Ceiling Height for lifts?

[moparmatt]

I am getting ready to start my project 25X40. I am having trouble deciding ceiling height as I have not made any decision on lifts to store a couple more cars. I am not really sure i want to stack any in the first place. Maybe the incurred extra cost of building up will help with the decision. What is a good general ceiling height? And any ideas on how much more $$ than a 8 foot? "Ballpark" thanks

 

[rlme36]

In my current build I decided better to be safe and have a 14' clear ceiling in my 2 tandem bays. This way I know I can fit any 2 post lift as well as put in a 4 post for storage purposes if I add cars. My building is 30 x36, when I was quoted by one contractor an incremental 2 ft was approx $1500 my cost for my size building using 2x6 studs.

 

[Laredo]

I am going to go 12' on my planned 26x30.

 

[StumpXJ]

I just raised my old 9 foot ceiling up to 13 feet to get ready for my lift coming in. Most top bar lifts are a little under 12 feet high, so I wanted a little extra room to play with.

~James

 

[Possum]

Just make sure that if you are building a pole barn you figure the gravel and concrete height in the picture. If you have 12' from the bottom of the truss to the bottom of the skirt board, then haul in 3-4 inches of gravel and 4-5 inches of concrete, plus loose the thickness of the roofing materials and lights - you no longer have enough room. The manual for the lift I am buying states a 12'-8" minimum clearance. It measures just over 12'.

 

[Fullback66]

If you are going to buy a 4-post lift and store one car on top and one under. Would you need to add the height of the car also? Or, is 13' high enough to store two 60's era cars?
I am looking to buy a 4-post some day and would like to know how high the ceiling should be.
fb66

 

[Dragster Racer]

I went with 15', which may be more than I need. I figure I am 6-1/2 feet almost, plus lights on the ceiling, plus the height of a pickup. I also put a loft area in for storage, so the 15' was good for that too.

 

[Marty256]

Look at the photo below. The ceiling height of the low side of my garage is 11 feet. You can see that my Expedition on my lift extends well past the 11 foot section. The side of my garage where my lift is located is un-obstructed to the peak which is approximately 18 feet.

 

[sreno]

I settled on 12 feet and still found it high when working on the ceiling part of the build.

I can see 14 or even 15 feet as being real convenient, though; especially with loft storage in mind.

Shawn

 

[Dragster Racer]

LOL. 15' was good for some real pucker factor at first when hanging ceiling etc. I don't know why it seems higher when that hard concrete is down below you. Glad to be done with the ceiling.

 

[ALLNTRL]

I went with 14', after lights and Door tracks were installed I have 13' 3" of clearance space. Should be just right for the 4-post at full lift.

 

[beartoothweb]

I am getting ready to start my project 25X40. I am having trouble deciding ceiling height as I have not made any decision on lifts to store a couple more cars. I am not really sure i want to stack any in the first place. Maybe the incurred extra cost of building up will help with the decision. What is a good general ceiling height? And any ideas on how much more $$ than a 8 foot? "Ballpark" thanks

12' seems to be the sweet spot. Check my build thread for an alternative build/design. When you start going 14'+, the build itself gets a little hairy, plus like others have said, hanging the rock, etc. is just a pain.

It seems most lifts will fit just fine with 12'. I have a 2-post OH lift that's going in that was relatively cheap. I didn't want a 4 post, just easier to work on tires, etc, and less bulk to get in my way.

You could probably add 10-15% across the board from 8' to 12' I would guess. Unless there was some sort of HOA restriction, there is NO way I'd do 8' walls in a garage/shop. 10' would be the minimum (which, btw, you can get lifts for cars that will work.

 

[boydsdodge]

I just build a new garage and had to go with ten foot ceiling, here in the city they wont let you go over 13 ft exterior height.
I hope I can get two Mopars on a lift.
Challenger and ******* for now.
Any thoughts?

 

[autoist]

I have 11'6" & my lift works fine....full height with car on it.

 

[nate379]

I would say 13-14 is about where you want to be, but it depends what you plan on working on.

My truck and Jeep are both just under 7ft tall. So if I lift them 6 ft that would be 13 feet. Subtract lights and whatever else could be in the way, plus 13 is an odd number so 14 would make sense.

 

[beartoothweb]

I just don't see it happening with 10'. I have 12' for my lift. Other than the small 2 post, I couldnt' find one I liked for the 10' side.

Keep in mind that you won't actually be able to take the vehicle all the way to the ceiling.

Direct lift (check out bencostuff.com, that's where I got mine) has some lower profile options you might check into.

 

[Cryptic1911]

I went 12'6" in mine

 

[Question]

With a 10'4" I can put my Camaro and Corvette in that space.. I can also work on my full size Chevy pick up..works for me

 

[Bruce4310TX]

I just got a Quote for a mueller building 30x50 with 16' sides delivered with tax for 12300 i considered 14' but you cant fit most 5 th wheel campers or motorhomes. Still havent made up my mind as i have the room for a full length lean too which could fit such items then i would not have too take the shop so high.

 

[fordcragar]

My garage is 30'x40' with a 12 foot ceiling. Along the 40' wall in the back of the garage, there is a 4' deep loft that is 8' off of the floor. The 12' ceiling is great, if I were to do it over again it would be at least that high. I also have two Rotary lifts in the garage.

 

[e-tek]

I just build a new garage and had to go with ten foot ceiling, here in the city they wont let you go over 13 ft exterior height.
I hope I can get two Mopars on a lift.
Challenger and ******* for now.
Any thoughts?

Mine is 11'3" and I can stand under my *car* when it's up. I say *car" because I still have to duck under the ramps and couldn't stand under my Merc truck. But you can easily store 2 anythings with 11+ feet.

I agree too that 12' is the sweet spot.

(PS - Sorry for the scruffy-looking dog! Senna was 13 years in that pic and passed shortly after ).

 

[rburke65]

I feel for ya....Senna looks like a sweet puppy.....It's hard to loose a member of your family. I love your Ford.

 

[Junkman]

That is not a scruffy looking dog. It was a dog with "challenging" coat that had a mind of its own. This is what gives dogs their individual charismatics, and character. My condolences to you and your family on the loss of this pet. I am certain that he / she gave you great comfort and joy in its lifetime. Pets are great comfort to us in our busy lives.

"Gentlemen of the Jury."

"The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son or daughter that he has reared with loving care may prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him, perhaps when he needs it the most. A man’s reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him and the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog."

"Gentleman of the Jury."

A man’s dog stands by him in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, where the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he may be near his master’s side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that encounters the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of his pauper master as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation falls to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens."

"If fortune drives the master forth an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies. When the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death."

- Senator George Graham Vest, 1870 Burden vs. Hornsby

 

[luvair]

e-tek,

Sorry to hear about your dog.

You mentioned your lift is 11'3" and stand up. Pls advise your height?

TIA.

 

[Chris05gto]

How did you raise your ceiling? Did you take pics? Thanks, Chris

 

[rick danger]

The lift hieght actually dictated the overall garage dimensions. I needed 14' at 7' from center both ways. I have mine in the gable end of the building. I wanted 10' ceilings in the rest of the place so the width of the building was dictated by the starting hieght of 17' at the peak

 

[rick danger]

outside view. Big door is the lift bay

 

[12valve]

Go with the taller building if you can swing it. It'll be less of a worry for you on the lift. You can also create a storage loft in the other parts of the shop. Hope that is a helpful tip to consider.