Garage Height

[tinysparky]

What is your thoughts on an ideal garage height? Right now I am looking at a 12' eve height with scissor trusses (3/12 internal pitch) meaning that my 40x72 building would have a center height of 17' due to the height gain from the roof angle. Not sure I will be using a lift. Don't have any tall machines....

Thoughts?

 

[matt_i]

The height is great and useful if you have a specific need for it.

But, it consumes extra building materials in additional wall area, plus if doing stud walls you will have to center-block over 10' tall. There is also a penalty if you intend to heat or cool due to the additional "cube".

I would investigate (at least get quotes) on attic space trusses, I can't say whether its going to be really expensive in a 40' clear span but the additional sq footage of dry storage is soo much cheaper than anything else you could build separately.

 

[MushCreek]

I went 12'+ as I was planning on a lift. Now that I'm getting older, I don't know if a lift is in the cards, but some future owner might thank me. Notice I made mine 12' PLUS. Most lifts I looked at are right at 12', and I'd be really annoyed if my ceiling came out just a hair too low. I used full 12' studs, plus a bottom plate and a double top plate, so 'm 12' 4-1/2" without a finished ceiling. I also like the extra height for storage mezzanines, which I plan along the walls.

 

[RWorth]

I voted 14, mine I went with 12, just a bit too short, cant' stand in the upper storage level, and have to be careful on the lift, can't raise a van to max.

 

[Westozfixer]

If you need to cool it you want to go high, if you need to heat it you want to go low. If you want a lift or a mezz you want high, if you're on a tight budget go low, sounds like an answer to an unanswerable question.

 

[zkdiesel]

12-14'. 16 is a space waster if you have to hear or cool and have nothing extra tall in your fleet like Ag or construction equip

 

[DieselDent]

I have 12' now and wish I had 14', I had to make sure my lift would fit and even at 11'10" it was tight raising it.

 

[coljar]

With an open ceiling and steel trusses, my 10 ft walls work fine with my lift.

 

[zmotorsports]

I built my current shop (for a few more weeks anyways) with 14' ceilings because I knew one day I wanted to install a 2-post lift and get as much out of it as possible. It has been perfect with the exception that our coach won't fit but it won't fit due to length either so no big deal.

I have plans for the new shop to have 16' ceilings so I can accommodate any size RV that I plan to purchase down the road OR keep the one I have and be fine. It will be a little tall for the working section but I would rather have a bit higher ceiling than needed than the other scenario.

If you don't have an RV, large truck or construction type equipment I would recommend 14' if planning on a lift someday. If not planning on a lift 12' would be adequate.

Mike.

 

[lakeroadster]

It all comes down to aesthetics, intended use and re-sale.

A big tall building next to a one story low pitch roof house on a small lot probably isn't going to look right. If you have a bunch of acreage, or a tall home, you can make anything work.

Free span trusses or ridge beam designs allow for an automotive lift without having tall walls, so you can pretty much engineer your way into a garage that meets your needs, and your site plan.



Our previous garage we built with a 14 ft wall height, the pole barn we just finished is 10 ft. The reason for the 14 footer was to allow for RV storage, which helped re-sale value since RV's were the "must have" in that neighborhood. We never had an RV, but when we decided to sell the property, it sold in 3 weeks.

 

[JerseyChris]

will depend on mostly if you do need a lift or not.. Most lifts need 12'2 to like 12'4" range... That is plenty high for a car but for a pick up you might want 14' ceilings..

 

[53Sparky]

My shop (precast concrete commercial building) is 14' at the lowest and just over 15' at the highest point. I have never come close to needing all 14'. If you went 12' on the walls with a truss design that allowed additional height at the center spine, I think you'd be perfect.

 

[sleek98]

I am doing 12' eves and coffer trusses to get to 16 foot in the center. 10' around the perimeter is at the 12' level and the center 20x30 is 16'.

 

[Voi]

We never had an RV, but when we decided to sell the property, it sold in 3 weeks.

Same thing here. Not sure what large shops of any type add in dollar value in my area but indoor covered RV storage makes for a much faster selling property.

My ideal shop would allow for large RV storage tight against (parallel to) a gable or eave. Not because I want to own an RV again but because I know it would make that property easier to sell.

I do like a well lit work area so I'd prefer lower and flat ceilings underneath raised heel attic trusses in at least part.

 

[jav]

IMHO- ideal garage height depends on many factors- the biggest being how you plan to use your garage.

In my case- living in a cold region, having a second floor on my shop, being limited by zoning in overall accessory building height- 1 made my ceiling height 9' except- over my lift where it's 12'-6". I would have gone lower to better contain heat but I needed at least 9' for 8' tall doors- which works for all my vehicles.

 

[Ray916MN]

When people ask how big to build a workshop a universal response is you can never build it big enough. Once you get to a size where a two story height is aesthetically acceptable, the answer to getting cheaper space is to build taller and to include in your build a plan for using the extra height (eg. pallet racking, mezzanine, second floor). A mezzanine or extra floor, or walled in second floor room is generally cheaper square footage than paying for more floor and roof to get more square footage.

 

[zmotorsports]

When people ask how big to build a workshop a universal response is you can never build it big enough. Once you get to a size where a two story height is aesthetically acceptable, the answer to getting cheaper space is to build taller and to include in your build a plan for using the extra height (eg. pallet racking, mezzanine, second floor). A mezzanine or extra floor, or walled in second floor room is generally cheaper square footage than paying for more floor and roof to get more square footage.

Exactly. That is why when I talked to my contractor about building different height sections, one for shop and one for RV storage the price difference didn't justify it. I was brainstorming with him and decided this way with 16' ceilings IF I ever get to a point where I need additional storage I could always build a mezzanine in part of the workshop side and have additional storage quite inexpensive vs. having to add on square footage.

Mike.

 

[rburke65]

I have ..?...13' 4" ceiling height. Love the taller walls. Now when I walk into other 8' walled garages it feels as if I am crawling into a hole.....very confining.

 

[tinysparky]

Thanks everyone! As a shadow member for months you have all been very helpful in my journey to build a shop. Once I get drawings, I will create a page just for my build. I have decided to go with 12' eve with the scissor truss.

Key points:
-I can still use a scissor lift with that truss design (on the 5 year plan for this)

-No plans to have an RV...if I buy one and can afford one...I will add a section to the building (have 10 acres)

-Will be next to a single story rambler we are building and don't want to dwarf the height

-Loft doesn't need to be standing room size...

-visited my friends 40x60x16' and he made me realize my tractor can't reach high than 8' for storing items on racks

 

[blacksporty]

I voted 16, for 2 reasons. 1. you can add a mezzanine for extra storage or living space on part of it. 2. I have an RV and would need a 14' door to get it in.

 

[mmb617]

My lift bay has just shy of 13 ft to the bottom of the trusses which works great for me. Plenty of room for the lift and a storage mezzanine running 8 ft above the floor along two walls. The other three bays are just under 9 ft to the truss bottoms. These were the measurements that worked with 12 ft and 8 ft studs in my construction.

I do think the requirements could vary a lot depending on what you want though. There's no one right answer.

 

[n20junkie]

My garage is 12'6" because i don't want a lift to be too tight. Its too easy to add now not too.

 

[MushCreek]

I should have clarified- my shop is 12' 4" to the bottom of the rafters for the loft floor. The loft itself is over 8', so usable as space. I might do a man cave up there some day.

 

[seanc_mt]

cost to go from 12-16 or 14-16 is negligible.. just do it.

 

[Thumper68]

I voted other, as my shop is not typical, I knew I wanted the height for a lift, and I also knew that I would be heating it. So one side has 14 foot sidewalls and the other side has 8 foot side walls with vaulted ceilings on both halves giving me the best of both worlds.

The upper wall also allows for windows that add lots of light but do not allow a view of the inside or take up usable wall space.

 

[Dr Stan]

I made the BIG mistake of building mine at 8' high just to save on costs. In the spring I'll raise it to 12' for room for a lift and a free standing traverse crane over about 2/3rd of the shop. So I voted for 12'.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Being a 40x72, I think too short of a wall would look odd. I voted for a 14' side wall.

For the OP, if you are using scissor trusses just due to a future lift, I would price out regular trusses and 14' side walls vs 12' side wall and scissor trusses.

 

[HotrodHR]

My ceiling height (flat ceiling) is 12.5 feet... perfect for 4 post lift and "regular" sized hotrods...

 

[zmotorsports]

cost to go from 12-16 or 14-16 is negligible.. just do it.

Agreed. This is why I opted to just go 16'. It was actually going to cost more to go 14' height and then have to special order a 13' tall door and mess with that than just opting to jump to 16' height.

Then I worried that 10 or more years down the road if I bought a newer RV there is a very good chance it would be over that 13' mark and I would be in the same situation I am now. I didn't want to risk that.

Mike.

 

[johndeereman]

I Voted 16' for a lot of reason's.
First 14' doors to get semi trucks/trailers inside,also large farm equipment

Second tall ceiling's allow for loft storage, also tall pallet racking along the walls

Third extra height for a lift in the future for sure