Garage Apron and Sidewalk

[bad_idea]

I have a 30x40 garage I built at the end of my 25' wide pre-existing driveway. Driveway enters 40' side of building. Right side of the building is even with the right side of the driveway. I plan to widen the driveway to the full width of the garage. Question is - how deep should I make the apron before angling back to the driveway?

Next question - how wide should I make the sidewalk along the side of the garage to get to the back door? I plan to pour the sidewalk right against the foundation of the garage to avoid having a narrow strip of landscaping to deal with. Sidewalk will be 15' long to get from the driveway to the back door of the house and the side door of the garage (side door of the garage is 10' from the back door of the house).

 

[bad_idea]

No one? I am figuring on making the apron in front of the garage 25' deep and the sidewalk 4' wide. I would pour a 3' wide sidewalk 1' from the building, but do not want to deal with a 1' x 15' strip to landscape.

 

[HoosierMark]

Make the sidewalk 4 foot wide. Normally I would say 3 but since you are against the building I would make it wider. Make the side driveway long enough to create a parking space there. What are you going to use the space for and build it accordingly. If you plan on parking a trailer or boat there, then give yourself enough room to back it in easily.

 

[Hooked]

I would make the sidewalk minimum 4' but 5' would be better for those times when someone is helping you carry something. I poured a 4' sidewalk alongside my garage for similar reasons and when the ground is wet one person is walking in the water/wet or carrying at an awkward position. Not a frequent problem but when it happens it's not an ideal situation.
Agree with Mark regarding the apron.

 

[kbs2244]

Assuming 1 foot soffits if you do not have a gutter over the sidewalk you will have a drip line 1 foot off the wall.
Slope it away from the wall.

 

[larry_g]

I have a 30x40 garage I built at the end of my 25' wide pre-existing driveway. Driveway enters 40' side of building. Right side of the building is even with the right side of the driveway. I plan to widen the driveway to the full width of the garage. Question is - how deep should I make the apron before angling back to the driveway?
.

As said, it depends. What are you moving in and out of the bays? Little small cars or crewcab trucks with a trailer? What happens if you drop off the concrete with a wheel? Instant mud or no problem once in awhile? Me thinks that you should be able to go straight out the door before turning. Then from that straight line put in a curved edge that is a bit greater than the turning radius of the worst turning rig you have. Then reverse the curve at the point you need to to get lined up and out the drive. Pay attention to the rear wheel track inside the front wheel line traveled. This is best case. If someone is parked in the area and you have to maneuver around stuff then more allowances will have to be made.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[bad_idea]

Assuming 1 foot soffits if you do not have a gutter over the sidewalk you will have a drip line 1 foot off the wall.
Slope it away from the wall.

Plan to have the sidewalk sloped away from the building. The building will have gutters. Thank you.

 

[bad_idea]

As said, it depends. What are you moving in and out of the bays? Little small cars or crewcab trucks with a trailer? What happens if you drop off the concrete with a wheel? Instant mud or no problem once in awhile? Me thinks that you should be able to go straight out the door before turning. Then from that straight line put in a curved edge that is a bit greater than the turning radius of the worst turning rig you have. Then reverse the curve at the point you need to to get lined up and out the drive. Pay attention to the rear wheel track inside the front wheel line traveled. This is best case. If someone is parked in the area and you have to maneuver around stuff then more allowances will have to be made.

lg
no neat sig line

Little bit of everything - everything from a Civic to a F250 Super Cab. The far left bay will mostly be for my project car, currently a 79 Camaro. I'll park one of my jeeps in front of the left bay. The center bay is lined up with the center of the driveway. I'll use the center bar for backing trailers into and servicing the rest of the vehicles. I put stakes in where I plan to pour the apron and drove the vehicles around. Figure I have it sorted.

Wasn't sure if there were standard recommended sizes or a rule of thumb. Thanks for the insight.

 

[bad_idea]

I would make the sidewalk minimum 4' but 5' would be better for those times when someone is helping you carry something. I poured a 4' sidewalk alongside my garage for similar reasons and when the ground is wet one person is walking in the water/wet or carrying at an awkward position. Not a frequent problem but when it happens it's not an ideal situation.
Agree with Mark regarding the apron.

The sidewalk leads to the back door of the house. We typically enter the house through the back door. But we can't get large/bulky items through the back door, those go through the front door. No need to haul things into the man door of the garage down the sidewalk, there are large roll up doors on the front at the end of the driveway.

I wish the sidewalk to the front door were wider, I have already gotten my shoes muddy carrying a couch into the front of the house. It doesn't help that the previous owner let the front shrubs go right up to the sidewalk. I have been slowly trimming the hedge back to get it off the sidewalk without killing the bushes.