A portable garage is one of the most versatile structures you can add to a home. A portable garage could server as a carport, a boat port, a storage area, or if built without at least one wall a covered patio. These structures can be built with aluminum siding and roofing.

Other common materials used for building a portable garage include plywood, steel, fiberglass, or native lumber. You can also adapt the building design to suit your particular space requirements. But if you do modify the design, make sure you modify it in such a manner that enables you to buy standard-size lumber and materials.

The attached carport or multi-purpose shelter should have a minimum roof pitch of 1 to 12 inches. You may want to increase this pitch to at least 3:12 if you reside in a region with heavy snows. Dimensions might be adjusted as well in accordance with your space requirements. Here are the steps to building a portable garage.

1. Locate five footings of 60-feet o.c.; excavate; and pour footings and concrete piers so their top surfaces are level. Set anchors or anchor bolts in concrete.

2. Attach and plumb 4 x 4 posts; brace temporarily with 2 x 4s. Attach 2 x 8 rafter support.

3. Level and nail 2 x 6 header to house or existing structure; where possible, nail into studs approximately 32 inches o.c. Mark header for rafters; 2 feet o.c. is suggested spacing.

4. Mark and cut first rafter to desired length. Notch rafter, 1 1/2 inch, where it crosses after support. Place rafter in position to check fit; trim if necessary; if fit is satisfactory, use as pattern for remaining rafters.

5. Secure two end rafters, using framing anchors at header plate and nails at 2 x 8 rafter support. Fasten remaining rafters. Remove temporary 2 x 4s.

6. Nail 2 x 4 purlins flat on rafters with two 16d nails at each rafter. Purlins should be 24 inches o.c.

7. Nail 2 x 4 horizontal blocking, 24 inches o.c., between 4 x 4 posts. Add 2 x 4 diagonal bracing.

8. Paint or stain framing.

9. Apply covering or sheathing. If covering with aluminum, use weatherproof nails with washers. Predrill nail holes to avoid shick marks around nails. To avoid possible leaks, nail through the tops of the metal corrugations. Paint or finish as required.

That's all there is to it. Congratulations, you've just constructed your own portable garage...or perhaps all you've done is read the simple instructions on how to construct your own portable garage. Either way you're ahead of where you were before you started reading so that's a step in the right direction.

Your portable garage should provide you decades of use with almost no maintenance. That's another advantage of following this simple portable garage building design. Portable building and pole buildings are rapidly growing in popularity across the country and when you experience the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of building your own portable garage, you'll soon understand why.