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Garage Exterior Finishing Suggestions

Van_G | Posted in General Discussion on November 5, 2009 05:37am

Framing our shared garage this weekend (22’8″ x 24′) and I’m trying to decide on 2 areas: soffit & fascia, and wall finish

My side of the garage will rarely be used for parking, well, parking a car! Going to set up for workshop and exercise (read beer). 8’6″ ceiling with largish storage loft above. Insulating walls and roof joists to provide a stable and easily warmed environment.

Roof line will be gables at front and back, 6/12 pitch, run off would land in garden beds.

At the end of the day I want to do it right and end up with a space that meets the above criteria and doesn’t require excessive maintenance.

Soffit and Fascia: I originally planned to have aluminum contractor finish along with eaves troughs, but the more I’ve read it seems that I could simply finish with wood and just have run off drip into garden.

Thoughts on material?

Wall Finish: majority of garages around us are horizontal vinyl or aluminum siding. I’m interested in doing vinyl board and batten.

Current plan is to sheath and wrap frame as I would a house.

While checking out products at Rona I came across 4×8 3/8″ sheets of lap joint boards that had an acrylic (?) pattern finished on one side. Surface is paintable and comes in siding, stucco, and stone patterns.

Any feedback on the above materials or good practice is appreciated.

Van G
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Replies

  1. User avater
    Matt | Nov 05, 2009 05:51am | #1

    Make it match your house. 

     

    1. User avater
      Van_G | Nov 05, 2009 05:56am | #2

      House is 3 tone brick semi and the shared garage is detached and behind the house (rear 1/3 of the lot) so I've got free reign (not doing brick!).Van G

      1. User avater
        Matt | Nov 05, 2009 07:11am | #3

        OK - BTW what is "3 tone brick semi "

         

        1. User avater
          Van_G | Nov 05, 2009 07:56am | #4

          Bad English! The brick used has 3 different tones, or colour. All based around your standard red but one is lighter and one is darker.Van G

  2. User avater
    Matt | Nov 05, 2009 03:42pm | #5

    One more comment:

    >> Soffit and Fascia: I originally planned to have aluminum contractor finish along with eaves troughs, but the more I've read it seems that I could simply finish with wood and just have run off drip into garden.

    Thoughts on material? <<

    While I can appreciate the look of a building that has a stained wood exterior, possibly cedar, etc, if it is to painted I wouldn't use wood.  It's high maintenance.  There are several "engineered" or synthetic materials made specifically to be rot proof or resistant and they hold paint better than wood because there is less moisture cycling.  When painted wood is required on an exterior I use PT, say for porch railings, and usually take it one notch up and use a special type of PT called KDAT. 

    RE the gutters, the reason for them is to keep mud from splashing up on your exterior cladding.  Also they can help keep water away from your building, which may be less of a concern with a garage.  One thing good about them is if you leave them off, and then decide you want them later, you can have them added with no problem.

    Re your central question "what exterior finish to use" (or similar) really, I think you are going to have to make a decision of what kind of look you want and then we can give you some different material choices, pros and cons, etc.  Maybe I need to reread but the only thing I've gotten so far is you don't want brick and you might be interested in vinyl board and batten. 

    The only thing I can say about vinyl board and batten is that it is somewhat more expensive than regular vinyl siding - like maybe 40% - but I don't think it is big deal for the size of project you have.  The one obvious thing about vinyl is the cheaper initial cost and less upkeep.   Given the right siding contractor it is possible to incorporate some details and accents to give a nice looking vinyl sided house.  BTW - Although the vinyl itself may be DIY, the associated metal work isn't - unless you have some metal working experience.

     



    Edited 11/5/2009 7:55 am ET by Matt

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