Above 1200 Sq/FT About time I build a Garage

[jmneiheisel]

Hi All,

I'm sketching up a proposed build for my upcoming garage build. The plan is to park 2-3 cars in the front half and have the back half primarily dedicated to shop stuff, with an experimental airplane being built in there for the first few years. I'd like to build this detached but if zoning wont allow me to build the size I want I'll find a way to attach it to my house and get around the zoning restrictions.

General plans so far:

32'x40' (32' side is front with garage doors)
10' ceiling
2x6 stud construction.
Radiant heat in concrete floor.
8/12 pitch trusses with 13'10"wide x40' long attic room for office/lounge area
Might use a spiral staircase to access upstairs, would like to minimize floor space lost to stairs.
Will likely finish interior with white steel or similar.


I'll have some plans drawn up later and will post them soon.
I welcome any feedback.

 

[Balor]

Sounds good.

 

[pals444]

Welcome! And please post some sketches when You have them ready

 

[jmneiheisel]

Still working on the design, here's basic layout.
Need to add a mandoor, headers over the garage doors etc.

 

[Clemson13]

I'm excited to watch this one! Planes are the best!

 

[TurnipTruck]

As the owner of a spiral stair, I would also have a straight stair outside.

 

[grzellmer]

I literally have this exact garage with two exceptions. About 8.5 ft tall (8 ft stud with a 6" of concrete) and the 16x7 door is on the eave side. 32x40 with a space upstairs. Upper storage is accessed by a set of stairs outside. I currently have 5 cars, a motorcycle, snowmobile and other toys sleeping through the winter. Guess what is wrong? Yup, too much s**t stored in it and no place to work. (Changed the front brake pads on one of the other cars today in 20 degrees and snow.)

The second story is fantastic. I use it for storage of shop supplies. Mine is heated by a full size 100K btu furnace with ductwork along the ceiling. Temp can go from 40 -> 60 in less than 10 mins. Keep posting as the build progresses. This is the sweet spot between the base 2.5 car and a barn.

 

[grzellmer]

 

[HoosierMark]

Friend of mine has a full set of steps that are hinged. When he wants in the attic he lowers the end down and walks up. Pretty simple setup.

 

[SKIPPINROCKS]

I like the permanent stairs. I plan to put my compressor and welder in the closet along with engine hoist, stand, and jack. Also have unough room under the platform for a Motor and transmission. If you have stuff like this it needs a spot either way and takes up space the stairs do.

 

[bakmopar]

I like the permanent stairs. I plan to put my compressor and welder in the closet along with engine hoist, stand, and jack. Also have unough room under the platform for a Motor and transmission. If you have stuff like this it needs a spot either way and takes up space the stairs do.

Very nice. my steps are very similar, only 3 before the landing. Personally, I prefer the permanent steps and the steps being indoor. The lost space is insignificant. My garage is 26Dx38Wx12H.

 

[dcg9381]

Recently finished a very similar structure with upstairs living.

My only feedback would be on that spiral stair - same as others.. You're going to want some way to get "big things" up there, especially if it's living space. Getting a desk or refrigerator up those stairs would be a huge problem. I get the "space loss" due to stairs, we use that space loss as a mechanical closet. Think about the biggest thing you might need up there and how that's going to happen.

Around here the companies that produce trusses will do the engineering design and load for you. Then you can drop the spacing and truss design into your plans.

 

[rixtrix1]

Having assisted in 12 experimental plane builds in my younger years, you're going to need every bit of half that garage for the plane itself and then careful organizing as well. I recommend straight stairs so you can put all the bigger pieces up there easily. If you haven't watched already, I recommend Bowen Aero who built and rebuilt a Kitfox in a similarly sized space. BTW, what do you have in mind to build?