Tips on designing and building a garage

[Kentuckian]

For the guys that have yet to build their garages lets help them out with a few tips that we used on our masterpieces. Here's a couple to get the thread started.

1) An 8' garage door is not 8' wide at the opening by the time it is framed up. That means your 8' wide trailer will not fit through the opening. A 9' or 10' wide door does not cost that much more.

2) Roof trusses make building the garage quicker but its usually wasted space. A stick built roof with a 6/12 or better pitch allows room for attic storage.

 

[radelow]

I don't agree with #2. They make roof trusses that are so-called attic-trusses that allow roof for storage.

Time = Money

 

[RobSmith]

Roll-up doors take up less room than the panel lift type. In OZ you can buy a pair that shares the track in between. With both doors up the track can be removed. Maximum door space !

 

[Call me the Breeze]

figure what size space you need then double it

 

[z28snksknr]

figure what size space you need then double it

Figure out your budget, then double it.

 

[radelow]

z28snksknr...you are spot on. At least that is what I am finding. On a sidenote I was in Normandy with my fiancee in May and I think I have the exact same photo as you!

 

[autoxbrian]

Plan ahead for things that you can't do now... but maybe later. items like cable outlets, speaker outlets/surround sound, plans for 240v plugs, air lines, lighting layouts, water hookup(s), drains, heating, cooling, FANS, natural lighting (windows/doors), plans for stationary lift(s) if necessary, etc.

As an FYI, I laid insulation, wire remesh, and tons of PEX throughout the floor not knowing if we'd be able to afford the 'mechanicals' for radiant heat anytime soon... but talk about items you cannot go back and 'redo' (without huge cost anyway). Our 1750 sq ft attached garage took less than $4000 in material totals for the radiant ($2.25/sq ft approximately)

 

[Falcon67]

Figure out your budget, then double it.

X2 on both those doubles. Figure double the circuits, maybe even double the power. If I had an electric do-over, I would surface mount with conduit - easier to move, add outlets, etc. Looks nice buried in the wall, but you'll want to change something and then you're fussin' about it.

 

[DavidTK]

It was already mentioned above briefly, but add heating and A/C, along with insulation. I live in Texas and working in the garage is unbearable in the summer time.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Before you start, tell the wife, none of the house stuff goes in your garage.

 

[SportFury59]

If you got the space around exterior of garage consider adding another vehicle door on the side or end. I put a vehicle door on each end of my garage and another one on the side. It really "opens up" the access to garage.

 

[havi]

Up here they're called Box trusses.

One more note, make sure the foundation is built up a bit for good drainage. The roof gathers a lot of rainwater, and it needs a place to go.

 

[kwb]

Here is my tip -- make it tall.

I like cars really I do but nothing annoyed me more while shopping for a house that advertised "large shop" only to find something with 8-9' ceiling height. You can't put a hoist in that will lift an engine out of most pickups at that height. If you have anything bigger than a small ski boat it won't fit inside, if you have an RV of any sort it won't go inside.

In the end I found a place that had the space for a shop and built to suit - I went for flexibility. If it legally can be moved on the road without permits it will probably go into my shop. I keep my 28' boat in there over the winter, in the future I see some sort of RV in my future and it will fit inside, my enclosed snowmobile trailer fits inside.

Not all of it at once but it is really nice to work out of the weather on any of the rolling stock that I have or will likely ever get.