“Pre-fabricated” building doesn’t have to mean “boring building”. There are several ways you can customize your steel garage, from aesthetic changes to highly functional internal structures. Here are six ways to consider customizing your steel garage:

1. Give it some colour

A splash of colour can add some excitement to just about anything, and steel garages are no exception. Most companies offer a selection of 3-10 colours directly from the factory.

The vast majority of steel buildings can also be painted after the fact. If you want a more unique colour than what’s available, your manufacturer should be able to tell you what types of paint work with your specific building.

2. Add a skylight (or a few)

Skylights are a great way to bring some natural light into your garage, reducing your need for electrical lighting. The natural light will also make your garage feel more welcoming, which is particularly important if some of the space will be used for work.

You can also get coloured skylights. These can be used to control the type and amount of light entering your building. They’re also a great way to create a unique atmosphere.

If you want skylights, seek a manufacturer that offers custom sizes. This ensures that your skylights will fit your garage correctly.

3. Turbine vents and insulation

If you’re going to store anything sensitive to temperature in your garage you’ll want to get proper insulation. Always choose insulation specifically proven to work in your area, as requirements vary greatly based on climate.

Insulation and a turbine vent can also significantly reduce noise both exiting and entering the garage. It will also ensure that you’re comfortable in the building all year long. This is particularly important if you’re going to use part of your garage as a work area.

4. Entrances/exits

Most companies offer three primary door options: sliding, overhead, and service. You should be able to customize the size of these doors based on the overall size of your building. Some companies may also offer the doors in multiple colours.

You can also choose to have one door, or several, to suit your needs. The most common layout has one sliding or overhanging door and one service door, like a regular garage.

5. Storage

Deciding how much storage you want before you create your steel garage is incredibly important, as you need to leave enough room for it. Any reputable company should offer some internal wall shelving options. Many also offer free standing storage cabinets.

If you want a lot of storage but don’t have a lot of space for your garage, consider loft-style (suspended) storage. This is a little more complicated to set up, but can give you an enormous amount of storage space without sacrificing an inch of floor space.

6. Find a reputable company

Your steel garage should be treated like any major investment. Decide what features are most important to you, then seek out companies who can provide all of those things. A reputable company will also be willing to give you a free estimate before you make any purchases, including all the extra features your heart desires.

Not sure what you need? Most steel garage manufacturers are quite familiar with the range of uses for their buildings. They will have engineers on hand to help you build a customized floor plan that meets all of your requirements.