Garage size question

[CareyD]

We currently have a 20x20 that we are going to be tearing down and rebuilding a new garage in its place. Maximum size can be 30x32. We originally had plans drawn up for a 28x30 but we are questioning if that is too much garage and we should go smaller.

Keep in mind that yes, I know bigger is better and we will fill the garage no matter what size we build. The truth is that prices are coming in and I am trying to be as realistic as possible- if we can build smaller AND accommodate everything we need to not go the bigger is better route.

We have had many discussions for hours about size. New houses are built with 24x24 or 26x26 garages all the time. My theory is that we are only going to build this one once, I don't want to regret not going with a different size.

Garage would need to fit full size pick up with short bed, mid-size SUV and a 1974 MGB (13 ft long x 5.5 wide). The plan is to put the MGB on casters and push it up against the back wall for the 8 months of year that it will not be used. Garage will also need to accommodate a mower with 48" deck and a snowblower, fridge and have atleast a 4-5 ft work bench.

The garage will have an upstairs (unfinished) for general storage, Christmas decorations, off season patio furniture etc. We are using attic trusses and will have a 10/12 pitch. The current drawings have a L shaped stairwell in the back corner of the garage. Doors will be 2 9x9's.

Thoughts? Opinions? As with everyone, we wan to be able to open doors and move around without feeling cramped by garden tools and such hanging on the walls.

 

[TractorJeff]

I have a "Shed" that is 28 by 30 and tell you from experience that you need the maximum you can build! I store tractors in there and occasionally park the short bed cab & half truck in there too. There isn't much room once you put the 3 vehicles plus lawn mower and snowblower you are describing in especially with your want for stairs to the attic.
Just saying for once I agree with what the others will be telling you!

 

[sberry]

Every foot is a bonus especially in that size. So much of this type of build is fixxed cost. Permits and layout the same cost etc, build as big as you can. That couple ft will make a lot of difference in buildings already to small to start with.

 

[firebirdparts]

If you can have 32 feet, I think it's pretty important to try to get that length as high as possible to get the SUV and MG nose to tail rather than the MG sideways. Getting your MG out will be a hassle, but maybe in the summer you can leave one of the trucks outside.

 

[Stinger]

No way I'd got "as small as possible" and try to fit that much stuff in there. What's the use in it "fitting" if it's so tight you can't even walk around all of the stuff inside? My 24x30 is damn near worthless with "just" a Mustang, Short bed crew cab truck, toolboxes, and lawnmower inside.

 

[driz]

If you gotta go that small (without too much regret) consider ditching trusses ( wasted space) and going with a second floor. Rafters will give you what you need and aren’t that hard to build.
That way you can have a full second floor to store your seasonable stuff and whatever you can fit up the stairway. That’s one way to get something more out of the smaller sized floor plan. I knew a guy who built one like that and it served him quite well. Of course he built it himself and the labor was free.
Why the no desire to build bigger? Lot space, lawn size you don’t want to lose, code setbacks???


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[stm317]

I'm not one to suggest that anybody should always build as big as they're allowed, but it sounds like in this case you should absolutely build it as big as you can. 30X32 isn't that big when you're trying to fit 2 full sized vehicles, a play toy, a staircase, workbenches, toolboxes, lawn care equipment, etc and still have room to move/open doors. And, I think you'll find that the cost difference between a 30X32 and something like a 26X28 isn't really that significant.

I'd suggest doing a general floorplan to scale with the large objects that you want to have in your garage. See what kind of footprint your vehicles take up. Add a couple of feet on all sides for doors/walking room. The staircase will take up space. Any shelving/cabinets/toolboxes/large tools/fridge or freezers/etc will have a footprint.
You can't really go back and redo this later. Lay it all out in sketchup or MS Paint or whatever and see how much space you'll need. Then build in a little more in case you get a larger vehicle, or the short bed truck becomes a long bed truck, or the MG is replaced with a Vette, or you buy a bigger lawn mower at some point. Having the building footprint sized just big enough for your current stuff could really limit your choices in the future. It could even impact resale if a potential buyer won't be able to fit their stuff in it.

 

[finn]

First, you shouldn’t be asking if you should go smaller on this site: Garage Journal posters have “bigger is still too small” etched on their brain.

In your case, you have two things going against recommending a smaller footprint. The stairs to the second floor take away from your useable footprint, and your lawn maintenance equipment is sharing space with automobile storage and maintenance equipment.

Are outside stairs an option, or is a separate structure for the mower and associated lawn equipment in the cards? Space is even more critical if you have kids, bicycles, kayaks, atvs, etc, or if you see them in your future.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Get some stakes and surveyor tape and mark off the two smaller 24x24 or 26x26 garage sizes in your yard. Then try to accommodate everything you mentioned into that space with room to work or walk around. Don't forget the space for stairs too.

Then mark off the larger 30x32 size and see what you think.

I know which size will win.

 

[captain14]

Place stakes in the ground to replicate the garage sizes you are considering
Plank all the vehicles inside the box and you can visualize how tight or roomy it would be.
Make sure you place all the mowers and yard tools inside too. Mark off for the staircase also.

I can’t imagine doing any vehicle work outside in Maine during the winter.

Consider a shed or a lean to off the garage to store the yard equipment. Less stuff to trip over.

Edit: NuttsGT beat me by a minute.

 

[Tmart86]

My Dad just finished his 24’ deep by 36’ wide and it seemed big until his tools and cars were inside he wishes he had gone at least 30’ deep. 24’ is just not enough for a full size truck and being able to work on it with the doors closed.

 

[pattenp]

My only suggestion is do at least 32ft on the door side and use 10ft wide doors, not 9ft wide.

 

[bhoth]

I have a 22 wide by 28 long and while I wanted bigger, I was paying cash as I went along, took me about 1 year to build it. Sure I sometimes wish it was bigger but I just recently added a 2 Post Dannmar lift and I still have room enough.

I always tell people build what you can afford.

 

[Homerr]

Well, as with all building projects a scale plan is a good place to start. Here are 30x32 and 24x32 sizes.

With the 3 cars I'd go as big as possible. But if there are aesthetic reasons for keeping the design narrow, such as keeping a decent proportion between width, height, and roof pitch then going narrower might be worth it.

Personally, I wouldn't go smaller than 26x32 and I wouldn't go less than the 32' length. As you can see the MGB sideways does get tight in overall length.

 

[larry_g]

Well, as with all building projects a scale plan is a good place to start. Here are 30x32 and 24x32 sizes.

With the 3 cars I'd go as big as possible. But if there are aesthetic reasons for keeping the design narrow, such as keeping a decent proportion between width, height, and roof pitch then going narrower might be worth it.

Personally, I wouldn't go smaller than 26x32 and I wouldn't go less than the 32' length. As you can see the MGB sideways does get tight in overall length.

In Homeer's drawings pay attention to how close the vehicles are to the sidewalls in the 24' wide drawing. This perty much prevents any storage along the side walls. In my first shop that was 30' wide I offset the door to one side and near 8' clearance on the other side for workshop or storage. That extra 6' width is huge in terms of what can happen in that area. Below is a poor picture of the old shop but you can see the offset of the door. That is a 30' width.

View media item 75968
That is a picture of a tree that fell and went between the house and shop.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Moose97]

As many have said (in this post and others) go as big as you can. No one has ever said "Wow! I sure wish I'd have built this thing smaller!".

 

[Hollywood D]

Mines about 8 months old and I already wish I had more space but I was restricted by some other things like property lines. Go as big as you can afford

 

[Lelandwelds]

Scale drawings, string lines, and painted lines on the lawn don't really give a feel how tight a space is to work in. Put up some plywood and actually park your cars. Pump a jack handle and roll your spare tire around for a realistic idea.

If you can trim your possessions severely enough, any size garage can work. How much do you love that seasonal third car? Attic folding stairs can work instead of an actual staircase.

 

[Homerr]

Park your primary cars next to each other a comfortable distance apart to open the doors. measure centerline to centerline of the cars (you can use the license plate). This, ideally, is the center to center of your garage doors.

 

[spudley]

Just poured a 24 x 40 slab and I wish it was 26. Had to go 24 as I'm lot size restricted. I'm also planning a corner stairway to my rafter built upstairs but I'm adding 2 winders to the platform to save floor space.

 

[Astross89]

I was first going to build a 22x31 shop. Then my great wife said max it out for our lot. We went 24x36. Holy **** I'm glad I did. I have already seen I need bigger. Do NOT go smaller.

 

[Vintage Veloce]

Frankly, unless your garage is absolutely bare bones, a couple feet in length and width doesn't effect the price much. The bigger costs, in my opinion, are in the quality of the materials and the electrical. Things like redwood siding vs cheaper options, or 30 can lights vs a couple led tubes make a much bigger difference than a couple 2x4s and a couple hours of labor on the foundation and shell.

 

[brownbagg]

mine started 24x30 and the car lift is outside. its now 36x30 and the car lift still outside, barely enough room fot two cars, remember the garage is a warehouse to store everything the cars dont matter, tool boxex, light spare parts, look how much room people here use just to store nuts and bolts

 

[bighouse01]

I just received my permit for my garage and was questioning if I was doing the right thing size-wise. Then a freind asks me if I ever met anyone who wished their garage was smaller!

 

[ripperd]

If the lot works, I'd be slightly contrarian and say to do it 32' wide, rather than 32' deep. And then definitely the full depth of 30'. Then you can fit a decent amount of workbench and storage along the back wall.

Then you can drive the 3rd car in and out without doing any shuffle. If you can have access to the back, you can put a roll up door on the back of the 3rd stall for your yard machine access.

I'd see if I could do a 18' wide door and a 9-10' wide door. For the occasional big mechanic job where you need more room just pull one car out, and then you have a very big space.

 

[astroracer]

And, if you do a layout in the yard, remember to put the stakes in to represent the "inside" of the shop. Your 32' x 30' are outside dimensions so you lose whatever your wall thickness is on the inside...
Mark

 

[67CarGuy]

I'll add to the "go as big as possible" crowd. You may not have a need to "fill" the space, but you'll never be sorry that you *have* the space.

 

[jetnow1]

My garage is 24 by 30 deep. I have the stairs to the second floor, and put the better halfs
Miata sideways across the back. With my full size truck in a bay there is no room along the side for toolboxes or benches. If you can go wider, a couple of feet would make a huge difference. I made my second floor with floor joists and rafters, you will not regret the storage space, but realize it doe get very warm up there. I insulated the joists between the floors and the garage area stays at least 20 degrees cooler. When I built it I thought it was huge, now I wish I could have gone bigger but zoning was a fight to get
this approved.

 

[Jazz1]

I have done a few frame off restorations in the 28x30 I built and it has ample room. I don’t store vehicles in garage.

 

[Sledgehammer]

I built a 32x42 shop. I wish it was bigger and I am not done building it. As soon as you start filling it you will see it is never big enough.

 

[rburke65]

Oh ya.....you should build smaller.... maybe..?.. 17’x12’