Layout and Stair Positioning Advice Needed

[bedn0009]

All,

I'm just finalizing the design of a 32 x 28 shop. In the final stretch, I'd like to request any input on layout, etc that you'd have for me.

Primary goals of the garage... woodworking, storage, golf cart, lawn mowers, occasional cars for visitors (infrequent).

On the second image below there are three stair options leading up to the room above. Given location of the access door, I really only think 2 of them are viable... with my preference being option 2 because it frees up the adjacent walls for work/storage.

On perimeter walls I plan to have storage/workbenches/tool boxes and larger woodworking tools such as drill press, table saw, etc.

Any thoughts? Anythign you think I should do or haven't considered?


Overall design...

Stair options...

 

[larry_g]

Do you have the head room to do proposed stair or option 1? I prefer the curved stair but they both look to run into the eve of the roof.

If you look at my build you see that I put doors on one end of the building and kept the rest for shop work. If you really only need a car in for infrequent guests then maybe consider one door leaving more wall in the shop area.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ez-duzit]

Very neatly done. Though I would refine it further:

The overall perfect symmetry could be a fault, except for the entry side, whose asymmetry could likewise be a fault. The location of stairs to the loft has a big impact on your everyday use. It seems strange that you want to choose between 2 options, each requiring you to cross virtually the entire shop/garage to access the attic from the side entry.

At least I would consider a straight (not dog-legged), open stair, on the same side as the entry, so you needn't cross the shop from such a likely entry point. This would leave the entire (left) side uninterrupted. Whereas the entry side is already interrupted, anyway.

Many tools can be operated even when they are pushed up against the wall. Not so well with a table saw. It is better that the table saw occupy a more central location, away from the wall. Many of my machines are already on rolling bases. Though my principal cabinet saw is stationary, but far enough away from the wall that I can rip 48" before running into the fence on the radial arm saw, which is, itself, against the wall and at right angles to the TS.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I'd go with option 2. You will always have open space at the base of the stairs, near the door.

 

[larry4406]

If the upstairs space were to be Code living space (not sure of your intended use) then the stair should not be from the garage interior. Make it like Option 2 but a separate egress stair.

 

[EdT]

I'm probably missing something, but it looks like in all of the options shown, if you were standing on the top step, the roof would hit you a little below your knee. Maybe a bit higher in option 3. If this is the case, why have the stairs at all since they will be nearly useless. Just put a pull down in the middle someplace so that when you get up the steps to store the stuff you can at least stand up. Yes they're inconvenient and yes you might have to move something to use them, but at least you could use them if you had to. Using all that floor space for seldom/never used stairs to nowhere seems pretty extravagant.

 

[HoosierMark]

Go with option 2 and put an outside door on the front or side of the garage and then one into the garage at the base of the steps also.That way you can wall off the steps and gain more wall space in the garage. I see many garages like this where they make the second floor a small guest apartment. If you put it on the front it will make it so much easier to move things straight up the stairs.

 

[7echo]

What is the second floor going to be for you?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd consider possibly putting the staircase out side. If the roof line is extended over the stairs, it'll make it less exposed to the weather.

 

[augustus]

of those three options, i'd pick option 2, but none of them appeal to me if I had to move something awkward upstairs.

 

[bedn0009]

What is the second floor going to be for you?

The second floor will end up being a 17 x 32' room. Possibly finished space in the future, just something that we are doing because the cost difference vs a hip roof was only about $2k. Seemed like cheap square footage.

 

[Ray916MN]

If you are going to store stuff upstairs, a straight staircase will be best. If you want to minimize the wall and floor space lost to the staircase combine the bottom landing area with the open area needed for an exterior door.

 

[MN4x4]

Assuming that you aren't going to use the stairs a lot, I'd go with your proposed stair. I did virtually the same thing in my shop after agonizing over it and doing about a gazillion options. It's furthest back, out of the way, yet accessible enough.

 

[MN4x4]

Assuming that you aren't going to use the stairs all that often, I'd go with your original drawing. I did essentially that same design in my shop after agonizing over it for months and trying about a gazillion other options.

I agree that a straight staircase is nice for getting long items up there, but if you can work around that I think you'll be happiest with your current choice.

1. It's out of the way at the back

2. It takes up little valuable floor space, as corners are problematic anyway.

3. If you build a wall on the side of the stairs you don't lose ANY wall space.

Good luck on your decision - it's not easy. I know...

 

[volleyball]

Is this to match another building such as the house?
If I had free reign, I'd put a door on the left of the garage door and have stairs straight up. Will make putting big stuff up there possible. I'd also raise the wall 2' if you can, the knee wall will give you 50% more space up there and allow a longer overhang. My preference would be to turn the building 90 degree to put the doors on the tall wall so less snow dumps in front of the doors.

 

[Throbbin Rods]

I did my 28'x28' with the stairs in the far left corner. half a flight parallel to the left wall, then a large landing so I could get big stuff up the stairs, then the rest of the stairs parallel to the back wall. I put my upright compressor under the stairs, along with some sporting stuff that I rarely use. I may wall in under the stairs to keep compressor noise from driving me the rest of the way insane.
Works real good the way it is