The world has been a difficult place over the last few years, and everyone needs to tighten their belts a bit. Yet home renovation is a process best done early, not later, especially if you’re eying using the space to make working from home more comfortable. How can you stretch your budget to add on an oak garage without the costs being prohibitive? Here’s some must-know tips from the Monarch Oak team that will leave your wallet as happy as your home.
Choose Oak
First up, you’re already looking in the right place! Green oak garages are one of the cheapest (yet best looking) home additions you can make. Plus, they’re sustainable, ethical, and ‘green’ in all senses of the word! Oak has been a staple of the traditional British building industry for millennia, and you’ll find it pleasantly affordable next to other building methods. It’s pretty enough to add a lot of curb appeal- and so value- to your home, and the natural insulation that comes as part and parcel of oak structures will help keep energy costs lower, too.
What else can you do to keep your budget tight when building an oak garage? Let’s look.
Look at Oak Garage Kits
Did you know that Monarch Oak has a range of oak garage kits you can consider? All the same fantastic construction standards and attention to detail as you receive from our custom builds, but you have the option of self-installing to save some bucks, too.
Of course, you’re not going to be able to one-man-band this baby into reality. If you have solid DIY construction skills, you might have what it takes to handle most of the project yourself, but you will need a little help. However, this gives you the option of using your own installation team, whether that’s a few mates who are willing, or someone in your neighbourhood you’d rather use.
Our oak structure kits make it as easy to do as possible, with clear instructions and advice throughout.
Site Prep 101: You are the Cheapest Tradie
Of course, you can’t just slam an oak garage down and hope for the best. Site preparation will be needed, including creating the footings and generally levelling the area. Most buyers opt to put down a floor of some kind, too, often a concrete slab.
Paying for tradies to do this for you is convenient and fast, but not the cheapest option. It can be a little arduous, but with the right planning, it can be done DIY too. Just make sure your skills are up to it, as it will also be a critical part of the safety and longevity of your oak structure long-term. Our team is always happy to chat this over with you.
If you’d rather use experts for the actual build, then this can be a great area to save some bucks, then let them roll in and get the job done fast. Even if you want pro help all through, clearing the site up in general and ensuring vehicles can get easy access to the area will speed everything up and keep costs tighter.
Go Green or Phase It Out
Everything you need arrives as part of your ordered oak garage, but there’s often other aspects you can tweak to keep the overall cost lower. From the choice of floor to decorative aspects, how much infrastructure you’re adding, and much more.
‘Recycled’ or second-hand building yards can be found all over. Obviously, you don’t want to skimp on the essentials, but you already have them handled in your oak garage kit. Many of these materials are in excellent condition, and available for a fraction of the new cost. Plus you won’t hit ‘supply chain’ issues
If you don’t have the time to look around recycled building yards, however, then just think low cost. Light fittings, plug plates, and more can easily be swapped out later, or you could even opt to get all the permitting done in one, but bring in the glazier, electrician, or plumber at a later date. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised how beautiful some low-cost building options look- stamped concrete is having something of a renaissance at the moment. With added dyes and templates, you can create quite high-end looks for a lot less than you might think.
Plus, you can save a little if you’re willing to get all the permits you need yourself. Because you’re only ‘spending’ your time, not a contractor’s billable hours, it’s an easy place to save. Just make sure you get everything you need!
Practical is Elegant
No matter what style or finishing touches you use, your oak garage is going to add space and curb appeal. So don’t feel the need to always escalate and add. The bells and whistles can be tempting, but simple, clean lines add a lot to a home too. Let your oak garage speak for itself.
We have a lovely catalogue of designs to choose from, and when you’re not adding custom additions, the prices stay a lot lower. Without sacrificing good looks or quality of construction, either! It’s easier to create them because the design doesn’t need to be tested from scratch. As every home is different and has its own character, it will still look novel when joined with your home, so you won’t be stuck with a cookie-cutter look.
As you can see, there’s a lot of small tweaks you can make to keep the costs of an oak garage low without sacrificing style or practicality. If you’re a confident DIY enthusiast, you can keep costs very tight indeed. Our helpful team is always ready to chat with you about your needs and budget, so don’t be shy to reach out, either. We might be able to help you make the deal of your dreams a reality!