Garage add on help needed...

[craigibc]

I am going to build a pole barn with 12ft walls on the end of my existing 4 car garage. I want to build the building large enough to fit a 2 post lift and to park a car on the floor so we can work on that as well.

I am going to factor in 2 feet to the one side of the lift for space and then 3 ft on the other side of the lift for tool storage. Looks like the bendpak XPR-9S is 10ft wide so 10'+2'+3' = 15ft before I factor in a car on the floor. Should I go deeper to accomdate another car or wider?

Any thoughts or others post on here for reference?

Thanks,

Craig

 

[ijuslikefords]

I think you would want more like 14' for the lift, not knowing what lift your buying or what you plan on putting on it ymmv. After using a HF tent to do body work on my Lightning recently, 2' on each side is too small.

 

[sjvicker]

Go with 14' high if you can and try to get a lift that has the extended height. for some vehicles 12' isn't high enough to walk under but its high enough that you forget you cant stand up under it and smash your head. Also, remember, your garage door will take up space when rolled up and quickly eat into that 12'.

Wider will be a better utilization of space and easier to shift cars in and out vs a deep garage. But if you're trying to keep it small for cost but still be effective and not frustrating I'd use this equation.

Depth = X' (longest vehicle you'll put on lift) + 6' (3' on the front and back) + 2' (workbench or storage on the back wall).

Width = 4' (between lift and wall, enough space for a workbench and walkway) + 10' (lift) + 3' (walkway in the middle) + X' (width of your widest car with the doors open) + 4' (workbench and walkway between car and wall).

From here, if possible I'd add to the length before the width and add around 6' (rough length of an engine hoist).

 

[CraigStu]

I'd say it depends more on how the addition will fit into the yard and how it will make the house look. Going another car width means you will have a 6 car garage to look at. Maybe it is a side entrance garage so no problem as you see the house from the road. My experience working as a tech in an 8 bay garage for 10 years may help. This shop had 4 doors so the 8 bays were actually double depth. After my first week there it had become so common to drive under another car to get out or in that I no longer even thought about it. So, if going deeper works out for fitting your yard, don't be afraid of it.