I measured my usable garage space today....

[bobberbob]

I have a standard 2 car garage, but my home builder, Lennar, decided it a good idea to build a 6" "step" three feet in from the top of the garage.

So, imagine this: Cars pull in from the door side. Three feet shy of the back of the garage is a 6" step that leads inside the house.

So, after a closer measure, I have only 16' 6" long by 21' 4" wide functional space in my garage.

Now I know why I am laying awake at night trying to figure out how to handle all of my stuff and be organized, while still allowing 1 car to park inside at night.

I should have been an engineer.

Does anyone have this same issue? What have you done to maximize your workable space? I have a 6' welding table, 2 motorcycles, a wood work bench that I want to be longer and wider, a MIG, a torch, and a bunch of yard stuff.

Thoughts?

 

[Weekend_warrior]

First thing to do is build a shed fomr the Lawn mower!

 

[rickairmedic]

I have to agree with the shed but also have to wonder about the idiot builder 16'6" is a stupid small space . I think I have one vehicle 02 Jeep Liberty that might fit and I am not betting on that . I thought my garage wasnt deep enough at 21' I feel better now.


Rick

 

[bczygan]

First thing to do is build a shed fomr the Lawn mower!

Agreed!
And I would make it an addition to the side of the existing garage and big enough for ladders, all lawn tools, kids toys, bikes, scooters and misc. overflow storage and a compressor. I might even make it big enough to pull that bike into. Then I would get everything up high on the wall that I could. Cabinets preferred instead of open shelving. Storage over the garage door. Lots more lighting. Everything else on casters like you have the welder on, including the workbench. Put a hatch or two into the attic space for light storage. I might even put that great Harley sign on the ceiling or garage door if I needed more wall space. In extreme cases I would even store supplies like oils and fluids and occasionally used equipment like jacks and jack stands in a shed to get more work space.

 

[KEH]

Well, I see some things that could be stored on the ledge. How about the blue welding cart and the torch outfit if that won't interfere with your work flow plans. I second the motion on the shed for the lawnmower and the ladder and garden tools could go there also. After the car is driven up to the curb there shouldn't be much room left anyway.

Also, I would devote that wall to shelves above the lever of the car.

KEH

 

[bobberbob]

Good ideas. I have heard "shed" loud and clear. I'm going to look for something in the backyard to get that lawn equipment out of there.

I think that will clear out a lot of room. general stuff that is just unsightly.

 

[Keep]

Back the car in and now you have an extra 3 feet and a built in stop, unless its one low riding car that will catch that curb.

Other then that, workbench, tool box, welding cart all go on the ledge.

Build some more shelves over the ledge as well, lots of space in there.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I have a standard 2 car garage, but my home builder, Lennar, decided it a good idea to build a 6" "step" three feet in from the top of the garage.

So, imagine this: Cars pull in from the door side. Three feet shy of the back of the garage is a 6" step that leads inside the house.

So, after a closer measure, I have only 16' 6" long by 21' 4" wide functional space in my garage.

Now I know why I am laying awake at night trying to figure out how to handle all of my stuff and be organized, while still allowing 1 car to park inside at night.

I should have been an engineer.

Does anyone have this same issue? What have you done to maximize your workable space? I have a 6' welding table, 2 motorcycles, a wood work bench that I want to be longer and wider, a MIG, a torch, and a bunch of yard stuff.

Thoughts?

Sounds like our builders shared notes. I'm currently building versions in google sketchup with various shelf and workbench arrangements. I'm also trying to get one car in.

I have 17'8"x18'5" to work with. One version I really like (since its my only version as of yet) is building wall mounted shelves, from top to bottom, across the front wall (door to house is here too). This frees up both wall sides. It works better if the car is short so you don't have too much overhang at the front or rear. This allows getting rid of those plastic shelf units from the big box stores. And planning for workbenches on the non-car half of the garage. I'm still going to work up other ideas, just got a new laptop because I crashed the old one and with it my sktchup plans

Other things that worked well in our Japan garage was high wall mounted shelves running both side walls. They utilized the top 2-3' and kept an open area for both vehicles to park and access. That worked great for seasonal item storage but wouldn't be any kind of useful for regular stuff.

 

[dangle]

Use that ledge! you could build floor to ceiling shelving on it, use it as you're welding supplies storage area, etc.

You have A LOT of wall space that isn't being utilized for storage. How tall are your walls? Looks like you could fit some 24" tall shelves on the walls that hang down from the ceiling and still have enough clearance to walk underneath.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Aren't those raised areas put in to protect hot water heaters? Or is it living space? I always thought they were to stop a car from rolling into something important.

 

[dansmurf]

Do you want to get a car in there? If you did not I would build a 3 foot deep bench going across the back of the garage. Under the bench I would put some shelves behind doors and also a toolbox built in. Over the bench you could build more shelves for stuff not used as often. Then I would separate the front of the garage into two sections. One side for welding and the other side for working on the bike.

 

[monkeyplasm]

1) Abandon the attached garage to nice soccer-mom or daily driver cars, lawn equipment, bicycles, go karts, tennis racquets, and other useless family ****.

2) Build detached garage designated as ManArea to hold ManStuff, and only ManStuff.

3) Be happy you stuck the Mrs. with the crappy garage. Heck, she proabably think she's coming out ahead by getting the attached garage, designed by a limp-wristed ***-clown though it may be.

 

[e-tek]

Even though monkeyplasm wrote it like.... monkeyplasm (). that would be the ultimate goal....BUT, you'll still want to come back and take over the attached garage in time - I did!!

You've got most of the advice I'd give. Tons of wasted space there. Get a shed and never bring garden equipment, bikes, etc in again (unless they need repairs!).

Shelves and hanging areas for sure - get it all off the floor.

It looks as though you could get amlost everything garage-related on that ledge - just make sure the overall height is still elbow height - from the lower floor - where it looks like you'll be standing. Storage above and lights under that. If you put anything on the side, make sure it's no more than 18" deep. I'd only hang tools/ladders on the sides.

I'm dealing with the same thing. I have a1000sq foot shop out back, but my attached has a pit and I like to have my home/wood stuff and tools to repair my daily drivers in the attached garage. Like I said, at first I thought it'd be just for parking, now I want the space for me!!

 

[Gary S]

Does anyone have this same issue? What have you done to maximize your workable space?

I don't have those kind of issues. I built my garage myself, so I can't complain about how it was done. If I don't like something, it is my fault, and my problem to correct.
I measured my garage and I have 23' 4" x 47' 4" inside to work.
That isn't nearly enough as you would expect. No garage is ever big enough. I guess it will just have to do because I'm too old to build it larger.

 

[rquackenbush]

Think vertical! I store my extension ladder on the ceiling of my diminutive garage (along with a pruner and a few other long bits and bobs). Build some shelves up to the ceiling on the ledge and put as much as you can there.

You could also put some shelves above the workshop (very handy for stuff you're always reaching for). That's where I put my commonly used fasteners, rags, eye / ear protection, etc.

 

[John in OH]

+ 1 ... or 2 or 3 for the yard shed for the mower, rakes, hoes, etc.

Also, somewhere on this GJ there are some pictures and plans as well, IIRCC, that show enclosed wall-mounted cabinets essentially built from the ceiling down to an elevation about 5' or so from the floor. The idea is that the front of your car will project under the cabinets.

I'm still a little fuzzy on the actual problem ... if you pull your car in until the front tires touch the curb the bumper should be very near the wall .... maybe I'm missing something here.

The real problem is builders that build what they claim to be "2 car" garages that are less than 22' x 22' (and in my opinion that's actually pretty small). Who can expect to park any two full size cars in a garage that is only 19'-6" x 21'-4" and have any spare room on the sides or front for reasonable storage or access???

One of my houses has a garage that is only 20' front-to-rear and I swear if my F150 had another coat of paint on the bumpers I would not be able to close the garage door!!