Bonus Room or 10' Door???

[51Magnum]

I have my garage foundation started (just dug out yesterday) and I am still trying to figure out what I want to do. The city I live in will not allow a garage to be over 22' high or it can not be taller than the house. So if the house was 26' tall I could not be taller than 26' but since mine is 21'6" I can be 22' tall.

Anyway, with that said my shop is 26x45 and if I use bonus room trusses they are 11'3" tall. This means my ceiling height will be 10'9" to stay under the 22'.

So my question is would you put a bonus room in or would you have 12'-13' ceilings? I can't have both, it is an either or situation.

Also, if I have a 10'9" ceiling height can I get a 10' high garage door? My contractor says I can not, I can only get a 9' tall door.

Thanks!

 

[boiler7904]

I'm surprised that your city is allowing such a wide range of construction options for a permit that is already issued. You typically have to stick with the design you submit for permit unless you have the permit amended.

Talk to a good, commercial overhead door contractor. They can do all kinds of things with track for the right money. They will have clearances to maintain but 9" of clearance is doable with a jackshaft operators and a specialty track configuration.

I'd forego a true bonus room and use it for attic storage only.

 

[Rosco]

I would do the bonus room. Once you have the space you will use it, and the cieling is plenty high. I did the same and have not regretted it at all.

 

[rieferman]

I vote for the bonus room - but I'm not the type that would want a lift etc.

As for headroom, I used the low headroom kit (I wrote a thread on it at some point) and was able to make the bend easily in under 5 inches. There are many options that will work with 9 inches of clearance that you have.

 

[bimmer1980]

you could also do the fisrt 10 to 20 feet of garage with a sissor truss and the other half with the attic truss. This would allow more clearance in the front for the higher door and a lift....

 

[38 Special]

My shop has a barrel door where the barrel is in the attic. So, I have a 10' door and a 10' ceiling. Well close. The barrel can go in the bonus room and a sitting bench made to hide it. It is possible for no part of the door when open to be in the garage.

 

[38 Special]

Is it possible to add to the house something small, maybe a front stoop that is 26' high, allowing you to build the garage 4 feet higher. Think outside the box.