Pencil garage: design features, pros and cons

A pencil case garage is a compact but roomy rectangular structure designed for storing a vehicle and other things. For the production of such a garage, corrugated board is most often used; there are buildings made of sustainable plastic. But the first option is the most popular. This is due to the design features and a number of advantages that it possesses.

Most car owners have long since replaced traditional shell garages with pencil cases. Their design is not difficult.

The box is made in the form of a frame from a galvanized profile and a pipe. The assembly is carried out by welding and bolts, all seams are coated with a special anti-corrosion agent. Then the surface is painted with pentaphthalic enamels.

The walls and roof of the structure are covered with corrugated board. To cover the roof, corrugated board with a height of up to 50 mm is used. The roof is laid on a horizontal ceiling beams without an intermediate lattice.

The gates can be swing or lifting, in this case the choice depends only on the wishes of the customer. Lifting gates are distinguished by their durability and ease of use, so they are more often chosen.

The dimensions of the garage-pencil case can be varied and are intended for bikes or motorcycles with an area of ​​7 m2 to 9 m2, or designed for large cars with an area of ​​4x6 m or more.

The dimensions of the garage-pencil case directly depend on the dimensions of the car. Also, you should understand in advance whether you need free space for installing shelving. According to the standard, steel structures must have an outlet within 1 meter on each side.

To date, there are 2 types of pencil-case garages:

• product for one vehicle with dimensions 3x6x2.5 m;
• a wide model designed not only for storing a car, but also for a small workshop with dimensions of 3x9x3 meters.

Despite the fact that outwardly the garage-pencil case seems massive and heavy, in fact, its weight with a roof without a foundation varies within two tons. Due to the fact that the design parameters are small and compact, this is the model that most car owners choose. Now there is no need to install powerful structures with a foundation.

Please note that the weight of a building depends not only on its size and shape, but also on the thickness of the metal. If corrugated board with a thickness of 2 mm is used, the mass of the garage will be approximately 1 ton. If the sheet thickness is within 6 mm, then the garage will weigh more than 2 tons. Consider this when choosing a manipulator for a load.

A pencil case garage is a great option for those who want to save money. Its cost is significantly lower than the price of capital buildings. Such a garage fits perfectly into any exterior without disturbing the overall architectural plan.

Also, a pencil case garage is a good choice to save space. You can choose designs only for storing a car, or you can choose a garage taking into account the fact that other accessories will be stored in it.Before buying, decide whether you need a place to store parts and tools, vehicle care products, and how much space you need to service the machine. Considering all these nuances, you can choose a design that will meet all your requirements and wishes.

The indisputable advantage of the structure is that it is prefabricated, which is why you can transport it and install it on another site. The garage will reliably protect the vehicle from environmental influences, it will not be afraid of bad weather conditions, bumps and falling branches.

Garages-pencil cases are installed separately or they can be attached to the house. There are standard design sizes, but it is possible to make an individual order.

It is also worth noting the durability of the product - the service life reaches 70 years. If necessary, the owner can insulate the walls, make shelves or racks inside, on which he will store small items.

There are other advantages of a pencil case garage:

• the object does not need to be registered;
• the surface is covered with a special agent that protects against corrosion;
• there is no need to make a strong foundation, which saves not only finances, but also time;
• attractive appearance, regardless of color.

The demand for such a design has long proved that a pencil case garage is the best place to store vehicles. With proper assembly and installation, the car receives protection from winds and various precipitations. According to the manufacturers, the roof is designed for a maximum load of 100 kg per m2. As a rule, there is no insulation inside, there is no condensation and water vapor in the room, which makes storage even better. In the summer, due to the heating roof, ventilation of the structure only improves. The low weight allows you to install a garage without a foundation, so it is considered a temporary building.

The only drawback of this design is poor resistance to burglary, so the owner must take care of additional protection of the structure.

The cost of assembly and installation of the building is 10% of the cost of the object. But most people who have ever encountered construction work prefer to assemble this structure on their own.

Initially, you need to prepare the site for installation, remove the sod and carefully level the platform horizon using a rammer and level. As a rule, the site is initially sprinkled with gravel and tamped with a wood mallet. Then a layer of sand is poured, after which you can begin to collect and install the garage.

• The first step is to assemble the base and side walls. Before assembly, steel sections of the required sizes and shapes are calculated according to the scheme and procured. According to the installation scheme, each part is marked and signed in accordance with its position in the frame.
• The lower contour is assembled, the installation pegs are hammered into the soil, then the rectangle of the lower contour is laid out, bolted and the points are fixed with welding equipment. If all the diagonals are clearly aligned, then they are welded completely. Then the transverse lower sections are welded.

• Vertical racks are attached to the bottom, they must be leveled with a tape measure, a plumb line and a level.
• Horizontal pipes are bolted. They also need to be fixed with a welding machine.
• The upper contour is welded from pipes and profile. Side sections are mounted on vertical posts and fastened after alignment by welding and bolts. The same work should be done with the jumpers of the front and rear walls of the garage-pencil case.
• On the frame, the corrugated board is fixed with self-tapping screws and the gate is installed.

Professionals advise, after completing the assembly of the head of the screws, weld or remove the screwdriver groove with a grinder. When choosing a gate, pay attention to lifting models. They reduce and distribute evenly the load on the front wall of the building. The cost of swing gates is less, but after a few years they will often have to be leveled and folded over the frame, so they will not last as long as we would like.

If you are not sure that you can cope with such a large-scale work, then you better immediately seek help from experienced specialists who will assemble the structure as quickly as possible, so that it will last a long time.

The garage-pencil case, if desired, can be insulated with mineral woolThis will reduce temperature fluctuations and improve ventilation, resulting in optimal conditions inside for storing the machine. You can use polystyrene in that situation if the garage is installed in a protected area, otherwise ill-wishers can easily set fire to the structure. Also, be sure to keep in mind that water and snow do not collect inside. It is recommended to close the gap between the bottom of the cladding and the ground with a blind area of ​​sand cushion and sidewalk tiles.

To successfully complete the construction of a pencil case garage, you must first carefully think over even the smallest details and be sure to indicate them on the drawing. Drawing up a diagram will help you determine the required amount of material with maximum accuracy and will save a lot of money. Consider in the room the presence of all kinds of compact but roomy cabinets in which tools and spare parts can be placed.

For information on how to assemble a garage from corrugated board, see the next video.