and a strengthened structure to support the weight of the person during maintenance. The step of the roof runs is calculated based on the bearing capacity of the panels and the expected snow load.
The management of the drainage is a critical element of the project. Water running off the roof should not erode the foundation or accumulate at the gate. The drainage system includes gutters, pipes and storm sewers or drainage trays.
| Parameter | single-pitched roof | Twin-slop roof |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of materials | Low. | Medium |
| Difficulty of installation | Low. | Medium/High |
| Snow load | It needs reinforcement. | It's easier. |
| Useful volume | Minimum | Possibly a loft building. |
Roof nuances
The minimum slope of the roof from sandwich panels is 5-7% (about 5-10 degrees). With a smaller slope, water stagnation and moisture penetration through the lock joints under the action of the capillary effect are possible.
Installation of gates and gate systems
The gate is the most loaded element of the garage design. For the project for two cars most often choose swing or sectional gates. Floating doors are simple, reliable and cheap, but require free space in front of the garage to open the flaps. Sectional doors rise up, saving space, and have better thermal insulation, but their installation is more complicated and requires accurate adjustment of spring mechanisms.
When installing the gate, it is important to provide a rigid frame (bandage) to which they will be attached. Metal racks in the gate opening are often reinforced with thicker metal or additional stiffness ribs. The gaps between the gate frame and the wall panels are filled with mounting foam and closed with lacquers.
Automation of the gate is a popular solution. Electric drives allow you to open the garage without leaving the car. When designing, it is necessary to provide for the connection of the electric cable to the place of installation of the drive and provide for backup power or emergency opening mechanism.
- 🚗 The swing gate is a classic, cheap, reliable, but you need to roll back snow in winter.
- 🚗 Sectional gates are convenient, warm, space saving, but more expensive and more difficult to maintain.
- 🚗 Rollet gates are compact, but have low thermal insulation and noise.
Internal arrangements and communications
After the completion of the external circuit, the stage of internal arrangement begins. Sandwich panels are an excellent thermal insulator in themselves, but an additional heating system may be needed to stay in the garage in winter. This can be an electric convector, heat pump or even a solid fuel boiler (subject to strict fire safety regulations).
Electricity garage requires a separate project. Wiring is laid in an open way in cable channels or corrugated, since hidden wiring inside the panels is impossible without violating their integrity. Sockets and switches are installed on overhead boxes.
For the organization of the workplace, workbenches, shelving and tool storage systems are often installed. Sandwich panel walls do not always withstand heavy hinged cabinets without additional reinforcement, so it is better to plan the attachment places of heavy objects in advance and install the embedded parts there in the frame.
⚠️ Note: When using gas or diesel heat guns in the garage from sandwich panels, the organization of supply and exhaust ventilation is mandatory. Combustion products and condensate can quickly destroy the insulation and create a hazardous atmosphere.
Use LED lights with IP65 dust protection. They consume less energy, are not afraid of vibration when opening the gates and give a bright, cold light, ideal for repair work.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the garage have sandwich panels?
With proper installation and regular care (painting scratches, checking the tightness) the service life of such a garage is from 25 to 50 years. The metal frame lasts longer, the panels may need to be replaced in 30-40 years.
Do I need to insulate the floor in such a garage?
If the garage is heated and the foundation is not insulated around the perimeter, then the heat will go through the concrete slab. It is recommended to use extruded polystyrene (EPPS) under the floor screed to reduce heat loss.
Can you build a garage without a crane?
Yeah, it's possible. Wall panels up to 3-4 meters long and up to 100 mm thick are light enough to be lifted and installed by 2-3 people. Longer or heavier roofing panels will require the rent of a manipulator or the use of winches and temporary stops.
What thickness of panels to choose for the central region of Russia?
For year-round use and heating, a wall panel thickness of 150 mm is recommended. For an unheated garage that is used only in summer, 100 mm or even 50 mm is enough, but in the latter case, the inside will be very hot in summer.
The main secret of the durability of a garage of sandwich panels is not to save on fasteners and sealing. Cheap screws will rust in 5 years, and a bad sealant will lead to wet insulation and corrosion of the frame inside the wall.