Building a Timber Garage? 7 Things Worth Knowing First

A bespoke timber garage can offer far more than somewhere to park your car. From secure storage and workshops to additional space for hobbies, the right design can make a real difference to how you use your property. At Axe & Timber, we design and build bespoke timber garages across Devon and the South West. Here are seven things we'd recommend considering before getting started.

1. Think Beyond the Size of Your Car

A garage needs enough room for more than the vehicle itself. Think about opening doors, walking around the car and storing tools, bicycles or garden machinery.

We sometimes recommend adding an extra metre to the dimensions, particularly when it could make the difference between a cramped garage and a genuinely useful workspace.

Our advice: Consider everything you might want to store inside, including what you'll need in the future.

2. Get the Foundations Right

A quality garage starts with suitable foundations. Ground conditions, drainage, levels and the weight of the structure all influence the base required. For many projects, a concrete base is appropriate, but every site needs assessing individually.

At Axe & Timber, we can undertake the associated groundworks and base installation alongside the timber construction.

3. Traditional or Contemporary?

Timber garages don't have to look rustic. Douglas fir, larch and oak offer natural character, while composite cladding can create a completely contemporary appearance.

Our recent garage in Dulford, Devon, is a great example. At nearly 7m x 3.3m, its timber frame is finished in Olive Green composite cladding from Cladco, creating a modern exterior that complements the property.

4. Choose Your Roof Carefully

Apex and mono-pitch roofs offer different appearances and practical advantages.

Roofing materials, pitch, drainage, overhangs and condensation control all influence how the building performs. For our Dulford garage, we used box-profile metal roofing with Dripstop condensation-control backing to help manage moisture. The roof should be considered as part of the overall design, not simply a finishing detail.

5. Plan Access and Natural Light

Garage doors, pedestrian access and windows can significantly affect how useful the space becomes. A separate pedestrian door makes everyday access easier, while carefully positioned windows or rooflights can bring in natural light without sacrificing valuable wall space. In Dulford, we incorporated three rooflights because the clients didn't require electricity inside the garage.

6. Consider the Interior

Not every garage needs insulation, but if you're planning to use it as a workshop, it's worth thinking ahead. Insulation, ventilation, heating and internal lining can all improve comfort and practicality. We often recommend plywood-lined interiors, providing a durable finish and greater flexibility when installing shelving, storage and workbenches with suitable fixings.

7. Build for the Future

A garage used for parking today might become a workshop, hobby space or storage area later. Considering future requirements during the design stage can save substantial alterations further down the line. That's one of the advantages of bespoke construction: the building is designed around your requirements rather than predetermined dimensions.

Planning a Timber Garage in Devon?

Before building, it's also important to check whether planning permission or Building Regulations approval is required, as this depends on the property, dimensions and intended use.

At Axe & Timber, we work with clients from initial ideas and site visits through to design, groundworks and construction.Whether you're considering a traditional timber garage or something more contemporary, we'd be happy to help explore the options.

Have a project in mind? Get in touch with Axe & Timber to discuss your ideas.