New garage to be built - Thoughts?

[Quijote]

Hi guys,

Long time lurker. After dealing for months with permits (conservation commission and zoning board), it looks like I might get a chance to build my garage in May.

Anyhow, my detached garage will be a 22'Wx34'D (outside dims) garage. The plan is to simply garage my 3rd car with tons of room on either side for working on a car and storing all my little boys' vehicles (power wheels, bikes, etc), but in a pinch I can of course park two cars.

My plan is to install a Bendpak XPR-10A at the 20'D mark. That way, I can still park 2 cars up to the posts (in effect having a 20'x20' garage), and behind the posts I will still have a 20'Wx13'D area as a workshop and more storage. The garage will have 10' vertical walls with a 12/6 roof pitch for a peak height of about 16'. The bendpak posts will have to fit between trusses though.

I am calling out for a 4" thick, 4000psi concrete slab, but centered on the 20'D mark (where the lift will go) I am making the slab 6'Dx20'W (full width) by 8" deep. I might add rebar and wire mesh.

Also, the front 9' and last 9' will have room-in-attic trusses but the middle section (about 15') will have scissor trusses to get me extra ceiling clearance. It also gets me easier access to the room-in attic trusses front and back.

I will run at least 50-amps to it. Garage door will be 16'W X 8'H.

Does anyone see anything I am missing?

 

[Falcon67]

>Does anyone see anything I am missing?
LOL - more square footage. If there is anyway to get it 24' wide, 2' makes a big difference.

 

[wedge40]

With permits already pulled, not sure how much you can vary the overall dimensions. If you can't go wider I'd at least go a little deeper, say 40'. You can get two cars end to end this way.

Wedge

 

[Quijote]

Well, I already have a 2-car attached garage. I don't plan on having more than 3 cars.

Also, it was already pulling teeth to get a garage this big approved thanks to the conservation commission. I was just inside the 200' mark from a river bank and just inside the 100' mark from the wetlands buffer.

Welcome to MA, and in particular, my picky town.

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

Since you are just in the planning stage and intend to have a lift installed, wouldn't it be really helpful to have some up-lighting installed in the floor? It seems that most guys here on GJ really like to have plenty of ceiling light in their shops, but I seldom see this idea implemented in new builds. I know for myself that I hate fighting with the damn drop-light to get it positioned where I need it only to realize I have the cord hanging in my face or in my way. Good general lighting shining up from the floor seems to be a practical necessity when working under a lift; just my $0.02.

 

[dbabicky]

I'd stay away from that in-floor lighting ****. Just mount some angled lights on the nearby walls for use when your working, or mount them on a roller cart that you can bring in when you're working with the lift. You'd be amazed at how much light you can get out of 4ft dual bulbed flourescent fixture at a 45* angle pointing up mounted on a little roller cart or attached to the wall. ( the 45* angle is so the lights don't have to be under-foot while working)

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

"I'd stay away from that in-floor lighting ****."


Just curious as to your reason(s) for this statement?

 

[Quijote]

Interesting. Never thought of in-floor lighting. But I can't imagine how mobile lightign setup's don't achieve the same result (or better, since you can aim at a precise angle) without the added cost and complexity.

 

[Quijote]

Well, I break ground today. I hope to see a lot of earth removed when I gt home tonight.

For a simplified layout, see link below.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=251971&d=1366476476

 

[Chaznsc]

I don't plan on having more than 3 cars.

Then you dont have a plan LOL

I will run at least 50-amps to it.

Seems kinda thin on power?

 

[Quijote]

Then you dont have a plan LOL



Seems kinda thin on power?

My wife knows that in about 10 years I plan on building a kit car with my boys (current 4 & 6 yo). But until then, even if I had a 4th car, they probably wouldn't be garaged except for snowstorms.

As far as power, I am putting in a 100A panel for connectivity reasons, but I can't imagine ever coming close to drawing more than 40-50 amps.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Take plenty of pictures. Even when you think you took enough, take a few more.

Take atleast 1 picture a day from the same location. This will help you see the progress from the same point of view.

 

[Flexia]

Sounds close to what I want to do. Put a lift in the back of the building for the occasional use not be in the way to park something. Im thinking of a 26x44 though so if I ever had 4 or more cars they will fit

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[CNGsaves]

If you're limited on overall size (ie I agree that 24' deep should be minimum), then how about other goodies for your dream garage:
a) in-floor heat
b) 18' wide door is lot easier to get 2 cars in and out
c) rough-in electrical for future needs (240v compressor, welder, A/C, etc)
d) insulation
e) plan for airline system (black pipe steel or copper)

Good luck and start build thread in Gallery with LOTS of pictures!

 

[Quijote]

I have a tripod set up on the second floor window and I have been taking pictures from the same spot since day one. Area is flat and clear now. Excavation for footings should start today.

 

[Quijote]

It was gigantic struggle to get even what I am building approved. I convinced them that 22'W and 16'W door were not really wide enough for 2 cars, but just a comfortable 1-car garage. Somehow I pulled it off.

I do plan on insulating, running air and electric and drywalling. But for now I just want the structure up and get the floor epoxied so I can get stuff off my basement.