I have just had a new garage built by Compton. It's made of concrete
sections bolted together on a concrete base. Mine is a pent roof with
standard pebble dash walls, 12' x 18' and cost just over 2 grand, ?600 of
which was for the base. You can pay a lot more if you want an apex roof or
any fancy extras. I went for the cheapest design in the larest size I could
afford. The pebble dash does look ugly but I've put trellis up it and got
some climing plants going and it looks quite nice now. So far it's kept
everything nice and dry, but then again we have only had a couple of days of
heavy rain. I don't think it'll let any in though.You normally don't need
planning permission but it depends on where and how big your garage is. The
guy who measures it up will be able to advise you if you need planning
permission. It took 2 of them a morning to erect mine. They go up in no
time.

The cheaper option is to keep an eye out in Loot as many people give
concrete garages away or sell them for a couple of hundred quid. Usually you
will have to dismantle it yourself (they are just bolted together) and
transport it back home. Looking at how mine is constructed, I reckon if you
are diy minded and have the help of a mate you should be able to take it
down and put it up yourself, you will still have to lay a base or have one
laid though. Also, there is a company called Storemore who make metal
garages which are 10' wide and in various lengths, I don't think they need a
concrete base, they will go on flags so it would probably work out cheaper
but they didn't seem as good to me.

My advice would be get the biggest you can afford. Already I'm wishing I had
a couple of extra feet in both directions. Remember to budget for electrics,
a bench, shelves and so on too if you don't already have them. My only
complaint is that compton won't allow you to drill the concrete panels or it
invalidates your 10 year guarantee. I can't see it causing any problems but
knowing my look I would drill one and the whole thing would collaspe so I've
been using "No More Nails" and the like, also the bolts they use to bolt it
together give you loads of places to hang stuff on.

Compton seem like the cheapest place I could find. If you are thinking of
buying one I can "recommend" you and they will send you a brochure, (and
they will give me some free M&S vouchers!)

Dave

They uset to sell them at Argos, but prefabricated not concrete. If you want
to go real cheap you can go for a gazebo style garage, which is basically a
large tent but keeps your mini pretty comfortable in any kind of weather
condition.

Dantiri

hi muff

The cheapest way is to dismantle an unwanted concrete garage , usually if
someone want to get rid of one they say give it away free to the person who
takes it apart, look in the free papers or put an add in yourself.
I built a garage for my mini, I put a concrete pad in then built a wooden
garage that cost me about ?800 -?900 just for that.
If you build from wood as long as it isn't more than 3meters tall you wont
need planning permission as it is classed as a temporary structure. Ask the
local council before you build as they make you apply for planning
permission if it is already built and someone complains.
This happened to me but as I had investigated the law first I told the
council to piss off.. I knew I was in the right.

fragged

I've jsut finished building a 12 metre x 7 metre shed for some friends.

I've never seen such a thing here! Cheap garages here are steel framed
and steel clad. Maybe it's the different climate, maybe different
building material costs? The shed is 12m x 7m x 3m high at the doors,
with 3 roller doors and an interal wall and was about Au$7500 - about
UKP3000 - and the rest of the site preparation, concreting, permits, etc
took the whole project to about $12k - UKP5k. Smaller sheds/garages are
much cheaper since they are not as tall, nor do they have 7 metres clear
span requiring large rafters.

I'd be curious whether anyone sells steel shed/garage kits there?

Here's a website for typical Aussie garages. This company is in Darwen,
but there are many like them all over Australia.

http://www.theshedfactory.com.au/garage.html

ahh so Two Sheds Jackson is Back........

now all we need to do is wait for
Tarliquininfimsimbimoleolefingtangfingtangbisquitbarrell, and we shall have
a most joyuos reunion...with Mr Throatwarblermangroves and Mr Luxuryyatch

Oh my brain hurts.....its all that time spent as a lad as a Bridge support
in Peckham.......

Tim

I know off topic....but I just had flash backs to some highly memorable
Monty Python Sketches.......so Bring on the Comfy Chair