20x20 Garage help

[TheWalker]

Hey, i'm pretty new to the forum, and needed some ideas. I'm currently building a house with a two car garage. Unfortunately it's only 20x20, so I don't see it being big enough for a lot. This is our first home, and my first garage, so I guess I shouldn't complain too much.

It will be used to park our vehicles in, but I would like to have a work bench and tool storage in there as well. I just can't imagine doing a lot with a 20x20 space. I drive a Jeep Cherokee, and she is driving a WS6 Trans am. I'll post some pics below of a garage like mine, and mine that is in progress.

Anyone else with a 20x20 that can give me some ideas on how to utilize my space efficiently with two cars? I would love some pics of what you have goin.

Sorry for the quality issues

As for my garage at the moment...

 

[TK LP]

Congratulations on the new home. Do a search of the "12 gauge garage". It's loaded with great ideas for your typical 2 car garage. The folding work benches might be of particular interest to you. The alcove would work well for tool storage, it looks like something like a Harbor Freight roller cabinet might fit in there. High shelving could help a lot with storage. There's plenty you can do with that space.

 

[zkling]

Man a 20'x20' sounds spacious to those of us with a single stall.

From what I see there, I would try to put a tool box in that recessed wall section in the back left corner. Then park the cars comfortably, as close to the door as possible and see how much space you have on the back wall for a bench, jack, stands, misc storage cabinet and what ever other large tools you may want.

BTW welcome to GJ

 

[Morrison]

20 x 20 is tight for cars plus work benches! You will want to build benches that fold up.

Sent from my Torque using Tapatalk

 

[TheWalker]

Man a 20'x20' sounds spacious to those of us with a single stall.

From what I see there, I would try to put a tool box in that recessed wall section in the back left corner. Then park the cars comfortably, as close to the door as possible and see how much space you have on the back wall for a bench, jack, stands, misc storage cabinet and what ever other large tools you may want.

BTW welcome to GJ

That recessed corner in the back in where the water heater will be, I'm also having a tub sink put in beside it.

 

[TheWalker]

I'll be needing a sturdy work bench. Something that could handle a good vise. I work with guns a lot and will be using it to build rifles. Will also be working a lot with cars so I need it to be able to handle weight. Will a collapsible bench be able to handle that?

 

[gearhead1]

I'm not a fan of them, but maybe you could build your own that was sturdier.

 

[bazzateer]

Get all your storage above the cars. Do have a look at Jack Olsen's 12 Gauge garage - masses of hints and tips on there.

 

[Ruthless53]

Bench I'm working on in same size garage. Its extremely sturdy.

 

[Ruthless53]

Get all your storage above the cars. Do have a look at Jack Olsen's 12 Gauge garage - masses of hints and tips on there.

Cheap easy way to add storage above your head. If your like me I don't have much room above my garage door so it's pretty much wasted space but this allowed me to get rid of 2 big gorilla racks!!

 

[patent pending]

I've got a 20x20 and we park two cars in it that take up a majority of the space. I've got enough room for workbenches/toolboxes to exist, but unless the car is out of the garage I dont have enough room to use them. It's not that hard to back a car out if I need to though. You could probably get away with a useable workbench in front of the Jeep without having to move it out since it is shorter than the WS6 by a couple feet.

 

[rvieceli]

Jack's 12 gauge does have some great ideas, but I think the biggest lesson there is you have to build something to keep the stuff that needs to go in the garage that takes up the room of the stuff you want in there.

You should think about some sort of shed to store the mower, the landscaping tools, etc and keep the garage for work space and cars.

 

[pmiranda]

Get a tankless water heater, mounted high on the wall and you'll gain a bunch of storage space. In general, I say lots of shelving high on the wall for storing stuff you don't use often. Vertical space is your friend. Maybe reinforce the framing of the garage ceiling while it's easy so you can support lots of storage off of it.

 

[Jay Sco]

Shelves/cabinets mounted high. What's above the garage, a room or empty space? You say house so I'm assuming you have a backyard of some sort, how about a shed?

 

[truckman5000]

20 x 20 is tight for cars plus work benches! You will want to build benches that fold up.

Sent from my Torque using Tapatalk

Yah, i have A 21X22...Witch is the same size. Parking is for one vehicle. Or your not getting much more in there for tools.

 

[ddawg16]

Here is a link to Jack's garage.....the gold standard one follows for max utilization of small space.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55006

 

[TheWalker]

Jack's garage is a fantastic garage, but he is utilizing it as a one car garage. I plan on using two vehicles, and I don't mind the fact that if I do want to work in the garage that I may have to pull one of them out.

I plan on having a storage shed built in the back yard for lawn equipment and using the attics as storage for other minimal stuff, but I want the tool storage, and vehicle stuff in the garage. I suppose i'll have to wait till it's more complete and I can drive them both in and measure it all out.

 

[dubber]

20x20 is still a good size for a double. If your planning on parking two cars in there the key is to try and avoid bulk on the sides. Put bench and cabinets and the end and then store things on the wall above the door line. This will really make the most out of your space. This was the approach i took and works well for me in my space which is half as wide.

Another trick is for the car parking on the left to back in (thinking this would be u) and go as close to that wall as possible. The car on the right parks normally. This will give a ton of room down the middle for both driver's doors to open.

Also agree with the above mentioned tankless water heater mounted up high. This will really save you room along with shed for bikes and lawn equipment.

 

[patent pending]

Another trick is for the car parking on the left to back in (thinking this would be u) and go as close to that wall as possible. The car on the right parks normally. This will give a ton of room down the middle for both driver's doors to open.

This is what I do. My 66 Chevy truck gets backed in as close as I can to the wall as I can get it. You gotta use every bit of free space you've got!

 

[Terranova]

Our '14 Grand Cherokee will barely fit in our 18' x 18' so at 20 you'll just be able to squeak by...
T.

 

[Falcon67]

Former T/A owner says her WS6 get's first dibs.

I had a 16x22 space, used this piece of a king waterbed for a work space.

 

[dwm]

I'd skip the sink if you have a laundry/utility room not too far from the door to the house. I have a 4-car and removed the sink that was previously in it. It just wasn't all that useful to me with the laundry room immediately inside the door to the house. Really dirty stuff gets washed outside, not in my garage. I don't need to thoroughly clean my hands in the garage; shop towels and a spray bottle is sufficient. The sink was using too much space in the garage that is now occupied by a tool cabinet. When I'm finally done in the garage for the day, I clean myself up in the laundry room.

This is my wash-up spot in the laundry room. Stoko Vario dispensers with ReDuRan, Kresto and Cupran bottles. I know their uses, but I created the labels for my sweetie and guests/helpers. Having these here keeps the area tidy with room to wash up to my elbows and no pump bottle clutter, and there's little that can't be removed with one of these cleaners.

 

[Travinsky]

I'm also 20x20 but in 3 parcels.

1. Project truck restoration 10x20
2. 10x14 for tool chest, tables, shelving, and soon a BIG compressor
3. and wife's 10x6 creative design area

Definitely looking for creative ideas to maximize space

But you might do the shed thing, I just bought an HD 7x7 plastic shed on sale a couple weeks ago that the generator, lawn gear, wood gear/saws and other tools will go into to give me a little more space in the garage.

 

[fteufert]

I have had a 20 x 20 for 25 years. Sure I could use bigger, but I usually have had 2 cars in there but yet still have room for jobs.

Use the upper wall areas for storage, and keep everything an inch above your head so you don't hit it. DOn't worry about your taller friends....

Fold down work benches are great. I made a long on for those bigger jobs with legs that fold out. Real sturdy for heavy items.

Plan everything out, and you will have more space than you think possible.

 

[TheWalker]

Former T/A owner says her WS6 get's first dibs.

Haha, yeah, she gets first dibs. Her car is immaculate.

It's practically like parking a boat though...But yeah the sink is staying in the garage and the collapsible work bench seems like the best best. Im sure there will still be room to have some tool chests and a peg wall for tools. I really don't mind moving the vehicles out of the way to get some work in.

I'll be posting some pics up whenever it gets more complete and start laying out some ideas. I'm sure ill find room to get in what I like.