Downsizing, losing Garage-mahal...

[jeep63]

With our son off to college we have started looking to downsize and relocate to a water front house.

This means I'm losing my Garage-mahal

The house we are looking at has a single attached garage and space for maybe a detached 22x20 at most.

I've done some searching to see what people have done with this size, but I'm curious to learn how tight it is working in a space this size.

I'll have to be better with storage as I'm not sure I'll even get a loft like I have now. It is going to be tough to down-size for sure.

 

[Toolfool]

Rent a space nearby the new home.

 

[dcg9381]

You are going from 26x24 down to 22x20 - I get it, that's a decrease.. But it's doable.
Can you do a 20' storage container?

 

[rburke65]

The size reduction doesn’t so too severe. I thought you were going to say..?. going from a 48’x100’ or something. You can do this....

 

[karoc]

Downsizing is a bonus, it will make you be more organize than before. Makes you get created, but will there be a boat in way?

 

[driftpin]

You are going from 26x24 down to 22x20 - I get it, that's a decrease.. But it's doable.
Can you do a 20' storage container?

A waterfront home and a shipping container for a garage/workshop? I assume you may be staying somewhere around Baltimore? Pretty-sure the zoning codes would be a big 'NO!' on that dream. Just research the zoning codes and enlist an architect to get you something able to be approved and that meets your dreams of space to the maximum allowable.

Remember that different jurisdictions treat attached structures as just a continuation of the dwelling, and an attached structure could be a breezeway, connecting the new garage, without being a fully-enclosed addition. That's where the architect make his/her fee worthwhile. Also, someone well-known to the local building dept./AHJ will have an easier time of getting the max approved. There are tricks like adding a cupola to the existing dwelling, to give it more height, so you can have a taller roof on your garage addition. Calculations for height are the operational point: how is it done? Is it a simple, "addition may-not exceed the existing building height," or would a mezzanine apartment inside the new addition, without a kitchen (often referred-to as 'mother-in-law quarters'), allow you to have a higher height than is there now, for the ranch house single-story dwelling? Besides giving you additional living space, the mezzanine apartment might cover only one side, leaving you room for a full-height lift on the other side.

Or do they calculate the height from the top of the tiebeam to the top height of the roof peak, and find the median? It always pays to check the codes before you make a purchase as one jurisdiction may have ordinances which allow your retirement home to fill your hopes, desires, and needs better than another jurisdiction does. Don't forget to consult that design professional! The $ you spend to discover one location is much-better meeting your retirement needs than another more-restrictive location is money well-spent.

 

[dcg9381]

A waterfront home and a shipping container for a garage/workshop? I assume you may be staying somewhere around Baltimore? Pretty-sure the zoning codes would be a big 'NO!' on that dream. Just research the zoning codes and enlist an architect to get you something able to be approved and that meets your dreams of space to the maximum allowable.

No, I'm not near Baltimore, and most of the waterfront stuff here is relatively large lot and wouldn't be seen by a city jurisdiction. It's relatively easy to hide a 20' container, but your point is taken.

OP, what would help is knowing your constraints on the garage...

Congrats on the home.

 

[619DioFan]

Are there no homes available with bigger garages ?

 

[Yankeefarmer]

Don’t go rushing in to new housing. Offspring have been known to move back in. Especially when their mom encourages it.

 

[F451]

Three years ago we moved from a 1/2 acre lot, house with 3 car attached garage to a postage sized view lot with "2 car" attached garage, I think its 20' x 20' or something like that in a cookie cutter community. The view from the kitchen/living room/back yard is AMAZING.

We were forced to do major downsizing, or I should say I was forced to do major downsizing. Unloaded almost all of my motorcycle projects, recently sold my old Porsche, no room for it in the garage with my wife's car and a couple of motorcycles. Got rid of a couple tool carts, parts washers, tools, large compressor, etc. Completely purged the house of 20 yrs of **** (that part was great).

The wife LOVES it here. I don't care for living here. I thought I could adjust. I was wrong. But whatever, what's done is done.

Here's some pics of our tiny 2 car garage, I threw up a stick/plywood storage shelf, and another store bought wire storage loft (that I don't really like, the wire mesh is a pain, catches on things, is also too deep, makes getting things out a pain). I've lined the walls with storage, a tiny work bench/cabinet. I'm constantly re-arranging, its a never ending game of tetris.

I've finally got it fairly workable, but its more of a typical car garage then a shop or workspace.

You can see the shelf I threw up over the garage door opening. Super handy.



You can just see the steel loft/shelf over the fridge in this chaotic pic.



This is the basic layout now. Wife's car on the one side, my bikes on the other.

 

[nadogail]

We do a lot to keep those live with happy. Happy Wife usually means we can enjoy a happy life.

 

[jeep63]

For sure a storage container is a big 'NO', it won't get wife approval, let alone pass muster with AA county or neighbors.

I need to take the architect there and see what his thoughts are for a 24x24 and placement. I think it will fit, but it will be tight with the 7' set backs for rear/side. It will be detached, so it needs to be 3' from the house too.

Since the house is waterfront, the water side is considered the front, and we can be closer to the property lines where the garage will be, which is actually the real front of the house.

I thought 24x24 was small, so I really don't want to go down to 20x20, I'm still looking for an 50/51 M38 flat fender, so both Jeeps will be in the garage, and I still need to park my 250 and find a place for my car hauler (16' flat deck). Wife's car will be in the 1 car attached garage. My 250 is 21' long, so I need at least 22x22 to just park that in there for oil changes, tire rotations, brakes, etc...

The space available currently allows for 10 cars to park, so I think we can squeeze in a 24x24 within the set-backs, and have room for a few extra cars to park. I just need to get down there with the architect.

What I will likely lose is my loft area where I keep all my camping gear and parts. I need to account for this stuff too, or lose a bunch since the basement has a small utility area that will not fit the camping gear.

 

[jeep63]

Are there no homes available with bigger garages ?

In the 24 months we've been looking, we only found 1 that had 2 2-car garages + a 1 car one. We could not agree on price on that one, then the market took off like crazy. We missed out on a 3 car garage one by the smallest of margins. Wife is set on water front, so we keep looking; she is also committed to the garage part since she knows I would prefer to stay put. These houses often sell on the first day and most are over asking price. I am holding firm hoping the bubble pops and then we can get one for a more reasonable price.

 

[jeep63]

Downsizing is a bonus, it will make you be more organize than before. Makes you get created, but will there be a boat in way?

NO BOAT! I'm open the Jet skis, but NO BOAT!

 

[ScottsGT]

Wow, I thought this thread was started by me a few weeks back. Just went through all this myself. Downsized from a garage that was 3 bays wide with two doors with an attached room that was 16X20 that was my hobby room that I also stored my bench top woodworking tool in on roll around carts.
I’m now in a single car garage that is extra deep since it was designed to back a boat into. It does have a wide spot along one wall that is 4’X16’ where my HF 44” with side cabinets sit along with my drill press and storage for those tools on carts.

I had to cut back and reduce a lot of my clutter and tools I never used anymore. My son made out like a bandit. He got my engine hoist, engine stand, stand alone bench grinder, spring compressor and a handful of things I bought but just never used anymore like my AC repair stuff.

I lined the opposite wall from my toolbox with 18” deep shelves, 4’ high. That put a lot of my shop tools back into some sort of organization. Since I have a higher ceiling now I’m going to add on some 2’ deep shelves 75” high mounted on the wall and supported from the above floor joists. If this works out I can get 8’ on one wall and 16‘ X 4‘ over my tool box area too.

just this weekend our water heater started leaking too. It’s original from 2007, so even if it is a leak from the screw in drain or pressure valve, we’re on borrowed time. With it out of the way, I’ll have a place to park a 40 gallon compressor.

my hobby room is being replaced with a much smaller “corner“ that is under the stairwell of the downstairs and a wall along the back of the basement where I have my gun safe and display case for my scale models I built. That high garage storage will be for my stash of new kits I have.
hardest part is the actual downsizing. I got rid of a lot before moving, but now we’re in, I’m tossing out more and more as we unpack.

But damn, it is worth it…..

 

[ScottsGT]

Almost forgot, overseas containers are not allowed anywhere in our county. But for my outdoor tool storage we are planning on buying a prebuilt 12X18 or 20 “storage barn” and putting it out in the front yard along the driveway, since the back yard is now really the front yard.
temporarly I bought one of those Rubbermaid 2x2 outdoor closets for the weed eater and shovels and I strapped it to one of the back porch columns.
when we get the building, the wife gets it for floating things for the lake.

 

[unslow1]

You just have to make the hard decisions on what you really need/want. I've been downsizing like crazy this year. I'm down to a single 22X24 from that garage and a 24x48. A lot of stuff had to go that I was really reluctant to give up. A lot more still has to go because there is so much stuff in this garage I really can't do much. I gave away a bandsaw, router and sand blasting cabinet all I would like to have kept. Then sold a lot more.

 

[Hank11]

Do whatever it takes to build the most space you can to equal the old place. I'm still living in downsize he!! a year on and won't have a new building for at least 5-6 months. Not having fun right now with everything in a huge pile in a metal barn.

 

[ehsan]

Three years ago we moved from a 1/2 acre lot, house with 3 car attached garage to a postage sized view lot with "2 car" attached garage, I think its 20' x 20' or something like that in a cookie cutter community. The view from the kitchen/living room/back yard is AMAZING.

We were forced to do major downsizing, or I should say I was forced to do major downsizing. Unloaded almost all of my motorcycle projects, recently sold my old Porsche, no room for it in the garage with my wife's car and a couple of motorcycles. Got rid of a couple tool carts, parts washers, tools, large compressor, etc. Completely purged the house of 20 yrs of **** (that part was great).

The wife LOVES it here. I don't care for living here. I thought I could adjust. I was wrong. But whatever, what's done is done.

Are we living different versions of the same life? I'm about to go through exactly what you went through. Currently in an almost 3 acre property with 26x22 garage, barn and shed for storage. This weekend we are moving to a house closer to civilization because of the wife. New garage is barely 20 x 20, which doesn't seem like much of a change, but my current garage lets me have metal cabinets on one side, toolboxes on the other and deep shelves and a work bench along the back, while still getting two cars comfortably in the garage. With the new one, I fear I'm going to be limited to one car if I want to keep all my tools inside.

Not looking forward to it. I'm sad to see that others are dealing with the same experience. The only saving grace is that the small yard has gated entrance to parking for my truck and race car trailer. That was a non-negotiable for me (along with something resembling a garage). Pretty bummed about the whole situation cause I had just gotten my current garage setup how I wanted it within the past year.

 

[engineer2]

I've been dealing with a 400 sqft garage for decades. I hate it, but 3-car garages are like unicorns in this area.
I added a 120 sqft shed with power and that REALLY helped. It is essentially a second shop and storage area. I use it for messy stuff like parts cleaning and sandblasting.
Over the winter I reorganized my garage for more efficient storage. More cabinets, bigger tool chest, and adjustable wall shelves wherever I had space. Heavy duty plywood shelf along the back wall near the ceiling. Fresh paint, a few more outlets, and better LED lighting really helped. The other part of the equation is getting rid of **** you seldom use.