400 square feet

[scregan]

I am going to build a detached garage as a shop. We have an attached garage for the daily drivers, rakes, bikes, etc. The detached garage will be for my 51 chevy and shop space.

The city is limiting me to a 400 square foot building.

What would be the best / most useful dimensions?

20 X 20
18 X 22
16 X 24
OR????????

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Piper]

One of the things a builder friend told me when planning is to consider, if possible, to keep things in multiples of 4. His point being that it works well with siding, drywall, 12' long boards etc. I too have heard that if you're going 10 it's almost the same cost to go 12.

FWIW, my 2 cents.

Piper

 

[Jey]

I am going to build a detached garage as a shop. We have an attached garage for the daily drivers, rakes, bikes, etc. The detached garage will be for my 51 chevy and shop space.

The city is limiting me to a 400 square foot building.

What would be the best / most useful dimensions?

20 X 20
18 X 22
16 X 24
OR????????

Thanks,

Scott

i would personally vote for 16 x 24. It's a good width for 1 car and some benches across the side and back.

and it meets the 4's requirement, which i've heard as well.

 

[boiler7904]

If I were you I'd get some graph paper and start sketching a possible equipment / bench layout for each size building (remembering to include wall thickness of about 6" for a building with siding or 10" for a building with brick veneer) and see what works best for the way you work. Another option is to use something like Google SketchUp or the FBI Building Planner to do this on the computer. Ultimately, you know how you work better than anybody else and how things should be laid out to accomodate your work.

In an ideal world, you'd stick to 4' increments for the reasons that Piper gave but sticking to 2' increments also achieves similar results because roof trusses are typically 2' on center. You'll just end up with a little more scrap drywall and exterior sheathing.

If there isn't a chance at a variance and you absolutely have to stick to 400 sf, I'd sacrifice a little width to get extra depth. Of the options you through out, I'd probably go with the 18 x 22. That size will give you a decent amount of space on each side of the car and at each end to walk around.

 

[bluesman2a]

The city is limiting me to a 400 square foot building.

If you have the option to put in a breezeway between the house and "detached" then it's no longer "detached" and the size restrictions go away. You also have the benefit of your home-owner's policy covering the building as part of your house.

I recently had to go through this with my "detached" addition. It was a pain, but may be beneficial in your case.

 

[rsanter]

for insurance reasons, if it is attached then you get full coverage of contects. a detached generally only gets coverage of 10% for contents

bob

 

[rickairmedic]

I would go 16 X 24 myself with one car still plenty of room on either side for some shelves / cabinets but also plenty of room up front for a workbench and still be able to get around the car to work with the big door closed ( 51 Chebby's aint short ) put the overhead door on one of the 16' sides .

Rick

 

[scregan]

If you have the option to put in a breezeway between the house and "detached" then it's no longer "detached" and the size restrictions go away. You also have the benefit of your home-owner's policy covering the building as part of your house.

I recently had to go through this with my "detached" addition. It was a pain, but may be beneficial in your case.

Had thought about this, but attached garage size is even more restrictive.

 

[PxTx]

Had thought about this, but attached garage size is even more restrictive.

This is the first time I've heard this. It always seems the attached garages (via a breezeway etc) always opened up options, both in square footage and height.

The only part I can see as a created obstacle is maybe setbacks. The detached garage is probably allowed to be only a few feet from the property line, while the attached one falls into the larger setbacks.

 

[JMURiz]

I'd say the 16x24 route would be best for a one-car space with work-space as well. If you can, do a high ceiling to allow for a lift later!

Where are you located, I'm always interested in others with such restrictions. Mine was a 550sq/ft on a detached so I went with a 22x24 myself.

Be sure you are correct with setbacks etc too...everything listed said I could build 1' off my lot-line only to be told it had to be 3' unless made of fireproof materials ($$$). Little surprises like that sure made my space a lot less user friendly, but hind-sight is 20/20.

 

[Designated Dave]

I'd go with 18x22 just in case you end up with two vehicles to put in there. Little more room on the side to get in and out. just my .02

 

[scregan]

This is a house I'm looking at buying in Lino Lakes, MN
The existing attached garage is about 800 sq ft.
Need to insure I have enough room for everything.

Here is the ordinance

"Less than One and One-Quarter Acre. (R, R-X, R-1, R-1X, R-EC, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-6, R-7, and PSP Districts)
1. The combination of accessory buildings and garages shall not exceed one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet.
2. Total allowable accessory building space shall be limited to the following:
a. One (1) attached garage and one (1) detached structure, or
b. Two (2) detached accessory structures.
3. Attached garages shall not exceed one thousand one hundred (1,120) square feet or equal to ninety (90) percent of the size of the house foundation, whichever is greater.
4. Twenty (20) foot maximum height."

 

[Bib Overalls]

16' x 24' gets my vote.

 

[JMURiz]

Especially since you already have an 800 sq/ft garage, a 16x24 would be a perfect 'project car' size.

 

[MustHang]

+1 for 16x24.

22 ft is a little short when you have a bench in front of the car.

 

[C. M. Allen]

My shop is 16X30X10.

I think wall space is important. With tools lined down the walls and the vehicle I'm working on in the middle I don't have a lot of space between the two. Measure how wide your car is with the doors open and add space from there. I wish I had an extra foot on each side. My vote...18X22. You should have space left for an engine stand, tool box, bench, and shelves and the other end. Let us know what we decide and why please!

Chris