Advice on 2nd floor garage space

[FastKat]

I am preparing to build a roughly 30x30 attached garage addition onto my house. Some of the floor space will be used for a bathroom so it will be a 2 car garage + workspace. See drawings! My question is...

How should I build out the second floor? I can put in a second floor over most of the garage if I want (and keep an 11' ceiling for the lift) but I have no idea how to use it. Should I make it totally enclosed/ separate from the garage? Or make it an open loft? Or something else? What is your experience with the second floor above your garage?

I like to work on cars and other fab projects but work and two small children have really cut into my spare time. I am trying to figure out what I'll want in 5, 10, 15, 20 years, etc, but no idea is more plausible than the next.

 

[My Old Tools]

I like open loft. Figure out how you are going to get stuff up there. Best thing I did was a traveling hoist.

 

[oldcpecdr]

Agree with above, I did second floor with steel center beam and have "real stairs" .... also did the opening hatch with a beam and traveling hoist.

I kept the ceiling at 7 1/2 feet on the second floor and have a third floor loft also. Stairs to the third floor too.... GREAT STORAGE up there for all the light stuff.

Mike B

 

[Jack_Toepfer]

My 18x36 above my garage will be an attic for now, and probably a home theater/entertainment room when the funds allow.

 

[FastKat]

Thanks for the replies. I definitely want a set of full size stairs. My decisions I have now are:

1) Full floor or loft open to garage below

2) Stair access from garage or try to tie it into finished space in regular house (would you get to second floor from unfinished garage or finished house?)

Open lofts look cool but you are leaving possible floor space on the table. I am also afraid it would rapidly get dirty and buggy.

If I do one day finish the space (in-law/visitor suite?) and make it nice I think I'd want it tied into the finished house. It would not make much sense to leave the nice finished main house and walk through unfinished garage to get to finished loft space.

 

[dtep]

I built a 26'W x 36'D garage with a 12' ceiling on the first floor. I had them put in attic trusses 16" on center with 12" bottom chord. The roof is a 12/12 pitch. I ended up with a room that is 19'W x 36'D that can hold a ton of weight. All of the patio furniture goes up there in the winter, all of my leftover lumber, drywall, and siding from the build is up there, all of the removable body parts from a '69 Z-28 are up there, and there is still room for more.

 

[Colin Len]

Depends on your needs. But, personally, I've always wanted a garage that has a loft in the back which is open to the garage below. Front of the garage would be parking and lifts and where most of the "on car" work gets done and this would be open to the roof above. The back of the garage would be more "shop" where tools are stored, work benches...etc (basically stuff you don't need a tall ceiling for). Then the loft area could be storage, game room, hang out area, craft space for the kids...etc. You could make it really flexible or purpose built.

 

[ct03911]

Everyone’s deal is different but I’d look into making it a separate space if there is access. I’m thinking exterior stairs.
For my 26x28 detached I did stairs to a 9x9 deck and now have a 14x26 space above (counting bringing the space in for knee walls) for either storage or a guest room.
Where you are already planning a bathroom in the garage perhaps septic and tie-in issues would allow a future bathroom above.
A loft adds utility while also compromising interior stair space.
A guest room adds home value even if it is just a potential space.
For me, the expense of exterior stairs made sense for future resale and to not have stairs in my somewhat small garage.
I decided if I was doing stairs I’d add the small deck for a future room.
Turns out I like the stairs and deck turning area for storing a few long ladders up there.
I’m not a current lift expert but two years ago when I did mine a 12’ ceiling allowed most 10k lifts. 11’ would not really.
I’d go higher inside if at all possible and consider making it a seperate space.