Recommendations?

[andyfield]

Hi all, I think this is my first post! Just bought a house, and there's a 29' by 39' slab already poured for a garage! The 29' is the driveway side, so it's narrower at the entrance. We'll be putting an apartment upstairs, but the downstairs is all mine!

Without getting down to the exact inches, what recommendations do you have for the layout of my new Garage Mahal?

Thanks!
Andy

 

[Barnabas]

What do you plan to do in the garage?

 

[andyfield]

Great question! A little of everything. Storage for ATV and boat, carpentry, auto maintenance, welding, etc. Just a general purpose garage and shop. We have a 2-car garage in the house, which is where we keep one of the vehicles now and the ATV and mower. And workbench. And cabinets. And generator. And gas cans. And yard tools. I'd like to have that garage almost completely empty besides the two vehicles.

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, your garage will always be a "Work in Progress" until you are about 80.

After you get to be 80, you may decide to slack off on taking on new projects; I have began to actually reject "Good Deals" or free stuff because of my age.

 

[dcg9381]

Without getting down to the exact inches, what recommendations do you have for the layout of my new Garage Mahal?

Thanks!
Andy

Andy, play with an architectural tool or layout tool (there are a few on the web I think). No way to give you advice not knowing what you like to do or how it's oriented. There are cases where you'll want a drive-through garage (doors on both sides), etc. Using a tool, you can lay it all out.

Height of your doors will determine eve/ceiling. If you want 2nd floor up from there, need to know the height of what is below it.

Stairs are a "space ****" - consider doing them outside (depending on use).

Are you sure this slab is solid for "residential quality" - I know up north some slabs need to be insulated, etc.

Last, having a bare slab - now is a great time to do some work on the slab itself - IE, staining, coating (I'm a big fan of polyurea)..

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Start at the beginning?
Was the existing slab designed for building on?
What access will there be for the upstairs (inside or outside entrance, at ateh front or rear of the building)?
Then look at utilities, especially sewer and plumbing.

As far as garage layout, open space.

 

[andyfield]

It was definitely designed for building on; it's got recessed concrete all around for the brickwork, and the threaded rods already in the concrete for the footer. Stairs will likely be inside.

The 39 foot depth is what I think I need advice on. 29' wide is just enough for a really comfortable 2-car garage, with cabinets and maybe stairs on the side. But 39' deep is enough to park a lot of stuff. Anyone have a narrow, deep garage floor plan they're willing to share? I know open space is good, but how do you guys arrange all your stuff - workbenches and stuff ?

I guess I'd like to see people's layout, is what I'm saying.

 

[andyfield]

Here’s the slab.

 

[Quarter Life Crisis]

That's a nice starting point for a build, and will save you a lot of money as far as site prep and concrete work. What's the story behind why it was abandoned after the concrete phase? Obviously, someone had big dreams that went sideways.

 

[andyfield]

Original owner had plans to build on it. They got offered a free house from family and moved out. Second owners just weren’t home improvement people. They got divorced and I bought the house for a great deal, sight unseen, during the pandemic.

 

[Ralf11]

Great question! A little of everything. Storage for ATV and boat, carpentry, auto maintenance, welding, etc. Just a general purpose garage and shop. We have a 2-car garage in the house, which is where we keep one of the vehicles now and the ATV and mower. And workbench. And cabinets. And generator. And gas cans. And yard tools. I'd like to have that garage almost completely empty besides the two vehicles.

you need 4 garages

 

[meboatermike]

If there is going to be an apartment upstairs I would recommend that no flammable liquids be stored in the garage. I know it is a garage but with living space up above it is just not a good idea in my opinion. I have a separate roughly 4' by 4' by 6' long plywood sheathed storage "shed" that sits about 10'-12' away from my house/shop. It gives me some peace of mind when all that stuff was removed from the shop area (it used to be a stand alone minimum 1 car garage back in the day but now is attached and no longer a garage).

 

[andyfield]

you need 4 garages

Oh yeah I do

 

[andyfield]

If there is going to be an apartment upstairs I would recommend that no flammable liquids be stored in the garage. I know it is a garage but with living space up above it is just not a good idea in my opinion. I have a separate roughly 4' by 4' by 6' long plywood sheathed storage "shed" that sits about 10'-12' away from my house/shop. It gives me some peace of mind when all that stuff was removed from the shop area (it used to be a stand alone minimum 1 car garage back in the day but now is attached and no longer a garage).

Ok thanks

 

[Mark118]

First thing I'd try to determine is how the floor will drain. Since it was planned as a garage, I'm guessing it all slopes to the spot that looks like was intended as the entry. If there's no other provision, and the slab makes it feasible, I'd consider putting floor drain(s) while you most easily can. Good luck with the project!

 

[readhead]

Is there a building department and permits required? If that is the case you should check and find out if you can use the existing foundation.

 

[joey1320]

IMHO, your garage will always be a "Work in Progress" until you are about 80.

After you get to be 80, you may decide to slack off on taking on new projects; I have began to actually reject "Good Deals" or free stuff because of my age.

Ha! I'm half that age and finally decided to start saying, "No" to "good deals" and "free stuff."

Actually putting on the curb the last free cabinets I went and got from a friend of a friend which I'm not going to be using. In order to use them I'll need to fix them, sand them, paint them and then find a top for them. I should had just said no to begin with.

Going on the curb/trash and buying brand new ones next week. These good deals usually turn into more work than worth.

 

[Joemctag]

What shade tree and readhead said.
If you’ll need a permit, then they’re going to want to know what it looked like before the concrete pour. Presume the PO had plans and a permit and a foundation inspection was done and they’ll look that up and let you include that already-built part in your plans.
If no permitting, then you can trust that the PO’s slab will make a good foundation.
Could always dig out and pour new footings or something outside of existing slab, also.
I’d like to hear what members who’ve worked in permitting say about their experience with building previously started like this one.