help laying out a new 30x40 garage

[vetron]

Good feelings! We are building a house (who cares) and I get a 30x40 stick garage that matches the house. First real garage ever!
Would love to hear your opinions/experience on how to lay this out though!

-looking at single RV door pushed to the right, with room to park one. Will likely never get one, but we'll plan for one or for resale value.

-intend to have a loft built for upstairs storage. Put this in the back where it cuts out room to part a RV, or lay it down the side?
-how much headroom does a loft need? maybe 7 ft?
-your thoughts on lighting?
-your thoughts on the 2 courses of action (see attachment)
-other thoughts? like where to layout the benches?
-I have industrial racking that I use to store my home business stuff, racks are 12 ft high, 4ft wide, about 14 ft long. would like them to fit under the floor of the loft but I don't see that happening. checking with the builder on that still.

-thanks to all for any insights!

 

[Zeke]

I'd have 2 doors. You mentioned resale. Normally the garage is open to drive in on both sides. You're plans show a building where an RV could be parked, or maybe 2 cars tandem. That's not a garage. To me.

BTW, I have a '44 GPW.

 

[teal95]

I'm looking at about the same size but I already figured out that I was going to have to adjust the dimensions some. 40' was just a little short of having cars 2 deep so I'm planning on going 44' (or so). My method was to sketch it out on graph paper and then make cutouts of your components and start shuffling them around. For me I measured a couple of my cars and a hoist and then started seeing how things will fit. It also enables me to see where the doors need to be.

steve

 

[Bib Overalls]

I have a 30'x40' shop with 10' walls. Across the 30' back wall I built an 8' deep storage mezzanine. It is about 8' to the joists and 7'2" to the bottom of the steel support beam. I have my lathe, mill, and drill press along with a small rest room underneath. I ran T8 fluorescent lights the full length. Stairs take up too much space. I use a ladder for access.

On the RV door. If you don't have one (RV) and don't intend to get one I suggest you frame the door opening to RV. Then frame build framing in the opening to size it for a normal height door. You will save some bucks and if, in the future, you buy a RV or sell to a RV owner the door cam be enlarged.

 

[ronc2]

I would put a second garage door in front and a third garage door on the side of the garage toward the back. Three garage doors total and a small 30" access door in the middle of the side

 

[vetron]

Thx for the replys all. Roc2-i really would like a 2nd garage door toward the back corner but with the layout of my shop and stairs I think it would not flow. it's something I'm going to chew on. The budget is maxed out for it now. No heat in it this year
Bib: been thinking of pull down stairs but the consensus I've gathered is that they are too much trouble. I have to put stuff up there for my business and getting it up there is the challenge.
Teal: bigger is better haha. I wonder if I can fudge 4 more feet without my wife finding out heh heh
zeke: this is a detached shop then, not a garage. Accuracy is king. I noticed you are from SoCal. So I will drive my GPW against a healthy tree and kill the bark. And leave it idling for a long time