Building house - tips for garage?

[USAF_TRobertson]

Hello,

I am currently in the beginning stages of building a house and currently it will have a 3 1/2 car garage. I am planning on putting a lift in it eventually and need to know:

1. Minimum ceiling height typically required
2. Does the Lift Master 3800 require special doors
3. Any thing else I am forgetting

I am leaning towards a 2-post lift but might end up with a 4-post... still undecided on that.

Garage will be used for general tinkering and light/medium auto work. Currently have three cars and may one day end up with four, so it would be nice to use the lift to store them.

What tips does everyone have so that I don't forget anything before it is too late.

- Ted

 

[NUTTSGT]

Ceiling height for the lift will depend on the lift you buy. One suggestion to do is use scissors trusses for the garage. They will gain you some extra clearance.

Welcome to GJ, if you check out some of the build in the gallery section, you'll get some fine ideas.

 

[rburke65]

Ceiling height....to be safe....145". The Lift Master does not REQUIRE especial door...as far as I know.

 

[Mercy]

Make it 4 car if it fits with the plan. It's not much more money and if you have 3 cars already, add a toy or another car and you are full to the point of not being able to move. We have a 3.5 (actually 4 but with only direct pull-out for 3) and with 3 cars and 2 atvs I can hardly do anything. Had to take an ATV to the drive to work on it. Don't even have the lawn stuff in there.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Make it 4 car if it fits with the plan. It's not much more money and if you have 3 cars already, add a toy or another car and you are full to the point of not being able to move. We have a 3.5 (actually 4 but with only direct pull-out for 3) and with 3 cars and 2 atvs I can hardly do anything. Had to take an ATV to the drive to work on it. Don't even have the lawn stuff in there.

Real world experience.

 

[rsanter]

Install pull down power cords and drop lights
Pull down air is nice too

Make the garage 4th extra deep for space for working around the front of a car as well as location for toolboxes and such

Bob

 

[theoldwizard1]

What height door ? Minimum 8'

Attached/detached ? Attached is cheaper to heat and power. Detached will be quieter for the home occupants but also closer for those quick "honey do" jobs.

Depending on where you are at, insulating the floor will make a big difference.

 

[pattenp]

For a 2 post lift that is a clear floor style, meaning the cables and fluid lines run overhead you will need to have more than 145" ceiling clearance for some of the lifts. I recommend you have at least 150".

Also if you plan to store cars on the lift then you should get a four post.

Ceiling height....to be safe....145". The Lift Master does not REQUIRE especial door...as far as I know.

 

[Ben7203]

Depending on your location, think about adding heat and or A/c A big sink is a "nice to have" option too. If you're going to apply epoxy to the floor, make sure the concrete guys do not apply a sealer. PC and TV connections are nice too.

When I started building my house, the old man next door walked up as we were clearing and asked to see the drawings. He told me to rotate my garage 90 degrees, so people driving by could not see what's in my garage. Great advice and it allowed me to go from a small 2-car to a larger 3-car

 

[Haasman]

These are great suggestions! Thanks, please feel free to continue offering your suggestions and ideas. Thank you!

Haasman

 

[NUTTSGT]

When I started building my house, the old man next door walked up as we were clearing and asked to see the drawings. He told me to rotate my garage 90 degrees, so people driving by could not see what's in my garage. Great advice and it allowed me to go from a small 2-car to a larger 3-car

Hopefully he continued to be a great neighbor.

 

[Randy in Maine]

I ran dual garden hose sillcocks in mine....one for hot and one for cold water.

Quite handy.

 

[Chevy72pu]

Build it bigger than you think you need, and then add a couple more feet in each direction. If the garage floor is lower than the house floor you will need to allow for steps and they eat up a lot of space. I second the PC and TV connections. If there is room over head, consider a tray ceiling above the lift.

 

[AndysMBgarage]

Build it bigger than you think you need, and then add a couple more feet in each direction. If the garage floor is lower than the house floor you will need to allow for steps and they eat up a lot of space. I second the PC and TV connections. If there is room over head, consider a tray ceiling above the lift.

+1 re making it bigger than you think.I wish mine was a metre wider and deeper. I also recommend an office in the back. The convenence of ducking in to check emails/web or forum advice while working on something is very handy IMO. Run all hi-fi and network cables and fit insulation for year round comfort. If car storage is important go for a 4 post hoist and get a jackingbeam if possible.

Good luck

 

[Haasman]

Like the suggestions of the electronic and water connections-Definitely cold and hot water.

I decided to stake out the site and move some pieces in to mock up all the distances. I am taking seriously about expanding the dimensions. The best problem to have is too much space and the worst is not enough ..

What is the tray ceiling above the lift?

Thanks for all your suggestions. Very helpful.

Haasman

 

[Ben7203]

Hopefully he continued to be a great neighbor.

Yeah, he's pretty cool. Grumpy, but a good guy. My son doesn't have a grand-father, so I like it when the two get together.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Yeah, he's pretty cool. Grumpy, but a good guy. My son doesn't have a grand-father, so I like it when the two get together.

Now that is awesome.