Detached garage ideas - wall height

[CT2012]

Am bouncing around some ideas for a detached 3 or 4 car garage build. Question is 10' vs. 12' wall height.

It's about a ~$5k difference between the two configurations, +/-.

That said, $5k is still $5k and that could go towards plenty of other things. Is the extra 2' worth it?

 

[matt_i]

If you're planning a car lift it would make things easier. That said you could go with a scissor truss to try to pick up some height. Also a possibility is additional concrete wall height (assuming stick build here), for example if the concrete was 1' above the finished floor and you build a 10' wall on it you're essentially at 11'....

 

[CT2012]

thanks matt. a safe height for a 4 post lift is probably 12', yes?

let's say my vette is about 4' high, so figure that car on the bottom, then the lift ramp width of, say, 5" (i'm guessing that's the thickness of ramps plus any supporting beams), positioned at least 5-6" above the height of my vette, plus another 4-5' height car = snug as a bug with 10' ceilings and zero room for error.

 

[Kaizen]

yup lift is only thing unless you have huge machinery. i'd design it to do a truck. so 12 feet. consider a 2 foot knee wall in concrete to save the wood labor. also good for washing cars

 

[Hondaracer2oo4]

I went with 12 foot( actually 12 ' 2" in the back and 12' 5" in the front because of floor slope) for a car lift. I'm glad I built my garage seeing the price of 5k! I think I probably ended up spending maybe $500 more in materials.

 

[glentre]

Go on the sites of the lifts you are considering to determine your required ceiling height. You will need to add the heights of the two stacked cars plus the ramp height of the chosen lift plus the height the lift needs to raise in order to engage the locks. They are not all the same and some lift sites have diagrams and formulas to guide you on height selection.

Second, consider you likely will not always have the cars you now own and may end up with higher ones in the future. An suv for example. I had to go with 13 ft ceilings and an extra high lift because my antique cars are a bit higher than today's cars plus it allows my suv to fit also.

Plus, be careful regarding wall stud height. Many local codes permit a maximum of 10 ft studs so you will need to first determine how high the stem wall ( if you are using one ) will be then add 4 1/2" for the bottom plate and double top plates and subtract the finished ceiling thickness. You can also use attic trusses over the lift area to gain additional height.

In short, there are many variables and things to consider regarding your own personal needs for a lift, the lift you will be using and the ceiling height needed to accommodate your needs. The choice needs to be well thought out.

Glen

 

[Kaizen]

I went with 12 foot( actually 12 ' 2" in the back and 12' 5" in the front because of floor slope) for a car lift. I'm glad I built my garage seeing the price of 5k! I think I probably ended up spending maybe $500 more in materials.

I was wondering this as well. guessing its the change over from 2x4 to 2x6 as well as additional blocking because you're right its only another few bucks a stud and some ply. still 5k is nuts.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

You'll hate a 10' ceiling with a car lift, it's just not high enough to stand up under your car, even a vette. Trying to work on your car and being in a constant hunched over position will get old quick. Actually I would recommend going with 12'6" or even 14' as most two post lifts are 12'0".
the attached pic is my son trying to work on his car with the lift installed under a 10' ceiling, remember when you raise the car you can't run it up tight against the ceiling so you lose maybe another 6" there.

 

[kbs2244]

I do not have a lift, but I have plenty of room for one.
The key is not wall height but celing height.
I went with 10 foot walls.
But I went with a ridge beam roof construction.
That gives me a vaulted room.
With 1:4 roof slope I have 14 feet of celing height in a 24 foot building depth.

 

[CT2012]

thanks for the info here, much appreciated.

kbs224: yep ceiling height is what i meant. i need to confirm with builder if he can do framing on top of a 2' block perimeter (which would be my preference), vs. just going up 12' from slab.

 

[kbs2244]

This is how I did mine.
"I" beam on steel pipe to 14 foot high ridge beam.
8 foot stick built walls on 2 Foo block base.
Door follows the inside slope.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=296292

 

[ducksface]

Maximum peak height of 14 feet above average grade in some towns.
Check your municipality.

 

[PAToyota]

If you're planning a car lift it would make things easier.

If you want a car lift - or think you might want a car lift in the future - go 12’.

Otherwise, go 12’ because you’ll probably end up wanting a car lift in the future…

 

[SiGmA_X]

If you want a car lift - or think you might want a car lift in the future - go 12’.

Otherwise, go 12’ because you’ll probably end up wanting a car lift in the future…

This, or the next owner may.