How to plan?

[HoundOfDoom]

Hi,

Finally getting around to planning out my garage build, but with all the possibilities, I'm a bit lost.

Can anyone help me to organize my thoughts? I'm thinking a generous 2 bay garage, enough room ahead, between, and to the sides of bays to work without moving vehicles, at least 1 lift, and room to at least 1 side or back for workbench, tools, etc.

When you planned your garage, how did you go about it?

Many thanks for your constructive thoughts

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Graph paper and light-weight cardboard cutouts (to scale) of all the items you plan to have are your best friend. Think hard about possible future tool additions. When you have the plan nailed down, get accurate cost estimates and then increase the size as much as you can afford.

 

[safnd2021]

Call your local municipality and see if they accept hand drawn plans. Draw your plans (will save you tons of money). Get the required permits then start building thats pretty much all I did

 

[Sumboodie]

Call your local municipality and see if they accept hand drawn plans. Draw your plans (will save you tons of money). Get the required permits then start building thats pretty much all I did

Permits for a garage? None of that here.

 

[cvairwerks]

Graph paper and cardboard models are a good start. When you think you have it, invest in a couple of bundles of grade stakes and rolls of marking tape and lay it out full scale on the property and verify it’s right for you. Way cheaper to fix before plans are drawn and materials bought.

 

[MushCreek]

I once had an old guy tell me, "Figure out the maximum size you will need. Make it three times bigger than that, and it will be almost big enough." For most areas, first find out what you can do legally. Only your local building department can tell you this. Permitting, set-backs, maximum height, etc. may all come into play. No sense in designing the Garage Mahal, only to find out they won't let you build a shed. With that out of the way, as others have said- start laying everything out. Graph paper and cut-outs work; so will drafting programs like Sketch-Up. It helps to know what you plan to work on. Miatas take up less room than one ton dually crew cab pick-ups. Measure the vehicles you plan to work on, and open the doors to see how wide they really are. Check to see how much width and height you need to mount a lift. As your project gets bigger and bigger, stop and figure out costs, or get some quotes. That may bring you back down to earth, or encourage you to keep going.

 

[HoundOfDoom]

Thanks all, appreciate the ideas!

 

[NUTTSGT]

Call your local municipality and see if they accept hand drawn plans. Draw your plans (will save you tons of money). Get the required permits then start building thats pretty much all I did

Yep and like Mush says, ask the local AHJ, what you can build and what the restrictions are.

No reason to waste time planning something you can't build.

 

[NickH]

Yep and like Mush says, ask the local AHJ, what you can build and what the restrictions are.

No reason to waste time planning something you can't build.

When I was planning my build, I found a free set of plans online that was roughly the same dimensions of what I was looking to build. The actual design wasn't really close, but it was enough to bring to the town hall talk to the code officer. I asked a bunch of questions and verified what I was looking to do would be permissible. Like the others said, it's good to know what you're up against before paying for plans or drafting.

 

[engineer2]

Two parts to the plan: what you are going to build, and when you will do it.
Google "garage design software" to visualise what you want to build and how to fit your toys into it. Of course, pencil and paper work too.
A spreadsheet works well for scheduling your project. Column A is calendar dates, cells to the right are what's planned that day.

 

[CraigStu]

While paper and a pencil work, a PC program is really nice. When we had our house built I used one from HGTV to modify one of the builder's stock designs. $75 gave me the ability to do a floor plan, fill it with furniture, and walk through it in 3D. That might be a little over kill for a garage but making changes is so easy that there is no reason to hold back on your 'what if I do this' thoughts.

 

[aallison28]

Do you need building plans or design plans or floorplans? I found a free website, https://3d.homestyler.com/ that allowed me to do the floorplan and quickly modify existing stuff to represent my tools and things I needed to store. I work on jeeps and I can fit 4 CJ's and still work on them. They are tight and cramped at 4, but it can happen.

 

[rburke65]

Quantify “generous“ and how much money do you have? Because if you have $1.36 I can save you a lot of time.

 

[Walkers]

It doesn’t matter what you design and build you will need/wish you had more shortly after it is done.

 

[Craig Balzer]

Lot's of good comments already.
Here's my thoughts:

I am finishing up a 2300 SqFt Hobby Shop and am starting to populate it with stuff. What stuff? How is it all gonna fit? See below (sorry -- my OCD kicked in and I got pretty detailed):



GENERAL

• Build as big as you can afford/fit on your property (or you'll regret it).
• You gotta know your plan inside and out – when the builder asks to move something elsewhere, only you can visualize the impact on other things / stuff
• Be flexible when reality shows up – also be true to your overall plan
• Windows? PRO: natural light – CON: entry point for a$$holes
• Skylight(s)? PRO: natural light – CON: then no attic
• Keep the building dimensions in multiples of 4 feet – reduces wastage of wood
• A mezzanine is good for long-time storage of large or awkward items; plan for where the staircase is gonna be placed; plan how to get heavy items up there and back down

FLOOR
• Gonna place light(s) in floor under lift??
• First thing you lay down is 10 mil vapor barrier
• Then closed-cell insulation – 2 inches thick
• In-floor tubing goes in before concrete pour – plan carefully if a lift is planned. Should be thicker concrete and limited pex tubing near posts
• Thickness? 4” works. Except under lift – my pour was 9-12 inches thick under posts.
• Plan now for smoothness of finish on concrete - - epoxy covering?
• Gonna wash cars in there – floor drain(s)? Lot’s of environmental issues to learn
Lay some plastic conduit in the floor before concrete is poured from the circuit box to the three walls to allow future wiring to be run without tearing into walls or mounting conduit on the walls

WALLS
• 2x4 vs 2x6 construction. A 2x6 is pennies more per board and allows thicker insulation
• I have R19 in my walls (Colorado) and the building is noticeably cooler this summer and stays warm in winter during sub-freezing temps
• I have R49 blown-in above the ceiling
• Sheath with OSB vs Dry Wall. Dry wall looks prettier but to hang anything heavy requirements finding a stud or two. OSB has more industrial appearance but a shelf goes wherever you want to put it
• Windows – already covered
• Height of walls? 12 or 13’ allows most lifts to fit (I have 14’ ceilings in main room)
• Tall walls require more heating capacity, and costs more to heat

ELECTRICAL
• Plan where your 110v outlets are gonna be, then add 50% more of them (mine are 4 feet apart except where a window gets in the way)
• Are you gonna use 15- or 20-Amp circuits? (different wiring requirements and different fixtures)
• Place them 45-48” above the floor level so they aren’t hidden later by benches, toolboxes, etc
• Plan for outlet(s) on the exterior of each wall
• Plan for outlet(s) in ceiling for lift or drop light or other
• Plan for outlet(s) in ceiling for garage door opener
• Plan for outlets up high on wall: wall clock, TV, modern “smart” speakers, other
• Lights – fluorescent or LED? Dimmable? Dimmable LEDs are available and require different wiring and dimming switch
• Plan for exterior lights – Colorado Code requires a light above each man-door opening
• Plan for exterior lights – gonna have a patio nearby or BarBQ pit or horseshoe pit or Christmas lights?
• Plan for dedicated circuit for heater
• Plan for dedicated circuit for water heater
• Now plan where circuits are gonna start. Each can handle 8-10 outlets and each should start with a GFIC outlet
• Plan where your 220v outlets are gonna be. Consider welders, air compressor, lift, oven (powder coating), special tools, etc. Even if you won’t have these until the future, plan now to power them

WATER
• Gonna have water in the garage? A sink to wash up before going into the house is priceless
• Gonna have water in garage? A sink to wash parts is useful
• A shower is priceless to avoid getting SWMBO’s towels and linens filthy
• Toilet?
• Hot water is nice to wash cars in the winter
• Plan a hose bibb on at least one exterior wall and maybe one inside

A/C

HEAT
• Gonna use in-floor PEX? -- see notes on concrete.
• If not, propane or electric heater will need power and proper placement
• See comments re height of walls

STUFF

What toys do you have? Do you plan to have? Sketch your floor plan to scale on gridded paper; don’t forget windows and doors. And then, to scale, place your toys. All of them. The easy ones are toolbox(es), benches, welders, air compressor, and the like. Did you remember to ID a place to store floor jacks? Creeper? Jack stands? Ladder(s)?

Find a place for place everything:
o Welder
o Plasma Cutter
o Grinder
o Polisher / Buffer
o Powder Coating Oven
o Blast Cabinet
o Parts Washer
o Microwave
o Refrigerator
o Charging station for cordless tools
o Desk lamp
o TV
o Stereo
o Computer
o Phone
o Wall Art / Neon signs
o Other

Expanded details:

STORAGE
• Plan cabinet(s) to store hardware (nuts, bolts, washers, this and that)
• Plan cabinet(s) to store supplies, such as (paint, cleaners, paper towels, etc)

FLUIDS for the car
• Oil
• Oil Filters
• Fuel Filter(s)
• Gear Lube
• Differential Lube/Additive
• ATF
• Brake fluid
• Anti-Freeze
• Power Steering Fluid
• Marvel Mystery Oil
• Starting Fluid
• Lacquer Thinner
• Grease for ball joints/tie rod ends etc

CLEANING yourself
• Hand Cleaner
• Latex (or Nitrile) Gloves
• Shop Towels

CLEANERS for the Car/Engine/Garage/Floor
• Castrol Concentrated Cleaner
• Engine Cleaner
• Brake Cleaner
• Carb Cleaner
• Rust Remover
• Brushable Rustoleum
• Degreaser
• Acetone
• Mineral Spirits

BEAUTY PRODUCTS
• Polish
• Wax
• Touch-up paint
• Chrome Cleaner
• Chrome Kleener (Autosol)

WORKING on the Car
• Di-electric grease
• Bearing Grease
• 3-1 oil
• Silicon Spray
• Anti-seize compound
• Loctite
• Teflon tape
• Acousti-Seal, Exhaust System Sealing Compound
• Wellseal Gasket Compound / Gasket sealer
• Wire of various colors and sizes
• Electrical Connectors
• Masking Tape
• Duct Tape
• Electric Tape
• Contact Cement
• 3M Weather-strip Adhesive
• General Purpose Adhesive Solvent Part #: 051135-08984
• 3M Adhesive Remover (Ronson lighter fluid)
• PB Blaster or Kroil -or Knock’er Loose
• Wire ties
• Mechanic's wire
• Cotter pins
• C-clips
• E-clips
• Snap rings
• Hose clamps
• Roloc pads/grinding discs
• Die-grinder burrs/bits
• Buffing wheels/compound
• Razor blades
• Utility knife blades
• Sandpaper
• Emory cloth
• Scotch-brite
• Grease fittings
• Fuel line/brake line and fittings
• Rubber hose: windshield washer, heater, radiator, fuel, vacuum
• Spray paint
• JB Weld

 

[Craig Balzer]

Here is a simple diagram that may help you visualize the dimensions you will need.
The dimensions you use will depend on the vehicles you plan to work on.'
Also -- depending on your comfort level -- the safe spaces around the car, lift and bench could be compressed (overlapped) and reduce the garage width from 40' to 35-36' . . .
The 18'x11' shaded area is the typical footprint for a 2-posT lift

 

[ddawg16]

Some good info above.

As noted.....'It's never big enough'.

As Mush and NutSgt noted....no use planning what you can't build. So go down and have a chat. My building and safety was very helpful.

If space is an issue....consider 2-story. The cost of a roof for a 1-story is the same for 2-storey.

Try to make it match the house.

You joined in 2011 but only have 8 posts. You're either real busy or did a lot of lurking.
I'd suggest lurking over on the Gallery forum....it might give you a lot of ideas. Better to learn from others mistakes.

 

[billconner]

Our planned garage is primarily to park our cars. In retirement, unlikely they'll ever be more or bigger (an Outback and a Crosstrek) . Parked them as close together as we would like for comfort and chalked a line around. Came up with 28' x 28' which left good clear passage all around. Decided on a 32 x 30 post frame, reusing two 10 x 8 overhead doors from much smaller garage we will convert to a studio. ("she sheds" I think called now - basement opened up will be my "man cave".

 

[ericm]

I found Sketchup useful for planning my shop. There are stock objects like lifts and vehicles so you don't have to draw those too. Since I want a lift I needed to see how much clearance I'd have with 12' ceilings. (12'4" would be better due to the garage door, and that's what I'm getting).

But graph paper and cutouts for objects can work for some things too, and it's faster to change stuff around.