Garage Construction in Big Lake, MN

Deep Footings, Fire Separation and a Door That Opens in January

Detached garages up to 1,000 square feet can sit on a thickened-edge slab, while larger ones and every attached garage need footings at the 42-inch frost depth. Curtis C Contracting LLC handles garage construction in Big Lake, MN, Zimmerman and Princeton: slabs of 3,500 psi concrete at least 3.5 inches thick, 2x4 walls at 16 or 24 inches on center, anchor bolts embedded 7 inches, ANSI/DASMA 108 doors, auto-reversing openers, and code-required fire separation where the garage meets the house.


Site layout starts with setbacks, drainage and how the apron will meet the driveway, then the permit goes in and the footing, framing and final inspections get booked. We hold Minnesota residential building contractor license BC808587 and BBB A+ accreditation, answer 24-hour emergency calls after storm and fire damage, and bring 30 years of hands-on framing and finish work to every slab, wall and truss we set. Free quotes and site visits start on our contact page.

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Custom Garages We Build

  • Detached Garage Construction

    Placement comes first, since setbacks and the distance to the house decide where the slab can go. Walls frame at 16 or 24 inches on center, trusses carry the 50 psf snow load, and roofing and siding match the house.

  • Attached Garages and Fire Separation

    Sharing a wall with the house triggers code: 1/2-inch gypsum on the garage side, 5/8-inch Type X under habitable rooms above, and a solid wood, steel or 20-minute rated door that closes and latches itself. Ducts and penetrations get sealed.

  • Slabs, Footings and Anchor Bolts

    Concrete lands at least 3.5 inches thick and 3,500 psi over compacted base, sloped roughly 1/8 inch per foot toward the door or a drain. Anchor bolts are 1/2 inch, embedded 7 inches, spaced no more than 6 feet apart along the plate.

  • Garage Doors, Openers and Hardware

    Overhead doors carry an ANSI/DASMA 108 label for wind load, and Minnesota law requires an opener with auto-reverse. We set the track, springs and rollers to the door weight, insulate the panels where the space is heated, and adjust the safety sensors.

  • Insulated and Heated Shop Garages

    Working through winter means insulated walls and ceiling, an air-sealed envelope, an insulated overhead door and a heat source sized to the space. Licensed electricians on our projects run 240-volt circuits for a heater, welder or compressor, permitted and inspected.

  • Garage Additions and Rebuilds After Storm or Fire

    Widening a stall, adding a bay or rebuilding after hail, wind or fire starts with judging what remains: slab condition, wall plumb, truss damage and burned or water-soaked framing. We photograph and itemize the damage for the adjuster before demolition.

Why Choose Us for Garages

Setbacks and Permits Cleared Before the Concrete Truck

Nothing gets poured until the permit is issued and the footing or slab inspection is on the calendar. Accessory structures over roughly 200 square feet need a permit in most cities here, and we handle the application, the drawings and the inspector.

Fire Separation Detailed the Way an Inspector Reads It

Attached garages fail inspection over details: a missing layer of Type X above a bonus room, an unrated door, an unsealed duct chase. We build the assembly as drawn and photograph it before drywall goes on, so nothing has to be reopened.

Floors Pitched So Snowmelt Leaves the Building

Salt-laden slush drips off vehicles all winter, and a flat slab holds it against the plate and the door bottom. We screed a pitch of 1/8 inch per foot to the door, form a control-jointed slab and set the apron to drain away.

Doors Sized for the Vehicles You Actually Own

Measure the truck, the trailer and the mower before the header height is set, because a door 6 inches too short is permanent. We check vehicle dimensions, ceiling height for the opener track and future storage lift clearance during layout.

Heat, Power and Insulation Planned Together

Deciding late that the space needs heat means opening finished walls for circuits and insulation. We ask early how you will use the building, then size the envelope, the electrical load and the heater as one package before framing gets covered.

Storm and Fire Damage Documented for Your Adjuster

Photographs, moisture readings and an itemized estimate go into the file before anything is torn out, and we meet the adjuster on site to walk the damage. We document what we find; the policy and coverage decisions stay with your insurer.

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Built to Take the Salt, the Snowmelt and the Sub-Zero Mornings

A garage earns its keep in February, when the slab is pitched right, the door opens on the first press and the wall between the vehicles and the house does its job. Curtis C Contracting LLC builds attached and detached garages in Big Lake, MN, from the concrete and anchor bolts up through trusses, doors, insulation and rated separation, and rebuilds the ones hail, wind or fire took down. Whether you need a second stall, a heated shop or a replacement for a structure that has outlived its footings, we will walk the site and put the scope in writing. Request a free quote through our contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need a permit to build a detached garage?

    Yes. Most Minnesota cities require a building permit for an accessory structure over roughly 200 square feet, along with zoning review for setbacks and height. Curtis C. Contracting files the application and books the inspections on garage builds in Big Lake, MN.

  • Can a detached garage be built on a slab instead of footings?

    Up to 1,000 square feet, a detached garage can typically use a thickened-edge slab rather than frost footings. Anything larger, and any garage attached to the house, needs footings carried to the 42-inch frost depth under Minnesota Rule 1303.1600.

  • Does an attached garage need a fire-rated door into the house?

    The door between the garage and the house has to be solid wood or steel at least 1-3/8 inches thick, or carry a 20-minute rating, and it must be self-closing and self-latching. A standard hollow-core interior door does not qualify.

  • What thickness of drywall is required between the garage and the house?

    Half-inch gypsum board covers the garage side of walls and ceilings shared with the house, and 5/8-inch Type X is required on a garage ceiling with habitable space above. Joints get taped so the fire separation is continuous.

  • Does a garage floor need to slope?

    Sloped floors are required, because liquids have to flow toward the door or a drain instead of pooling. Roughly 1/8 inch per foot is the common pitch, which also carries snowmelt and salt away from the garage framing and the door bottom.

  • Can you add a second story or loft above a garage?

    Often, provided the foundation, walls and floor system are designed for the added load, which usually means footings at 42 inches rather than a slab. Habitable space above needs 7-foot ceilings, egress, heat and a Type X ceiling below.

  • How far must a detached garage be from the house?

    Local zoning sets that distance, not the building code, so the required separation and side-yard setbacks come from the district your parcel sits in. Where a detached garage stands close to the house, fire separation requirements can also apply.

  • What inspections are required during garage construction?

    Expect a footing or slab inspection before the pour, a framing inspection once walls and trusses are up and sheathed, and a final once the door, drywall and separation are complete. Curtis C. Contracting schedules each one in Big Lake, MN.