In the Richmond area there are a few vacant lots that have Amish-built finished garages. I think I paid about $4000 for one three years ago. It is 24'x12' with plenty of space for a single car and a work bench along with storage in the ceiling above. The folks brought it in on a flat bed trailer since it has 4"x4" beams under the wooden floor and they leveled it out but we had to add electrical connections. I added a 220 VAC socket for a future electric welder along with the usual 110 VAC for indoor power and lights. I guess we have about $4300 in the garage, but it looks nice along side the house and meets the appearance inspection of my wife. I toyed with building my own but balked at the local cost of a concrete slab. Now I have a wooden floor and it absorbs oil, gear oil and any other liquid very well but I worry about fire hazzard so all welding so far has been in good weather by rolling the car/chassis out on the driveway and welding on the gravel surface there. Just a comment but the recent Monte Carlo Hotel fire reminds me of several construction fires I have seen associated with welding! If you can't find one of those ready-built garage sites, there is one on U.S. Rt. 1 just south of Ashland Va.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder