How To Prepare Your Site Before Installing A Metal Garage (Step-By-Step Checklist)

Installing a new garage? Hold on! Before you order and ship all the raw materials, you will need to prepare the site first. Why? Simply because skipping this important step is like building a house on a lumpy pillow – you know it won’t last. A metal prefab garage on an unprepared ground can cause uneven floors, problems with opening and closing garage doors, and structural stability issues in the future.

With the well-prepped site, you get benefits like:

• Higher durability for years to come.
• Better stability against harsh weather conditions.
• A hassle-free installation with zero ‘surprise’ fixing costs.

Here, we will learn some pre-site-prepping tips and a step-by-step checklist for getting your site ready so that during installation, everything goes as per the plans.

Garage Site Preparation Prerequisites That You Must Follow

Local Building And Zoning Laws: Now, before you pick a spot and start pouring concrete, you need to check the rules put forth by the local municipal department for a metal 2 car garage. Skipping this step could lead to a fine or the removal of the structure from your property.

Here’s What To Check For

• Is a building permit required?
• Are there any setback areas that you need to leave empty?
• What is the maximum height allowed?
• What is the maximum permitted area for a garage in your neighborhood?
• Are there any HOA rules?

You can contact your city or county building planning department to get all the right information. Look for the steel garage buyer’s guide for more details on this.

Choose The Right Spot For Installing A Metal Prefab Garage

1. 1. Do You Have Enough Space? Make sure there is enough room for parking cars, storing equipment, and a little extra space for future needs.
2. 2. Is The Site Accessible? Can you practically drive in and out of all your vehicles? Does the delivery truck have space to drop off raw materials for installation? You can pick a metal side entry garage or a front entry one based on your property’s size, location, and alignment.
3. 3. Do You Want Sunlight Or Shade? Too much sunlight can cause the garage to heat up, and being in shade all the time can lead to moisture buildup.
4. 4. Are There Underground Utilities? Call before you dig at 811 to learn about any service lines (gas pipes, water lines, sewer pipes, and electrical wiring) underneath the selected area.
5. 5. Are There Overhead Obstructions? If you have any large trees or power lines hanging over the site, clear it as it may interfere with installation in create obstruction in the future.

Steel Prefab Garage’s Step-By-Step Site Preparation Checklists

Most metal building dealers will ask you to have your site ready with a foundation before their construction crew arrives. A proper site preparation is one of the ways you can save big on metal building costs during installation and post-maintenance. So, let’s begin with how to get your site ready for the new metal structure:

Step 1: Clear The Area

• Remove Debris: Get rid of small stones, rocks, boulders, tree stumps, old concrete, etc., from the construction site.
• Clear Vegetation: Remove grass, weeds, bushes, tree roots, etc., in the area to ensure there is bare ground to start working on it.

Step 2: Leveling The Site

You can level small areas by hand using a shovel, racks, and a leveler. For larger areas, you will need machinery and equipment, such as motor grader, bulldozer, excavators, skid-steer loaders, laser screed, etc.

Note that an unleveled site can lead to problems during installation, may cause drainage issues, and weaken the structural integrity of a steel vertical roof garage. But how to level the site?

1. 1. Find the highest point on the installation site.
2. 2. Mark the finished height of the garage floor.
3. 3. Excavate the high spot and fill the low spot to make it even.
4. 4. You can add dirt or gravel if needed.
5. 5. Compact the ground in layers.
6. 6. Double-check leveling on the entire site.

Note: The difference in leveling must not be > ½ inch on the entire site.

Step 3: (Optional) Soil Grading

What Is Soil Grading? It is a process of adjusting the slope of the ground to make it more even and stable. It ensures the soil or dirt is strong enough to hold and support a steel structure.

Though soil grading is not always needed, you must opt for it if:

• The ground is soft or unstable (to create a strong base)
• There is a drainage issue (to avoid waterlogging)

Step 4: Prep For Utilities

If you want to have lights, outlets, plumbing, etc., you need to prepare for it before the installation process begins by laying pipes and wiring underneath. Some common metal workshop utility connections are:

• Electrical Wiring: for LED shop light, High Bay lights, Flush Mounted lights, powering outlets, automatic doors, etc.
• Plumbing: for sinks, bathroom (if any), farm or business water needs, workshop cleaning, etc.
• Ventilation: to control humidity and moisture and keep the air inside fresh and dry. E.g.: roof and ridge vents, exhaust, floor and ceiling fans, etc.

Step 5: Choose The Correct Foundation

The foundation you lay will support the entire steel frame and bear the weight load. So, it is essential to choose the correct one. But, which metal garage foundation should you choose? Let’s see some common ones used for a metal structure:

Foundations Type	Why Choose It?	Pros And Cons	Key Points
Concrete Slab [most recommended]	Best for long-term stability Ideal for heavy-duty use	Pros: highly durable and can handle heavy weight Cons: high initial cost and needs professional installation	Use rebar or wire mesh for strength At least 4-inch-thick for proper support Add a vapor barrier for moisture protection Slight slope for the drain.
Gravel Bed [budget-friendly]	Affordable Allows natural drainage	Pros: easy to install Cons: no solid floor, can get muddy, needs regular maintenance	At least 6 inches of compact gravel Install a border to keep gravel contained Suitable for temporary garages
Concrete Piers/ Footings	Ideal for uneven terrain	Pros: needs less concrete Cons: needs framing of the floor, and is less convenient for storage	Pier must be below the frost line for stability Must be leveled with proper spacing for strength.
Asphalt	Cost effective Faster installation Good drainage	Pros: stable and flexible surface, less prone to cracks, and smooth surface. Cons: less durable over time, not ideal for heavy loads, may get patches or cracks due to temperature changes.	At least 4-inch-thick for durability Must have a proper base layer (crushed stone or gravel bed beneath) Seal coating recommended

The foundation you lay will support the entire steel frame and bear the weight load. So, it is essential to choose the correct one. But, which metal garage foundation should you choose? Let’s see some common ones used for a metal structure:

Step 6: Drainage Solutions And Methods

Water can damage the foundation, shift the soil underneath, and lead to rusting in metal panels and frames. That’s why a good drainage system is a must – from metal utility buildings to RV garages. Here are three ways to do it:

• Grading: Make sure the garage slab slopes away from the building at ¼ inch per foot for at least 10 ft. to prevent water pooling.
• French Drains: For areas with heavy and frequent downpours, you can dig a trench with perforated pipes and gravel to redirect water away from the steel prefab garage. You can add gravel edges around the base to reduce erosion.
• Gutters And Downspouts: Post installation, you can add gutters and downspouts to divert rainwater from the garage structure, especially if you have three or more car parking spaces.

We suggest staying away from low-lying areas as they can collect water and cause metal to rust and erode the foundation over time. If you are confused between insulated vs. non-insulated metal garage, think about your local weather pattern along with humidity and moisture levels, to find out if you really need insulation or not.

Step 7: Secure Area And Safety Checks

Ensure to mark the construction zone to avoid accidents during construction. Before starting off, make sure that the site meets local safety codes to prevent future issues.

Tip: Check the wind or snow load ability of the garage before buying. We offer up to certified steel buildings that can withstand wind speeds of up to 180 mph and snow loads of up to 80 PSF.

Steel Garage Site Prep By Size – Examples & Best Practices

Below we have broken down site preparation for your metal ‘dream’ garage based on three common sizes, i.e., small, medium, and large. Have a look:

A. Site Preparation For Small Metal Parking Garage [Approx. 250 Sq. Ft. | 10×25, 12×20]

• Typical Use: Single car garage, metal garden/ tool/ loafing shed, or small workshop.
• Foundation: Compacted gravel with sturdy border or 4-inch concrete slab.
• Leveling: With hand tools and a spirit level.
• Drainage: Grading away from the structure.

B. Medium Steel Garage Site Prep [Approx. 400 Sq. Ft. | 20×20, 18×22]

• Typical Use: Two car garage, large workshop, or farm equipment shelter.
• Foundation: Opt for a 6-inch poured concrete slab with rebar/ wire mesh or gravel (less ideal).
• Leveling: Laser level or hire a small excavator for precision.
• Drainage: More significant grading with a catch basin around the downhill side.

C. Site Prep For Large Garages [500+ Sq. Ft. | 24×24, 30×40, 24×50]

• Typical Use: Three or more parking vehicles, large farm vehicle or machine storage, warehousing, steel commercial building, or RV storage.
• Foundation: At least 6 inches (or thicker based on load) with reinforced concrete slab.
• Leveling: Professional leveling needed.
• Drainage: Needs a good drainage plan, including grading, French drains, or a perimeter drain system around the concrete slab. Water from the roof must also flow away from the base.

Final Site Prep Checklist Before Steel Garage Installation

• Safety Measures in Place
• Pick Right Location
• Remove Obstacles
• Level Site
• Mark Underground Utilities
• Take One Last Measurement
• Plan for Drainage
• Get Foundation Ready
• Clear Access for Construction Crew

Don’t Skip The Essentials! Follow This Checklist Before Metal Garage Installation

It is crucial to take time to clear, level, and prep this installation site to ensure the parking structure is:

• Strong, secure, and steady in all weather,
• Stable and built to last, and
• Ready for use.

Now that you have the most important part of installing a metal parking garage, you can call us at [phone number] to custom-design your garage and order it. And don’t worry, our final quote on all metal structures includes shipping and installation service for your seamless experience.