Help Me Design My New Garage

[M1N1ON]

Hey everyone. I recently relocated to Georgia and part of the deal when purchasing our new house is that I can design and build my own dream garage. I am looking for a garage with the following characteristics:

-fit 4+ cars
-be able to fit a two post lift (I am ok with a tight fit, nothing tall will be on it)
-ok with either two or four doors
-economical to build

I am looking at a 40x60 steel building. Possibly doing a double garage door on the end and then two single doors on the side. Attached is a picture of the lot. Its off to the side of the house. I am trying to be conscious of cost but don't want to have issues with the concrete pad like I did in my previous house.

Totally open for suggestions!

 

[bczygan]

What is your lot layout and zoning rules?

Bill

 

[ConCretin]

I am trying to be conscious of cost but don't want to have issues with the concrete pad like I did in my previous house.

You don't need to spend un-necessarilly to get a serviceable, attractive and durable slab. You'll get lots of good advice here. Adhere to the basics and find the right finisher. Don't let yourself get talked into doing it the way 'they always do it'.

 

[zcar751]

Well the 40x60 foot print will give you enough room to park 6 cars or trucks. I have a 40x24 shop and I can easily park three vehicles. A couple of thoughts would be to lay out your work and storage ideas first to determine your parking. Shelves, tool boxes and workbenches all take up room so you should move at least 24" off the wall then give yourself another three feet to move and work. You should also plan on 16' width for your 2 post lift so you can get around the post and the car you are working on. Trust me it can be a pain to have to walk back and forth around the car because you can 't get around the post.
I would also suggest you double the number of outlets you plan on putting in and don't skimp on lights. And if at all possible running water and plumbing.

 

[jloehlein]

Here are a couple options to help give you some ideas. These were the two layouts I was serious about. I wanted to build the 50x80, but the county limited me to 3k sqft, so I built a 32x80 (the loft makes it 3k sqft). I looked at a few 40x60 layouts, but they all left me putting cars 2-deep and having to move the cars i was parking to get to the ones I was working on out.

Here's the 50x80 I was thinking about. My plan was to cut the building into two with a full length wall. There is a 25x80 section with doors at either end to pull a truck and trailer through. I could line that section with pallet rack for storage. The other part would have been split into a 25x40 car workshop, 25x20 enclosed/clean work area and 25x20 two car garage. I'd put a loft over the enclosed work area and two car garage for more storage or shop space. Splitting the shop space let me worry about just heating and cooling the workshop versus the storage areas. I spec'd the building with insulation and nice insulated doors at right about $50k a couple years ago. I was budgeting another $30k in concrete, plus another $30k for the interior walls, electric and plumbing.

Once the county told me I couldn't do that, I got rid of the drive-through 25x80 section and basically just made the rest 32' wide instead of 25'. I also only put the loft above the enclosed work area so that I could put some 4 post lifts in the parking part of the garage. Here is the layout.

I've got my compressor and wood/steel storage under the stairs. I still split the shop in half so I could focus on heating/cooling the 32'x40' work area. I typically have one or two cars that I'm working on at any given time, but there is room for more, if needed:

A couple other considerations:

- definitely more outlets than you think you'll need, as others have mentioned. I put double boxes every 5 feet at 54" high (well above workbench height or a sheet of plywood resting on its side)
- floor drains, makes cleaning way easier
- hose reel and electric reel hanging from the ceiling is great

 

[btdobie]

Is this shop going to be heated or air-conditioned?

 

[Orionrising]

Cn you build more then one building? a parking building the the shop?

 

[M1N1ON]

Is this shop going to be heated or air-conditioned?

No, no heat or a/c. Our house is out in an area without natural gas so it'd be expensive to heat unless I use a wood burning stove. However the winters are so mild here that I think if I have to work on anything, ill just do it in the attached garage. The other option is using spray foam insulation.

I am young and dumb so the heat doesn't bother me... yet....

 

[M1N1ON]

Cn you build more then one building? a parking building the the shop?

I believe I can build more than one building. However I would probably stick with one because of the cost factor.

 

[M1N1ON]

What is your lot layout and zoning rules?

Bill

I have not had a chance to measure everything out by hand but here is what the builder gave me. I am not sure how to read them (outside of the major items).

Also looking at zoning rules now.

 

[Selo]

After you know all the aspects of the garage you want, call Morton Buildings. I priced lots of buildings and bought Morton. Everyone thinks Morton is so expensive, but when you compare ALL they provide, you will be glad. AND it is a GOOD looking building.


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359404&highlight=Selo

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390655&highlight=selo

Selo

 

[M1N1ON]

Called the city today. Couple of obstacles:

-The garage must be "attached" if I want it greater than 650sqft. I can accomplish this with a breezeway
-Must be "attached" if I want the garage to come closer to the street than the house
-Must be 50 ft from the street
-Must be 12 ft from the sides of the lot

Ive come to the conclusion that the 40x60 might be a little aggressive. Maybe looking at 30x50 or 30x40. Any thoughts? Any thoughts on a cool breezeway idea?

 

[M1N1ON]

After you know all the aspects of the garage you want, call Morton Buildings. I priced lots of buildings and bought Morton. Everyone thinks Morton is so expensive, but when you compare ALL they provide, you will be glad. AND it is a GOOD looking building.


https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359404&highlight=Selo

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=390655&highlight=selo

Selo

What options to you get with the Morton building over competitors?

I am hesitant to buy anything wood framed because of the moisture and termites here in GA. Is there a reason to stay away from steel or aluminum buildings?