24'x24' Detached Auto/Fab Shop

[Tntundra13]

Like many, I have been lurking on this forum for years drooling over the amazing garages that people have constructed. Finally it has come time to start my own garage build thread.

A quick introduction. My name is Andrew and I am from Tennessee. I am a huge automotive enthusiast, and love welding and metal fab. My current project is a 93 E36 BMW that I am swapping a LS engine into (see pictures below)
View media item 92424View media item 92425View media item 92426View media item 92427
If you would like to see more about the car I have a build thread on LS1tech (https://ls1tech.com/forums/conversions-hybrids/1902876-gmw-e36-5-3-cd009.html), and I post progress pictures to my Instagram account @tnspeed1 .

Recently my wife and I sold our house, and we are in the process of building a new one. We were lucky enough to find a small neighborhood with large lots that allowed you to also build a detached garage. This was awesome since every house we have owned my projects have taken over the garage forcing us to park both cars outside. Now that we have our daughter I really wanted my wife to be able to park in the garage.

On to the garage. I decided to go with a canned design for a 24'x24' garage with an office above. My wife works from home so the office helped sell the detached garage idea haha. Below is a render of the finished product to give you an idea of what we are shooting for. The brick won't be white, but will match the brick on our house.
View media item 92434
The garage will have 10' ceilings, and I would eventually like to get a small portable MaxJax lift. Currently I have been toying around with a few different layouts, and this is what I have settled on.
View media item 92428View media item 92429
The progress has been slow due to the weather, and our builder being a little slow to get going. Two weeks ago they poured the slab, and this week the walls started going up.
View media item 92431View media item 92432View media item 92433
I am super excited about this build, and can't wait to have my own shop space. We told our builder that once he had the walls sanded that we would take over from there. I plan to paint everything myself, install all the fixtures, and coat the floors. I will be doing a lot of the wiring, and also plan to build out the office space above the garage for my wife.

As progress is made I will post more updates. Thanks for checking in, cheers.

 

[PhantomEB]

Welcome.

I also have a 24x24 with 10’ walls. It’s a nice size to wrench in.

Looking forward to helping you max out the space as I darn well know I sure could use 1.5x more space in both directions!

 

[Tntundra13]

Thanks Phantom for the welcome.

Not having enough space was one of my biggest concerns when looking at garage plans, but due to cost and the set backs/easements of our property this was my best option. Honestly standing on the slab it seems small, but it always does until the walls go up.

In an effort to save floor space I plan to put my air compressor in the closet under the stairs, and my tool boxes will be tucked into the nook at the back of the garage forming a work bench. Also my plan is to keep my lawn equipment and wood working tools in the attached garage, and only use this space for my car and metal work.

I welcome all ideas, and input. I will post some more specific information later regarding lighting, floor covering, and other items.

Cheers.

 

[PhantomEB]

Overhead cupboards where you want them sure help lots. Mine (see if you can find my build, I don’t remember if I showed mine in that thread) is wall to wall with built in nooks for speakers and heat.

Now I am searching for more drawer storage and ways to make all tools mobile.

 

[Tntundra13]

Quick update. Went by the garage today, and the framers have been making great progress. They are pushing to have everything framed up this weekend, and looking to start brick early next week. That will allow us to pour the driveway, and hopefully get a early CO on the house. We are pushing to be moved into the house by the end of the month.
View media item 92508View media item 92510View media item 92509
Phantom, you have me thinking about shelving, and this is what I am kicking around.
View media item 92511View media item 92512
I plan to have 3 - 44" Tool boxes at the back of the garage, and 4 - 28" cabinets mounted above the boxes. I plan to put my air compressor in the closet so to not take up any additional floor space. I am hoping that will be enough, but we will see.

 

[bdbecker]

Am I the only one not seeing any pics?

Looking forward to following along! I'm also a member of the 576 club.

 

[DynoDave]

Am I the only one not seeing any pics?

Looking forward to following along! I'm also a member of the 576 club.

Nope. I'm just closing my eyes and imagining...

 

[Tntundra13]

So no one can see my pictures??

 

[HOTFR8]

So no one can see my pictures??

I can see them OK.

 

[YukonXL04]

So no one can see my pictures??

I cant see them

 

[Tntundra13]

That’s odd.

Does anyone know what would be causing some to see the pictures and others not??

 

[bdbecker]

That’s odd.

Does anyone know what would be causing some to see the pictures and others not??

Check your photo album settings to make sure you have the "Public" selected instead of "Private". HOTFR8 is a moderator, which is why he can probably see them, but all us regular members can't.

 

[Tntundra13]

Thank you! I have changed it to public. Please let me know if you can see the pictures now.

 

[bdbecker]

Looks good!

 

[DynoDave]

Yep, that worked!

 

[Tntundra13]

Quick update.

Swung by the house today to check on things. Our builder was hoping to have all the framing completed on the garage before the end of the week, and have the roof decking on. Unfortunately it has been raining for the last two days which has slowed the progress some. They did however get all the rafters up, and you can now walk around the office area above the garage.
View media item 92582View media item 92581View media item 92583
The good news is that the weather should be dry all next week, and hopefully our builder can make some good progress. Hope to have some good updates by the end of the week.

Cheers

 

[iced98lx]

Looking good! Following along!

 

[YukonXL04]

I can see the pictures now. Looks good.

 

[PhantomEB]

Push the cupboards right up to ceiling. No need to create a dust collector up there.

Same for over the table. Shelves under a row of cupboards.

 

[Tntundra13]

Thanks guys!

 

[rixtrix1]

Nice looking home and shop! Read your build over on LS1tech; have you checked for cracked/broken rear subframe mounts in the chassis, as that's a very common problem, too. Amazing the prices you paid for everything- deals of a lifetime!

 

[Tntundra13]

I sure did and everything looks solid. Even though it is solid I still plan to reinforce the rear subframe and strut towers. Before I swapped the engine I dropped the front sub frame and welded in reinforcement plates as well. I always try to keep an eye out on Craigslist and every once in awhile a gem will come along haha.

 

[HOTFR8]

I cant see them

That’s odd.

Does anyone know what would be causing some to see the pictures and others not??

Check your photo album settings to make sure you have the "Public" selected instead of "Private". HOTFR8 is a moderator, which is why he can probably see them, but all us regular members can't.

Thank you! I have changed it to public. Please let me know if you can see the pictures now.

Setting to public would be the answer. Glad a few others chipped in to resolve the issue. That is what makes the GJ such a great forum.

 

[Tntundra13]

Well I have been out of the country all week, and just got back yesterday. The weather was good while I was gone, and our builder was able to make some good progress. Things are really starting to come together now. The game plan is to finish framing next week, install the windows, and brick the front. Once the brick is on the front we can get the driveway poured, and start on the interior work.
View media item 92690View media item 92692
I am really happy with how the office is turning out upstairs. This will be a great area for my wife.
View media item 92695View media item 92694
Also I love the view from the back of the office.
View media item 92693
Hope to have some more updates before the end of week.

-Cheers!

 

[DynoDave]

Looking good!

 

[Tntundra13]

Thank you! It’s getting closer and closer. Ready to do some work on the shop and get back to working on the car.

 

[PhantomEB]

Looks great! I would love to be able to put my girls craft room above my shop but nah I think I would be more inclined to turn such a space into a man cave where the boys can sit back and drink!

 

[Tntundra13]

Haha I was hoping to turn it into a man cave, but the promise of a separate office sold my wife on the idea of a detached garage. The first time I fire up the car and fill the garage with fumes she may change her mind lol.

 

[PhantomEB]

There room to put her office in the house? Main floor so she maintains a view?

My girl wants a little outbuilding for her arts and crafts....I wonder how she’s gonna heat the darn thing?

Least she’s somewhat content with the work I doing around here.

 

[astroracer]

Don't drywall over those knee walls. There is a ton of storage behind them. When I put up my 26 x 28 I built bookshelves and drawer units into some of the spaces and added oak plywood doors to the rest of them. A lot of usable space if it is accessible!
Mark

 

[Tntundra13]

That's a great idea. On one side there is a coat closet at the top of the stairs that I had our builder leave the studs out of the back so we could access the storage space behind the knee wall.

On a side note I like the radio flyer wagon in you profile pic. I have designed a low rider wagon for my daughter, and plan to build it for her once we get into the new house.
View media item 92737View media item 92738View media item 92736
-Cheers

 

[Tntundra13]

Quick update. The brick was warped up this week, and the electrician has started to pull the service from the house to the garage. Now that the brick is done they can pour the driveway, and finish the grading around the house. Also they have started to install the boxes and pull wire in the garage. I am hoping to get in there next weekend and run some speaker wire, and a few other things.
View media item 92794View media item 92795
-Cheers

 

[astroracer]

Looks nice! Make sure the receptacles are installed about 4' off the floor and have one every 6' or so.
Mark

 

[Tntundra13]

Great advice! Currently the outlets are waist to chest height.

 

[HotWire]

looks great! You'll love having a dedicated space to work/play.

 

[AMFJ]

Looks great. Do you know what the overall height of the garage is?

 

[Tntundra13]

To the roof peak or to the ceiling of the interior garage?

 

[astroracer]

Looks great. Do you know what the overall height of the garage is?

To the roof peak or to the ceiling of the interior garage?

I would take "overall" to mean to the peak...
Mark

 

[Tntundra13]

To the peak it’s 24’. The garage ceiling is 10’.

 

[AMFJ]

I did mean peak. Thank you, I'm in planning stage and have to stick to a 20' height without getting a variance. Was curious about the second floor and if I would have that kind of room.