DIY Enclosing a Garage

Materials

• Enclose your garage using treated 2-by-4s for the bottom of the wall framing. If water is a problem, you may want to double up the bottom seal with two treated 2-by-4s or a treated 4-by-4. The vertical framing for the walls should be yellow pine or spruce 2-by-4s. Use concrete blocks for the foundation of the wall enclosures, and try to match the siding with the existing siding on your house -- vinyl, wood, brick and so on. You will also need plywood for the siding sheathing, insulation for the walls, and drywall/interior sheathing for the inside of the garage.

Foundation

• Lay one course of 4-inch cap block on the ground just beneath the garage perimeter. Use a plumb-bob, strung down from the overhead beam of the garage, to locate the outer edge of the garage. Mix type-N mortar mix to lay the block. Use a 4-foot hand level to level the blocks, and a nylon string stretched from each corner of the garage as a reference for keeping the blocks straight. Seal the bottom joint of the blocks using exterior caulking. Paint the exterior of the block using dry-loc sealer. The point is to prevent water from infiltrating the new garage wall. If water is a problem at the wall, dig down 12 inches, install perforated pipe, cover the pipe with gravel, and finish off with dirt. The perforated pipe should be directed away from the garage area at least 10 feet.

Walls

• Frame the walls on 16-inch centers on the ground, and attach them in the garage opening with 3-inch wood screws or Tap-con concrete screws, depending on the existing garage corner material. Sheath the exterior wall with 1/2-inch plywood or OSB (oriented strand board), fill the walls with R-13 insulation, and cover the interior of the walls with drywall or paneling. Seal all joints using exterior clear silicone caulk.