28x32 garage 2 post lift

[unclebones]

Hey i’m in the middle of planing a new garage build, was planning on a 28wx32d with 2- 10x10 doors and installing a quality lifts 9000as 2 post, the lift is 136” wide, and with 2 feet off of the wall the lift will be slightly off centred of one door,and the post will be almost to the center of building, my question is, will 28’ wide be just enough or should i make it a little bigger, 29’ or 30’ wide, it just makes the man door side tighter to another building and the other side closer to the property line, and will 5” of 4500psi concrete with 6x6 6/6 mesh be fine for this lift, thanks

 

[Kaleb]

The answer to "should I make it a little bigger" is always yes, if it is within your budget and space constraints.

 

[Cairo94507]

God yes! If you can comfortably make it bigger, do it. You will never regret it.

 

[dante2]

Going bigger is always the right answer within your budget of course. You'll always look back and say I wish I went bigger if you don't. I maxed out the square footage on our building per the city ordinance of 40% of main dwelling. I would've gone bigger but it wasn't in the cards.

 

[CraigStu]

Yes go to 34 if you can. Also give yourself a 4'x4' area free of reinforcement for each lift post. I recommend that so you can juggle lift position some if you need to. It is really nice to have it centered on the door but not absolutely necessary. You could find that you 30 will allow it to be centered so no problem. OTOH you may find you don't like your front to rear position if you get a different size car in the future, so it might be nice to know you can move the lift 12-18" forward or backward.

 

[1/4atatime]

I am also doing a 28ft wide garage (Originally was going 30ft maybe wider but local and property layout restrictions nixed that) and based on all the calculations I have run say it will work but walking around the lift on the side near the wall will be almost impossible. In my situation it is what it is and I will happily walk the long way around the lift if that means I actually have a lift. However if you can go wider do it. 30ft would be comfortable and 32 would be even better IMHO.

 

[Daedalus]

will 5” of 4500psi concrete with 6x6 6/6 mesh be fine for this lift

What does the lift manufacturer say you need for them to be able to certify the lift to the specifications they advertise it with?

 

[unclebones]

It says 4” at 3000psi, but 4” doesn’t seem enough, i was going to do a 4” slab with a 6” thickened section in middle 4’ deep by width of garage, but i read another form on here that said the slab would crack where it drops the extra 2” from the shrinking of the concrete, so i figured i’ll meet in the middle and do the whole slab at 5” and my thickened edge

 

[unclebones]

Yes go to 34 if you can. Also give yourself a 4'x4' area free of reinforcement for each lift post. I recommend that so you can juggle lift position some if you need to. It is really nice to have it centered on the door but not absolutely necessary. You could find that you 30 will allow it to be centered so no problem. OTOH you may find you don't like your front to rear position if you get a different size car in the future, so it might be nice to know you can move the lift 12-18" forward or backward.

yes as most symmetrical lifts are 12’ front and 12’ rear of abstractions, i figured if i put it 13’6” from the door it should give me enough room

 

[ConCretin]

will 5” of 4500psi concrete with 6x6 6/6 mesh be fine for this lift, thanks

Not to nit pick but I don't believe they make WWF with that heavy a gauge wire. 6x6 W2.9 W2.9 would be fine. I believe most lift manufacturers are primarily concerned with concrete depth and the proximity of control joints and don't generally specify reinforcing in new construction. You should definitely check their literature to be sure.

 

[unclebones]

I am also doing a 28ft wide garage (Originally was going 30ft maybe wider but local and property layout restrictions nixed that) and based on all the calculations I have run say it will work but walking around the lift on the side near the wall will be almost impossible. In my situation it is what it is and I will happily walk the long way around the lift if that means I actually have a lift. However if you can go wider do it. 30ft would be comfortable and 32 would be even better IMHO.

yes i already doug the slab pad and added all the clear stone for a 28x32 and room for 3’ of foam board around for frost protection, but i might just make it a foot wider and have 2’ of foam around, just figured 28’ would work but the post would either be too close to wall or into the other bay

 

[unclebones]

Not to nit pick but I don't believe they make WWF with that heavy a gauge wire. 6x6 W2.9 W2.9 would be fine. I believe most lift manufacturers are primarily concerned with concrete depth and the proximity of control joints and don't generally specify reinforcing in new construction. You should definitely check their literature to be sure.

i believe that is the same size mesh as i’m referring to, 6 guage, and around were i am at i’ve never seen a garage with control joints, i don’t think that’s something they do here, just pour, float, screed and polish

 

[ConCretin]

i believe that is the same size mesh as i’m referring to, 6 guage, and around were i am at i’ve never seen a garage with control joints, i don’t think that’s something they do here, just pour, float, screed and polish

Got it. Pretty sure you are correct that the 2.9 designation is 6 gauge.

Nothing wrong with skipping control joints if you don't mind the odd visible shrinkage crack. Control joints just hide the cracks. The higher you can get the wire, the tighter the cracks will stay.

 

[firebirdparts]

by all means, make it 30 feet wide if you can. 30 feet wide with a 2 post lift in half that footprint is "just barely enough" to keep it lined up. That's the way my shop is.