mtrain
+1y
Sounds like a fun project.
As for a garage, can you just add a "lean to" off of one side of your house? Its not going to be a garage that will amaze people, but it will keep the hot sun off your back, not to mention rain, leaves, snow, etc.
What I mean is to go to the longest side of your house, just not the front. Go up above the windows about two, or three feet, and snap a chalk line on the wall going down the length of the wall. The get some 2x6x12's and SCREW NOT NAIL them into the side of the house where you snapped the chalk line.
Judge how wide you want your work area, and then put some 4x4 posts into the ground parallel to the wall of you house that you installed the 2x6's.
Make the length of the 4x4 posts from the ground to be about 8 ft so you can get a truck under it if needed. Connect more 2x6's down the length of the post.
You should be able to use 2x4's as rafters set about two feet apart [to save money]. Screw them to the 2x6's on the house, then let them run across to the 2x6's on the posts, and let them hang over about 2ft.
Add some slats, and the steel roofing of the color of your choice, and now you have a cheap garage. You can always add an outside wall later, and pour a slab of concrete. You can make it long enough for one car for now, and lengthen it for more cars later.
I would say to build that kind of garage first before you attempt any project as you will love being able to work outside, and be dry when its raining/snowing, not to mention you won't have to lay in the mud anymore [if you build it wide enough, and dig a ditch around it.