Garage planning

[Harvesters01]

Where to start...

I'm new to the Forum and new to garage planning.

Looking to build a second garage in the 24 x 24 range. How did you settle on the perfect size?

 

[liliysdad]

My wallet and lot size made the choice fairly straightforward

 

[matt_i]

Ideally have to define what you want to do now (what kind of use is envisioned), various restrictions at your property, and as mentioned the budget. Part of the budgeting is what you are going to do yourself, and what will be contracted out.

And think about planning for future needs. A person has to think about how to complement the overall property as well - usually if finishes can match the house that's most expensive but also looks the best. Should you never intend to move then maybe not an issue.

 

[Evilcactuar]

My wallet and lot size made the choice fairly straightforward

I think we're all in the same boat lol. I'm still in process, but I basically started with what I wanted, then scaled it down until I could afford to both build and heat it.

 

[jetnow1]

What are you going to use the garage for. 24 is narrow for 2 full size vehicles if you are
putting anything along the walls. It is shallow if you want workbenches and or toolboxes
etc. in front of them. Might be fine if all you have is smaller vehicles. My garage is 24 by 30 deep and I really wish I had gone wider, but zoning restricted me. I have a 50 chevy pickup torn down in one bay, and cannot fit my better half's Miata in.

 

[nadogail]

Welcome Aboard from Southwestern California. My garage was put up by the developer of the property, also my lot size is 25 X 140 and has a 2400 sq foot house on it.

 

[wickers]

What are you going to use the garage for. 24 is narrow for 2 full size vehicles if you are
putting anything along the walls. It is shallow if you want workbenches and or toolboxes
etc. in front of them. Might be fine if all you have is smaller vehicles. My garage is 24 by 30 deep and I really wish I had gone wider, but zoning restricted me. I have a 50 chevy pickup torn down in one bay, and cannot fit my better half's Miata in.

I'm getting ready to build a garage as well. Do you wish yours was just wider? I'm thinking 30' deep for mine as well. How's the depth?

 

[kai96]

Ad an area for s,all hand wash sink even if it simply drains to the outside grass.
And be sure internet access is in there.
I love my shop with the internet access for entertainment

 

[simnil]

Hight!
Even if you don't want one now, a day might come when you want a lift!

Closer to 4m hight, (like 14ft-ish), to the inner ceiling, more if you want to lift fullsize trucks, is what you need.

The material cost for that extra hight is small compared to the total.

....I wish the guy that built my garage had thought about that.... my garage/shop is about half a meter too low....

 

[matt_i]

I would also add: go with an 8ft tall garage door at minimum.

7ft saves a few dollars but eventually it becomes a limitation.

In MI, a lot of garages and shops are built with earth-formed footings...simply trench/excavate to frost depth and pour the resulting opening full of concrete. There are a few more details but it can be nearly as simple as that, very cost-effective.

 

[DJF3]

I have been wondering the exact same thing. How do people come up with the size that they did? For myself, I ended up at 34' wide. Seems like an odd measure, but I knew I wanted attic trusses and the truss builder I found could only build 34' clear span attic trusses. So that's what I ended up with. i also wanted to be wide enough to have two vehicles in the garage with all the doors open and still be able to walk around them. I think I'm close.

As for height, go as tall as you can. You don't have to use the space, but you can't easily make it bigger later. My neighbor built a 40x50x14 and can't get his travel trailer or his ocean boat in the garage through the 12' door. I quickly decided to go 16' high, with 12x14 doors. More money, but worth it in the long run. As for length, I wanted the truck and travel trailer to fit inside comfortably, so I ended up at 60'. I am rural on 5 acres, so I don't have any size restrictions.

Good luck with your build and keep giving updates!

 

[WisJim]

My new garage and shop that is under construction was limited in size due to the size of the lot, zoning requirements, and the fact that the neighbor's garage was built when zoning was different and is on the lot line, so I had to keep mine farther away on that side. I had to get a zoning variance for setback and amount of green space in the back of the lot so my 24 by 40 building is as big as I am allowed. And height restrictions meant going to a gambrel roof in order to have usable attic space for my wife's weaving, spinning, and sock knitting equipment. I'm having trouble figuring out how to go from 5 or 6 buildings (over 10,000 SF of floor space) full of stuff to this new building--lots of Craigslist ads to sell surplus.

 

[Harvesters01]

Thank you all for the feedback. The goal for the garage is to consolidate some stuff into one building and get it out of the attached garage..I would want an area to work but do not plan on parking a vehicle in it for anything other than repair. Have any of you noticed the posts from someone on here by the name "arbee" His garage design is what i'm after but nor sure a 32x32 is needed...or in the budget.

The other part of the question is:

To build it yourself or hire it out? Of course doing it yourself is cheaper but...? I would consider myself "handy" but not sure i could build my own garage.