How much will it cost to enclose your carport so it will

If you live in the southern United States, there’s a good chance that your house has a garage because back in the
60’s and 70’s builders were trying to save money anyway they could so instead of investing additional money in
a garage door and door opener, they built carports.

Garages provide security and privacy, so if you currently have a carport and want to make it into a garage its not
too hard or too expensive to do. In fact, a carport can be enclosed to make a garage very easliy and much less
expensively than building a separate shed.

But before you get excited and head off to Lowes to buy the materials, you need to do a little leg work first.

You need to make a list of materials that you will need to enclose your carport and that amount of materials you will
need depends on the number of walls you need to build to enclose your carpot. Some carports only need to
have one wall built to enclose them, others need 2 walls.

If the back and one side of your carport is open, then you will have to build two walls instead of one and your costs
to do the project will be basically doubled.

Now, don’t get upset if you do have to build two walls because you still don’t have to add a roof or foundation.
Roofs and foundations are the most expensive parts of any building. Building two walls should not total up to more
than $400-$600 extra cost.

Once you’ve decided how many walls you need to build to enclose your carport then you are ready to develop an
estimate of what it will cost to complete your project.

Its easy to estimate the cost of your project. First you create a list of the materials that you will need to
do the project and then bring your list to lumber yard to have them give you the prices for the materials you need.
If you tell them what you are doing, they may even help you make the material list.

The list of materials you will need should look something like this:

2 x 4s - for studs in walls
Pressure treated 2 x 4s - for bottom of wall (bottom plate)
Garage door complete with track and opener
CDX plywood or chip board-for sheathing (to enclose garage)
CDX plywood, pegboard etc - for inside of wall insulation
Vinyl siding or brick veneer

After you get the prices for the materials you just need to make sure you include taxes on the materials in your area
so you won’t be surprised and go over your budget.

Now you need to calculate how much time (labor) it will take to enclose your carport. The number of hours needed
will depend on how complicated your project is. You can reasonably expect the project to take 3-4 days for 2-3 men.
A good framing carpenter should easily be able to frame and sheath your project in this time. You can use $30-35 per
hour for each man hour that is worked.

A good craftsman should be able to frame and sheath your job in this period of time. You can use $30-35 per hour for each
man hour that is worked. (Less if you can sucker your family or a friend to help you!)

The total cost of the project will depend on the type of exterior you have (brick, vinyl,siding, masonite, wood,
etc.) Brick will be the most expensive, but you don’t have to use brick exterior unless you just want to.

When you add the labor, materials (including the garage door) and the profit, you will get a good idea of how
much the project to enclose your garage will cost.

Add up the labor, materials and subcontractor costs (the garage door installation) and you will have a good
idea of what it will cost to enclose your garage.