Top 5 Common Mistakes in Garage Construction and How to Fix Them
- coraliefortin076
- Sep 1
- 7 min read
Building or renovating a garage may seem simpler than erecting an entire house. However, this space, often relegated to the background, deserves special attention. A well-designed garage not only increases the value of your property, but also improves your daily comfort.
At Plan Maison Québec, we assist many clients across Canada in creating functional, durable garages that are tailored to their needs. To help you avoid costly mistakes, here are the five most common errors in garage construction or renovation, along with professional tips to avoid them.
1. Neglecting permits and municipal requirements
The mistake
Many homeowners embark on the construction of their garage without consulting their municipality or verifying local regulatory requirements. This mistake, while common, can have serious consequences: construction stoppages, fines, project modification requirements, or, worse, partial or total demolition of the structure.
Each municipality in Quebec (and Canada in general) has its own urban planning regulations regarding height, location, distances, permitted materials, and more.
Why this error can happen
This mistake often arises from ignorance. Some believe that because it's a garage—and not a living space like a house—the rules are more flexible, or even nonexistent. Others think that if the garage is detached or built on private land, no permit is required. Added to this is sometimes the urgency of completing the work, or blind trust in unscrupulous contractors who neglect the administrative step.
How to fix and avoid this error
Before planning anything, check with your municipality to find out the regulations in force. This includes zoning standards, area requirements, materials, maximum heights, and site restrictions.
At Plan Maison Québec, we include this regulatory verification in our services. Our plans are always designed to comply with local standards, making it easier to obtain permits. By working with us, you'll get off to a good start and avoid unpleasant surprises.
2. Undersized or poorly executed foundations
The mistake
Many garages suffer from inadequate foundations: too shallow, poorly insulated, without an adequate drainage system, or built with poor-quality materials. This may seem like a cost-saving measure at the time, but in the long run, the consequences are serious: cracks in the slab, water infiltration, subsidence of the floor, or even complete structural weakening.
Why this error can happen
The foundations are invisible once the garage is finished, which leads some to want to save money on this part of the project. Others believe that the foundations of a garage don't need to be as solid as those of a house, especially if you don't plan to spend much time there. Furthermore, ignorance of soil conditions (clay, sandy, rocky) or the depth of frost in Quebec leads to unsuitable choices.
How to fix and avoid this error
It is crucial to design foundations that are adapted to the expected load (cars, equipment, heavy tools), the soil type, and local climate conditions. At Plan Maison Québec, we work with experts who assess the topography and soil composition before developing a foundation plan.
We can recommend a well-drained slab on grade, a raft foundation, or even foundations with concrete footings and walls, depending on your needs. By choosing our services, you receive a plan adapted to Canadian realities and the challenges of Quebec's winters.
3. Insufficient technical planning (electricity, ventilation, drainage, etc.)
The mistake
The garage is too often seen as a simple shelter. However, for it to be truly useful and pleasant, everything must be considered: electrical circuits, wall outlets, sufficient lighting, ventilation, heating system, plumbing (in some cases), and above all, adequate drainage. Failure to plan for these elements from the outset leads to cobbled-together installations that are unsafe and often costly to repair.
Why this error can happen
This mistake is usually due to a lack of planning or technical knowledge. The owner or general contractor doesn't think to discuss these aspects at the design stage. Or, they assume everything can be added later, which is often false. Running electrical wiring or installing ventilation after the fact may require drilling into walls, removing coverings, or even partially demolishing the floor.
How to fix and avoid this error
The solution is simple: integrate all these elements from the design phase. At Plan Maison Québec, our garage plans include electrical diagrams, ventilation locations, and drainage considerations based on the building's orientation.
Do you want a 240V outlet for an electric vehicle charging station? A central ceiling light with a double switch? A glycol radiator to combat the winter cold? All of this is planned, drawn, and explained in the plan. This saves you a lot of headaches and makes your garage functional from day one.
4. Choosing the wrong floor covering: a mistake with costly consequences
The mistake
In many garage construction or renovation projects, the floor is treated as a mere detail. Many settle for a bare concrete slab, sometimes unleveled, unsealed, and without expansion joints. Others choose unsuitable decorative or residential flooring that cannot withstand the weight of a vehicle, tire abrasion, or constant moisture. Over time, this results in cracks, chips, water infiltration, stubborn oil or antifreeze stains, and even mold problems.
A poorly designed floor compromises the durability of the garage, reduces user comfort, and increases maintenance costs.
Why this error can happen
Several factors explain this common mistake. First, garage floors are often installed at the end of the project, when the budget has already been exceeded. This leads some to choose inexpensive materials without taking the time to evaluate their durability or suitability for the Canadian climate.
Also, many homeowners underestimate the extreme conditions to which a garage floor is subjected: freeze/thaw cycles, corrosive road salt, heavy tools, impacts, mechanical fluids, etc. They don't consider the garage as an active workspace, or even an extension of the home. Finally, some are simply unaware of the professional solutions available today.
How to fix and avoid this error
The best solution is to anticipate the garage's actual purpose from the design stage. Is it solely for parking a vehicle? Will it also be used as a workshop, storage space, or multipurpose room? Each use has its own specific requirements.
Plan Maison Québec recommends always starting with a well-reinforced concrete slab, precisely leveled and poured with integrated drainage. Adding properly positioned expansion joints prevents premature cracking due to concrete shrinkage.
Next, for the flooring, we guide our clients toward suitable professional options, such as:
Industrial epoxy: chemical-resistant, aesthetically pleasing, non-slip, and easy to maintain.
Polyurea/polyaspartic: more flexible and resistant to thermal shock, perfect for the Quebec climate.
PVC interlocking slabs: ideal for those who want a quick and modular installation without major work.
Finally, we always provide protective edges and drainage areas to prevent water accumulation or infiltration into the foundations. By choosing Plan Maison Québec, you have access to comprehensive expertise that considers the long term, not just immediate appearance.
5. A poorly organized, non-ergonomic garage with no flexibility of use
The mistake
The garage is often considered a secondary space, leading homeowners to neglect its interior layout. The result: a large, empty rectangle with no storage, no traffic flow planning, and no functional zoning. The garage quickly becomes a chaotic warehouse filled with tires, tools, bicycles, sports equipment, and seasonal items.
This lack of organization reduces parking capacity, creates safety hazards (falling objects, cables on the floor), and transforms a space with great potential into a source of stress.
Why this error can happen
This mistake stems from a lack of planning for daily use. Many people think that the layout can be adapted "over time," or that a simple toolbox and a few shelves will suffice. Others don't consider that their needs will evolve: adding a workbench, adding a second vehicle, integrating a charging station, or transforming it into a hobby room.
Furthermore, few people have the skills to design a smooth flow of traffic in a multifunctional space. Without a detailed plan, elements are installed haphazardly, the space is obstructed, or available height is forgotten.
How to fix and avoid this error
The key is to treat the garage as an essential part of the home. At Plan Maison Québec, we design our plans with functional zoning in mind:
Parking area: sufficient clearance to open doors, maneuver on foot, and load the vehicle.
Work or workshop area: close to a power source, naturally lit if possible, with a work surface and integrated storage.
Vertical storage area: installation of high shelves, bike or tire racks, and hanging cabinets to free up floor space.
Passage area: clear corridor leading to the house, garden, or shed, depending on the layout of the property.
We include in our plans recommendations for lighting (directional LEDs above the workbench, central ceiling lighting, motion sensors), wall outlets, and even options for integrating a space heater or central vacuum.
Finally, we consider future uses. Are you thinking of converting part of your garage into an office, a workout room, or an additional living space? Plan Maison Québec plans the ceiling height, openings, necessary insulation, and access points today to make it possible tomorrow.
Conclusion : common garage construction mistakes
Building or renovating a garage is no easy task. From legal compliance to technical choices and day-to-day functionality, every detail counts. By avoiding common mistakes like lack of permits, inadequate foundations, poorly chosen flooring, or neglected ergonomics, you're making a wise investment in your property.
Plan Maison Québec offers personalized plans, designed with rigor, experience, and attention to detail. Whether you're building a new garage or renovating an existing space, our team will support you every step of the way: from analyzing municipal regulations to optimizing interior ergonomics and selecting the best materials.
Do you want a durable, functional, and well-designed garage?
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