900 sq ft ideas for a garage build?

[ratdoggy]

I want to build a garage on my property for car storage. I don't have a car problem it's a storage problem. Town says I can go to 1100 sq ft but that might be a bit too big. I want to park two cars in it and still have room for yard stuff (mower, trailer, spreader stuff like that in it). Need ideas. I'm thinking stick built on a slab

 

[Jeff Ivers]

A lot depends on whether you wish to work on the things you have stored in there and how tired you will become of moving things out of the way to get to other things. I frame built a 1200 sq ft shop 34 years ago and wish it were larger. I have since added a 1200 sq ft barn and all the outdoor tools, tractor, utility trailer, etc have moved to it. If you can go 1100 sq ft, I doubt you will ever regret it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Depends on the size of your vehicles too. An old rule of thumb is to allow 12'x24' for each car; 900 square feet divided by 24 is 37.5, so you could have a decent size three car garage, but that may not work for the guys who have extended cab pickup trucks.

 

[dcg9381]

Town says I can go to 1100 sq ft but that might be a bit too big.

Town is right.. That's not too big.
No one on GJ said "damn, I built a shop that's too big".

I want to park two cars in it and still have room for yard stuff (mower, trailer, spreader stuff like that in it).

Show us the lot layout, setbacks, any big changes in slope, that sort of stuff.
Part of it is getting stuff in and out (maybe another garage door or egress on the back side) - depends on the lot setup.
Or send photos of garages you think you like... Lots of online home plans for ideas.

 

[andyvh1959]

A 24x32 garage (only 768 sq ft), with a 16' OH door and a 36" man door on the front gives easy access for two cars. Or, go 28x32 (896 sq ft) for easier access around the vehicles. Figure most cars/pickups are less than 18' long, and 2' into the garage leaves a 12'x23' area in front of the vehicles for work area or equipent storage. Or about 10'x32' in front and allowing for a 20' long vehicle or boat. On one side near the back corner, place a 8' wide OH door for access to lawn equipment. A 6x12 pitch storage truss gable roof will allow for storage above the vehicles if needed. If you run the gable the 32' length you could even have a barn door style opening on the front gable to access the storage above without need to move the cars out, or plan a pull down stairway inside centered between the cars for access above.

My guess for a 24x32 garage on a slab, ready to use, is about $45,000. With full electrical, add $10,000 if done by contractors and you just move in. I built my 24x28 shop on a slab back in fall 2019, for $23,000 and I was the contractor and I did about 50% of the work myself.

 

[WildBill]

I'm super happy with my Versatube metal building kit on a mono pour slab, has stood up to a crapload of snow and multiple instances of sustained 75-90 mph winds over the last 3-4 years. Was easy to put together and the framing members they make are super beefy 2x4 style pieces. You can get metal sheeting locally and save some cash. You customize the snow load and wind specs for your area.

Summit Garage - 24'W x 36'L x 10'H - Garage or Building - Building Kits

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Like others have said, build it as big as you are allowed. Mine is 24'x37', so right around 900sqf and its not big enough. I guess if all you did was park cars and outdoor stuff in it you would be OK, but if you want to do any real work in there you will want it bigger.

 

[txvwnut]

Town says I can go to 1100 sq ft but that might be a bit too big.

Seriously, if the budget allows and it won't affect the aesthetics of your property build what the city allows.

 

[dcg9381]

Lol! Exactly. Can't have this attitude!

Seriously, if the budget allows and it won't affect the aesthetics of your property build what the city allows.

110%. Make sure you read the details on what the "city allows" - often the front desk people don't know their butts from a hole in the ground. Is this 1100 sqft of "garage" that is allowed (detached structure)? Does having a bath count? Is it footprint? How high can you build it?

Start with a site plan... There are lots of examples already up. Let me know if you want one posted.


The only subject that will drive more opinion on GJ is posting a photo of an electrical main that you just wired and in that case it's a lot less subjective.

 

[ratdoggy]

As of now just looking for ideas. It would be used for storage more than a shop. Between a race car, 2 corvettes, a 1937 Ford WIP, and a 1962 Tbird I need to get stuff out of the weather. My attached garage is basically a 3 car it's where I actually work on stuff. An attic would be great. Main thing is getting cars inside and safe

 

[CombatNinja]

My guess for a 24x32 garage on a slab, ready to use, is about $45,000. With full electrical, add $10,000 if done by contractors and you just move in. I built my 24x28 shop on a slab back in fall 2019, for $23,000 and I was the contractor and I did about 50% of the work myself.

I don't know of anywhere in the country that you can build a 24' x 32' stick-framed garage on a slab for that money. You might need a post-COVID reality check.

 

[andyvh1959]

Could be. Like I said, I built my 24x28 shop in the fall of 2019, pre-COVID, and the total materials from Menards, everything from the slab up, door, OH door, 2x6 walls, OSB sheeting for walls and roof, trusses, shingles, insulation, etc was only $10,000. I spent $6K for the slab, $2800 hired to do the framing up to the top plate/trusses. I did all the rest, roofing, electrical ($1200 materials), trim, windows (glass block) and I spent at least $1000 on interior OSB, misc lumber. Since I bought the lumber package through Menards on their credit card, I got almost $1100 in rebate credit for more stuff at Menards. So my total in 2020 was around $21,000, so if I had hired it all out as a completely done "here's the keys, here's the final invoice" it would have been at least $42,000 back then. Now, more like $60,000 I'd assume.

You're probably right that a 24x32 completely built garage is more like $70,000.

 

[CombatNinja]

OP is in Ohio, not sure of construction costs there but here in southern NC, that building would run you at least $60K dried in, $75K if you want electrical and plumbing.

 

[Overboost44]

I don't know of anywhere in the country that you can build a 24' x 32' stick-framed garage on a slab for that money. You might need a post-COVID reality check.

Could be. Like I said, I built my 24x28 shop in the fall of 2019, pre-COVID, and the total materials from Menards, everything from the slab up, door, OH door, 2x6 walls, OSB sheeting for walls and roof, trusses, shingles, insulation, etc was only $10,000. I spent $6K for the slab, $2800 hired to do the framing up to the top plate/trusses. I did all the rest, roofing, electrical ($1200 materials), trim, windows (glass block) and I spent at least $1000 on interior OSB, misc lumber. Since I bought the lumber package through Menards on their credit card, I got almost $1100 in rebate credit for more stuff at Menards. So my total in 2020 was around $21,000, so if I had hired it all out as a completely done "here's the keys, here's the final invoice" it would have been at least $42,000 back then. Now, more like $60,000 I'd assume.

You're probably right that a 24x32 completely built garage is more like $70,000.

I will let you know soon. I am waiting on approval for a 26x32' attached with a loft over half of it. I am doing most of the work except foundation, roof (12:12 pitch), and I don't think the county will let me do electric. I have a detailed spreadsheet created for it and I am looking at $75k. I had it quoted out in 2020 before we knew what covid would do to the prices for $55k.

 

[MushCreek]

I built my barn with plans from barnplans.com. Mine is 28X48, but you could build to whatever length you want. I like having a BIG loft with 8' ceilings. There building method is good for DIY; you build the walls and loft deck, then build the trusses up on the loft deck and walk them into place.

 

[OccupantRJ]

For car and mower storage if the situation allowed I would build long and narrow across the rear of the lot and have doors on the long side. This would put one car per bay for ease of access, and provide a “fence” along the rear or side of the property, depending on placement. Place electric receptacles in front of each car for chargers or battery maintainers. Concrete pad along the front to wash cars on. This would basically be the modern carriage house.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If your concern is for car storage, I would have side walls tall enough for a 4 post lift. You may want to take that into consideration of the construction cost.

 

[Redraptor]

As of now just looking for ideas. It would be used for storage more than a shop. Between a race car, 2 corvettes, a 1937 Ford WIP, and a 1962 Tbird I need to get stuff out of the weather. My attached garage is basically a 3 car it's where I actually work on stuff. An attic would be great. Main thing is getting cars inside and safe

I built a short pole building based off a traditional pole garage I own on another property. That old garage is 24 x 32. You can store 2 cars side by side on the 24' width and have some storage in front of them. 24' isn't wide enough to use as daily parking especially with 2 door cars. Count on a 3rd garage door to get your mowers in and out.
I built mine 26 x 36 as my township doesn't require a permit or inspections for buildings under 1000 sq ft.

 

[CraigStu]

A property plat, even if hand drawn, will be a big help in getting suggestions. How will access to this garage work is the main question. Then we can suggest where to put doors, which way to orient the rectangle, etc. Attic trusses are an easy way to get second floor storage. But how tall can you make the roof peak so it will look OK compared to you existing house and garage?

 

[firebirdparts]

There's not much material in a building that size - it'll surprise you how cheap it'll be (which is not how this normally goes). I like a square building, and 30' width is real comfortable for parking, but you might want more of a rectangle if you have to put the mower in there.

 

[bakmopar]

Personally I prefer a separate small storage building (possibly mini barn) for lawn equipment. I do not care for the smell of grass etc in my garage where my good cars are being stored.

 

[39Tudor]

I don't know of anywhere in the country that you can build a 24' x 32' stick-framed garage on a slab for that money. You might need a post-COVID reality check.

I just finished a 24x32 storage building in December. Slab foundation with a 16x20 approach.
Walls are 2x6-10’. Front 8’ is attic trusses for storage and the remaining 24’ are scissor trusses for max height.
All in with insulated doors I have just under $35k in my storage building. Still waiting for painter to get me scheduled and then guttering. Those estimates are included in my final costs already.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I agree with those suggesting pushing the limit on size.

Go with a high ceiling to allow double stack storage in the future.

If you want mowing equipment in the same building? I'd consider an interior wall to keep it separate. That being said, I have a multiuse barn behind my attached garage with a workshop in one half, a wall and then 2 small bays in the other half and I keep my mower/bikes/kayak in one bay and my 2nd gen Tacoma in the other. No issues other than I wish it was bigger. See my first point above.

 

[dcg9381]

I built my barn with plans from barnplans.com. Mine is 28X48, but you could build to whatever length you want. I like having a BIG loft with 8' ceilings. There building method is good for DIY; you build the walls and loft deck, then build the trusses up on the loft deck and walk them into place.

I've bought plans also, got the CAD version so I can modify. But one thing I noticed was that often the plans don't consider (or over-incorporate) design for things like snow and wind loads that may be geography specific. Not saying it's a bad idea....

A property plat, even if hand drawn, will be a big help in getting suggestions. How will access to this garage work is the main question. Then we can suggest where to put doors, which way to orient the rectangle, etc.

Totally agree. You start with a site plan. You'll likely need it for permitting anyway. Guys here can help if you throw up just a google view, assuming there are not too many trees.

Can you build with steel? Can you do a "structure only" build and finish it out later. Where you at on that stuff? Does it have to look like the house? HOA or city directives on what and how it can be built?

 

[JC23]

I used bought plans and my city was cool enuf to let me pencil changes in such as man door, window delete and big door locations.