Advice on Garage Design

[KPSquared]

Hey guys,

My father-in-law has started the planning for his new toybox. This will be a place to store some stuff in, work on his hotrod and other cars. Probably put a hoist and such in.

here's the drawings to start. It's basically 40x40 with 14' ceilings. one 12x12door and one 18x12 door. The office in the corner is where he will most likely run his business from.

Any suggestions on whats missing or what he needs to think about before moving forward would be much appreicated.

I suggested more recpticles and I have asked him what the lighting plan is, as the 2 drops that are there don't seem to be enough.

Once things are underway, I'll see if he'll be ok with me starting a build thread on his behalf. It's gonna be a beauty!!!

 

[rednecklimo85]

If it were mine I think I'd want the office at floor level with storage above rather then a crawl space under. Personal opinion tho, you could then extend it to the full width of the shop, or put your compressor up there etc.

Looks like it'll be a nice place!

 

[KPSquared]

I think the office is up there so it works with the widow height due to being built into the hill.

I agree though, ground floor with a mezzanine makes me sense.

 

[rednecklimo85]

ahh I didn't think of that, good point.

 

[Zeke]

Front elevation doesn't work for me. I think I'd have to work on the roof lines some more.

 

[kbs2244]

Just remember that shop and storage are two different things.
You can cram stuff into a storage area but you need working space around your project in a shop.

 

[Zeke]

Just remember that shop and storage are two different things.
You can cram stuff into a storage area but you need working space around your project in a shop.

40 x 40 x 14 ought to provide for some of each. He can do a 7 or 8' mezzanine on one wall with machines and work benches below.

 

[pmiranda]

Front elevation doesn't work for me. I think I'd have to work on the roof lines some more.

Yeah, seems like a bunch of complication in it.

 

[Ben7203]

If he is planning on running a business in there, I would want a bathroom and HVAC. Plans for internet/phone? I was working on a lawn mower last weekend and pulling up carb diagrams on my laptop was very handy.

X3 on the front elevation too

 

[KPSquared]

Internet wireless from house, repeater in garage. Phone = cell. Who still uses a landline?

I haven't mentioned the bathroom thing but I doubt he'll be spending much time in the office.

 

[KPSquared]

Roof designed to match the house.

I'll suggest the border mezzanine

 

[Zeke]

Could be there's not much office space in the house and this is not necessarily for running a business. But, data lines are important whether he has to step outside to pee or whatever. Window AC/ heat pump would do fine for me at his guesstimated 200+ sq ft.

I have to have a large sink wherever I work. I'll just pee in that.

 

[Ben7203]

Who still uses a landline?


I do! Cell reception is terrible and I have weekly conference calls with vendors in Europe and the landline is better. Plus, it allows me and my co-worker to text each other while the boss's try to out-talk each other.